Casting for Wellbeing: How angling helps young people connect, heal and thrive

Cast A Thought CIC have been offering a safe, welcoming space where children and young people can be heard, supported, and guided towards better mental wellbeing through their Catch and Connect programme.

Led by experienced youth workers, the team includes Youth Mental Health First Aiders, health professionals and a passionate network of dedicated volunteers, all trained in safeguarding, trauma awareness and the effects of early adversity. This strong foundation ensures that every young person who takes part is supported in an environment that is calm, inclusive and understanding.

Their youth-centred approach puts young people in the driving seat of their own journeys. Cast A Thought provide support based on individual strengths, goals and dreams – not just challenges. Whether it’s finding calm by the water’s edge, learning to fish, setting personal goals or simply having a trusted adult to talk to, Catch and Connect offers a safe space where young people can pause, reflect and feel valued.

Angling plays a powerful role in this work. As regularly highlighted through Angling Trust Get Fishing initiatives, fishing is widely recognised for its positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. Spending time outdoors near water can help reduce stress and anxiety, encourage mindfulness, and offer a break from the pressures of everyday life. For many young people, the simple rhythm of casting a line and waiting quietly helps them slow down, regulate emotions and build resilience.

Fishing also supports personal development. Learning new skills, handling equipment safely and caring for the environment can boost confidence and self-esteem. Achieving small goals – such as mastering a cast or landing a first fish – gives young people a sense of achievement and pride. Angling naturally encourages patience, focus and problem-solving, skills that can transfer into education, relationships and everyday life.

Importantly, programmes like Catch and Connect reflect the Angling Trust’s message that fishing is for everyone. It creates opportunities for social connection, teamwork and positive relationships with peers and mentors, helping young people feel less isolated and more supported. For some participants, it can be their first experience of belonging to a group where they feel accepted and understood.

By combining the therapeutic benefits of angling with trusted adult support and youth-led engagement, Cast A Thought CIC are helping young people reconnect – with nature, with others and with themselves. Through Catch and Connect, the simple act of going fishing becomes a powerful tool for improving mental wellbeing, building confidence and opening the door to brighter futures.

If you’d like to have a go at fishing, or get back into the sport, take a look at our Get Fishing events – there’s likely to be an event near you. All the Get Fishing events can be found here in our: Get Fishing event pages.

Our Get Fishing days 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.

Participants automatically join the Get Fishing Club, gaining access to exclusive resources, newsletters, and a 25% discount on beginner tackle from Angling Direct, the Exclusive Retail Partner of Get Fishing.

Find an event near you or contact your Regional Angling Development Officer to discover your local options for angling.

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.