Get Fishing CAST Awards ignite a passion for fishing – no screens, fresh air, beautiful settings and great company!

Fishing is more than just a hobby – it’s a way to connect with nature, find peace, and develop a skill that can last a lifetime. For newcomers to angling, the Get Fishing CAST Awards, developed by the Angling Trust, offer a structured and supportive pathway to becoming a skilled and regular angler. These awards are designed to help beginners take their first steps in fishing and progress through various levels of expertise, fostering a lifelong habit of regular fishing activity.

Qualified and Licenced Level 2 Angling Coach Paul Ashfield and The Angling School are based at the brilliant Oakham Farm Coarse Fishery and are dedicated to helping anglers start, then progress on their angling journey. Often this follows the full pathway right through from a new angler initially taking their first-steps and gaining their Get Fishing Award and then coming back for more angling tuition via a Get Fishing CAST Award programme. This process almost always develops-on to these newcomer anglers branching out into more advanced or specific styles of fishing, and learning more bespoke skills which help nurture a lifelong interest in this amazing sport.

Paul told us about two of his recent Get Fishing CAST Award students – Archie and Alex:

“Both lads came to us initially for Get Fishing sessions, and while Archie had been fishing a little before we met him, he’d never really had much luck. Alex however was a complete newcomer, had never been fishing at all, and we welcomed him starting from scratch with us. After taking part in the 3-step Get Fishing Award programme, both Alex and Archie are now doing brilliantly, enjoy coming fishing regularly and are always great fun to have out on the bank. Archie started his Get Fishing CAST Award course in June 2023 at one of the ‘Learn to Fish’ days hosted at Oakham Farm – he’s never looked back and has been fishing ever since!”

Amy, Archie’s mum picks up the story:

“Paul, Simon and all the coaches at Oakham Farm have been amazing! They’ve helped Archie become so confident, and he’s learnt so much. Archie now loves his fishing and will go to these sessions come rain or shine! He has made friends along the way, and it’s been great to see the kids being outside and learning new skills. Even when the fishing is tough and they don’t catch anything, it’s obvious that they still have had fun and come away smiling. I can’t recommend enough the Get Fishing Awards and CAST Awards, and everyone at Oakham Farm involved in putting on the fishing lessons!”

Archie adds:

“I love fishing and find it very relaxing, I enjoy chatting with the coaches and other anglers too.”

Left: Archie with his Get Fishing CAST Award certificate
Right: Now he’s regularly putting newly-learned angling skills to the test!

Paul continues:

“Alex, was a complete beginner when he joined our Saturday Get Fishing CAST Award beginner course last March. Since taking part in the Get Fishing CAST Awards programme, Alex has gone on to learn pole fishing and, more recently, progressed to feeder fishing.”

Julia, Alex’s mum told me:

“The coaches running the Get Fishing programme at Oakham Farm Fishery – Paul, Simon, and Lisa – are all fantastic! Our son Alex now loves everything about fishing – not just catching fish! He has gained so much confidence in his abilities, and continues to develop new skills while all the time enjoying the support and friendship of both the coaches and fellow students. The Angling School has ignited a real passion for fishing in him. It’s a screen-free activity that offers fresh air, a beautiful setting, and great company. We highly recommend The Angling School to anyone with an interest in fishing or just a little curiosity!”

Left: Alex started with his Get Fishing Awards
Centre: Progressed to achieve his Get Fishing CAST Award certificate and
Right: Now catches carp like this!

Paul concludes:

“As a non-profit organisation, The Angling School can deliver quality coaching at sensible prices that are affordable to all. We are dedicated to getting people fishing and as well beginner sessions for youngsters like Archie and Alex, our one day intensive “Crash Courses” are fun, fast-paced and popular with both teens and adults. They cover more advanced techniques like pole fishing, feeder fishing and so on, and by the end of just one day you’ll have all the knowledge and practical experience you need to confidently go out fishing on your own!

“Because all our fully insured sessions are are run by an Angling Trust licensed Level 2 Lead Coach and are supported by Level 1 Assistant Coaches and experienced volunteers the necessary DBS and first aid certificates, plus safeguarding training is in place so that you can be confident of a fun, safe and friendly experience. We are also a Get Fishing for Wellbeing Approved Partner and encourage anybody experiencing who has one or more long-term health conditions, who might need support with their mental health or are lonely or isolated to come and experience all of the wellbeing benefits that fishing can bring to people. Please get in touch!”

Paul

​Paul Ashfield
The Angling School – [email protected]

More Info:

• The Angling School is a non-profit organisation dedicated to getting people fishing. They hold taster sessions, beginner, next-steps and (for teens and adults) one day crash courses run by an Angling Trust licensed level 2 lead coach supported by level 1 assistant coaches, and experienced volunteers. More information on The Angling School website.
• Oakham Farm Coarse fishery is on the A429 at Loxley, Warwick, CV35 9HY, contact the fishery via their website. or [email protected]
• ​The Get Fishing CAST Awards, developed by the Angling Trust, with funding from the Environment Agency and support from Sport England, are a series of progressive skills awards for anglers in England, designed to support, reward, and recognize angling achievements. For info on taking part in or running a Get Fishing CAST Awards programme, please simply email your nearest Regional Angling Development Officer.
• Get Fishing for Wellbeing champions its quality assured Approved Partners to Health Service Professionals and Social Prescribing Link Workers so that consistently high-quality experiences and benefits of angling activity can be prescribed to people with mental health and wellbeing needs – it also helps those with complex social needs including loneliness, isolation and long-term health conditions including mental health issues to benefit from fishing and the blue-green spaces where our sport takes place.

Get Fishing is Proudly Supported by

The Angling Trust’s ‘Get Fishing’ campaign is proudly supported by
Shakespeare, Exclusive Tackle Partner and Angling Direct, Exclusive Retail Partner
as we all work towards getting more people fishing, more often.

Get Fishing is Funded by

The Get Fishing campaign to get more people fishing more often is funded by the Environment Agency from fishing licence income as part of the National Angling Strategic Services contract with the Angling Trust, and Sport England. Children under 13 do not need a licence, and licences for children aged between 13 and 16 are free but you still need to register and receive a licence before you go fishing. You can get a licence for the full year, for 8 days (ideal for holidays!) or just a day’s fishing.

NOTE: Although young children who are under 13 year old do not need a licence to fish, the person supervising them needs to have the proper fishing licence before they take hold of the fishing rod or help the child fish with it.

If there’s something that you cannot find here to help you start fishing or return to angling, please contact your local Regional Angling Development Officer – you can find the nearest one to where you want to go fishing here.