Dementia UK – physical activity bolsters mental health and thinking – here’s how fishing fits in

According to Dementia UK physical activity has been shown to bolster mental health and thinking ability, by keeping blood flowing to the brain and increasing protective brain chemicals. Fishing ticks all the boxes in helping those with dementia!

Our Get Fishing team have been working with those most at risk of dementia through Peaceful Place, an initiative based in Essex, ensuring that even the latter years of life can be improved by spending time on the bank fishing. A spokesperson for Peaceful Place said:

“My members have all expressed their joy in not only going fishing again but for some starting this wonderful sport for the first time…and, like myself, falling in love with it.”

Fishing is good for your body and mind. It doesn’t matter what age or ability level you are and it’s great for children too to get outdoors and gain focus and concentration in nature, and away from their screens.

Bring friends and children to learn to fish, see some nature at the waterside and enjoy a wonderful experience for the whole family. It’s great to learn a new skill, re-awaken your love of the great outdoors and embrace some newfound knowledge that you can use when you come fishing again.

Take a look at our Get Fishing events – there’s an event near you. All the Get Fishing events can be found here in the Get Fishing events on the Angling Trust Event Marketplace – powered by swimbooker.

Our Get Fishing events are a great introduction to angling because you can simply turn up and fish and don’t need to bring any of your own fishing tackle or bait – it will all be provided on the day, by the event organiser.

The Get Fishing campaign is funded by

The Angling Trust’s 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.

Get Fishing is Proudly Supported by

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

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.