Information on Loughborough

Police in Loughborough help young people go fishing

Posted on 18/03/2009

Police in Loughborough help young people go fishing

The police in Loughborough have donated unclaimed fishing equipment to a youth club in the town.

PC 2013 Chris Hughes, arranged for unclaimed fishing rods, bags and boxes from the stations property store to be donated to the Keats Way Detached Youth Project, which is run by Leicestershire County Council.

He visited the project, which meets every Thursday from 6pm until 8pm at the car park on Lewis Road, to meet the young people.  The club is open to 11-19 year olds and runs a wide range of programmes which include arts, cooking, residential trips, team building activities and sports.

Some of the young people recently put a funding bid together for some fishing equipment but it was turned down because of the large number of applications.  They told PC Hughes that they really enjoyed going fishing so, when he returned to Loughborough Police Station, he asked if there was any fishing equipment in the property store.  Property recovered by the police is kept for 28 days and if it is unclaimed, it goes to auction.

PC Hughes said; "I wasnt even sure if there was any fishing equipment in the property store so I was a little surprised to find out that there was in fact quite a lot.  I approached my Sergeant who arranged to have the property released from the store for the young people to use.  It is really great to see young people taking part in constructive projects and the Keats Way project is doing great things with young teenagers and I hope the fishing equipment will encourage them to continue to enjoy their projects and hobbies.

There are only 116 houses on the Keats Ways estate and 83% of the 11-19 year olds who live there take part in the youth project, which has been running for 15 years.  It is run by Leicestershire County Councils Detached Youth Workers who meet in the car park and take part in a wide range of activities with the young people.

Andrew Lake, one of the Youth Workers said; "The young people have been really enthusiastic about fishing, I think it is one of very few activities where you get time to sit and think.  Its been great that Chris, our local beat officer, has been able to donate this equipment to the project and we are planning to go on fishing trips once the weather gets a bit nicer.  The teenagers raise money themselves to fund projects and were currently planning a trip to Poland which will be really educational and a great boost to their confidence."

Peter Osborne, County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Youth Services, said: "The fishing equipment will add an extra dimension to the project and really benefit young people in the Loughborough community.

"We are always keen to provide a wide range of opportunities for Leicestershires young people and this is a great example of partnership working."