On Saturday 8th July Mr Frew and Mrs Gilbert took 8 of our students to Aldin Grange Fisheries near Bearpark in Durham.  This day was organised by the Masonic Fishing Charity, a charity set up to offer children with special needs or from low economic areas the opportunity to experince a days fishing and the benefits it can bring.  The days are completely free of charge with the venue, use of tackle, food, drink and prizes all included in the day.  The students were welcomed and paired up with a volunteer adult support person called a caster helper.  They then fished from 9:45am till 12 noon, some on the coarse fishing lake and some learning how to cast a fly an catch trout on one of the trout fishing lakes.  They rotated between the two on the day, so they all had the opportunity to experience both styles of fishing. After lunch they fished again from 1-3pm, when they then headed into one of the farms barns for the award and presentation ceremony.  Each student received a certificate, medal and fishing trophy awarded for something memorable each student had expereinced on the day.  These ranged from most fish, biggest fish, most improved, funniest laugh and all the way to the must trees caught!

A phrase the charity like to use is “to catch a smile” and here are some photos taken on the day to see those smiles… Many more will be added at a later date once they have all been vetted and processed.