Angling Trust

Clubs and fisheries: Apply now for Wheelyboat funding and make fishing accessible for all

The second round of funding for four wheelchair accessible Wheelyboats is now open to angling clubs and fisheries across the UK. 

The Wheelyboat Trust and the Angling Trust launched the first round of funding in March – as a result, three fisheries will receive their very own Coulam 16 Wheelyboat. 

The successful applicants were St Andrews Angling Club (Scotland), Wimbleball Trout Fishery (Devon) and Ravensthorpe Reservoir (Northampton). Three new Coulam 16 Wheelyboats are being built for each, enabling disabled anglers, particularly wheelchair users, to enjoy fishing and angling independently, possibly for the first time. 

Now the second round of funding is available, so angling clubs and fisheries are invited to apply before Saturday, 4 January 2020, when applications close. 

Andy Beadsley, Director of The Wheelyboat Trust, said: “This new partnership really embodies the ethos of The Wheelyboat Trust, and reflects the reason why the charity was founded in the first place. Our Founding Trustee Alan Faulkner had the idea of creating a Wheelyboat after one of his friends, Bill Buchanan, was left wheelchair-bound following an accident. They loved fishing together and Alan didn’t want this to change following Bill’s accident, which is why the Trust, and Wheelyboats, were born. 

“Over the last 35 years we’ve been working hard to ensure that fishing, boating and any other water-based activities are accessible to everyone, whatever their mobility. We know how fantastic Wheelyboats are to those who operate them, so we hope angling clubs and fisheries from all corners of the UK will apply for one with this new round of funding, and hopefully this time next year their anglers will be reaping the benefits.” 

You might also like