Families learn to fish for free thanks to UKSE funding

Adults and children across the West Midlands have benefitted from a series of free learn-to-fish events run by the Canal & River Trust thanks to sponsorship from business lender UKSE.

Each year, up and down the country, the Canal & River Trust hosts hundreds of ‘Let’s Fish!’ learn-to-fish events that are supported by local angling clubs.

Social impact funder UKSE, which works with companies across the West Midlands, has supported the Canal & River Trust by funding five introductory fishing events on the canals in Pendeford, Wolverhampton, and Wombourne, South Staffordshire.

Each of the events has spaces available for 18 adults and children aged six and over.

During the sessions, participants learn to fish with the Canal & River Trust’s team of professionally qualified and licensed angling coaches. All bait, equipment, permits and licences are provided.

Adults and children are taught the basics of fishing tackle and how to correctly hold a pole, bait a hook, recognise bites and land and unhook fish.

The sessions also offer advice on purchasing equipment, joining local angling clubs and the newly formed West Midlands Angling Academy.

Providing strategic loan and equity packages of up to £1m to generate growth, create local job opportunities and bolster the economy, UKSE’s local team based in Cannock was recently set up to support SMEs across Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry, Staffordshire and Telford.

UKSE regional executive Mike Lowe commented: “We are proud to help the Canal & River Trust fund five Let’s Fish! events. UKSE’s main aim is to help businesses grow and prosper for the benefit of the community, and these sessions bring great benefits to local people. 

“They help participants develop valuable new skills that they would not get otherwise, bring families together and connect people with others in the community. Free of charge, they are open to everybody.”

UKSE is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel UK Limited with a mission to enable and encourage businesses and the people behind them to create jobs, grow and prosper, within communities affected by current or historic changes in the steel industry and its jobs.

Canal & River Trust national angling development manager Peter Henery said: “UKSE’s sponsorship of five Let’s Fish! events has funded enough spaces for 90 attendees, which is fantastic. We couldn’t offer our events without funding, so we are very grateful for their support.

“Being able to offer these sessions free of charge is important because they open up opportunities for people in disadvantaged communities who might not be able to enjoy them otherwise.

“The sessions also support our Community Roots project, which is aimed at encouraging people living near waterways to appreciate canals and learn more about them.”

UKSE supports the local economy by making equity investments, ensuring management stays in control of the business and offers a flexible exit policy. Unsecured loans up to £200,000 are also available, often without the need for personal guarantees.

UKSE provides investment in a range of scenarios including business acquisitions, management buyouts, company expansions or the purchase of new equipment. Since it was established in 1975, UKSE has invested over £115m, supporting 8,000 businesses, stimulating the creation of an estimated 83,000 new jobs.

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Pictured: UKSE regional executive Mike Lowe (left) and Midlands area manager Steve Grice (right) with Canal & River Trust business boating manager Aaron Atwal