THE daughter of the late John Wilson is honouring her father with a scheme to help getting troubled children get into angling.
Lisa Wilson revealed the John Wilson Fishing Enterprise at the 2019 Angling Trust annual conference.
The mother-of-four will be helping troubled and needy children enjoy the therapeutic effects of fishing.
John sadly passed away late in 2018 after falling seriously ill at his lakeside home in Thailand.
Lisa now expects the John Wilson Fishing Enterprise to be fully up and running by the end of March.
Norwich-based Lisa is a social worker with Norfolk Social Services who has worked both with children and vulnerable adults.
Lisa Wilson (right) has already been active in her native county of Norfolk, getting the new project off the ground.
The 47-year-old told Angler’s Mail all about the new John Wilson Fishing Enterprise, and how it came about.
Lisa said: “After my father’s sad passing I thought about the work done by him, and the link between my career as a social worker and the many positive benefits that fishing has for children and adults.
“As much as I enjoy my work with Social Services, I thought I could do more by setting up something that would directly benefit children in need of social care by introducing them to angling. This would be a fitting tribute to John.
“I was brought up on fishing, first going with my dad when I was four, and subsequently my two boys have got into it.
“Given my professional background and angling interest I think I am particularly well placed to help disadvantaged children and also adults with difficulties, and will be undertaking a Level 1 coaching course in the New Year.
“It’s all about promoting and improving people’s mental health, by giving them a fishing experience in groups. I am expecting local services to fund courses out of their social care budgets.
“I have already secured one venue in the Norwich area and I am negotiating with another.
“We actually run a pilot group in the summer with a group of young footballers on the books of Norwich City Football Club at Barston Lakes. That went down so well they want to use us again.
Canaries get hooked – young Norwich City FC players were involved in a pilot project for the new John Wilson fishing scheme.
“We are starting in East Anglia but I’m passionate about growing the John Wilson Fishing Enterprise.
“In the future I would like to see this running nationally, making this a part of social care for more young children.
“I also see this as beneficial to others such as adults with post-traumatic stress disorder as well as vulnerable people who are often isolated and lonely but still able to take part in an activity like fishing.
“The Angling Trust has helped me with advice over the planning of the enterprise which is a business for profit. And I am delighted that they have made me one of their ambassadors,” Lisa concluded.
John Wilson fishing scheme is ‘fantastic legacy’
Jamie Cook, incoming chief executive for the Angling Trust, added: “Angling is the gateway to the outdoors and can provide young people with so many skills and opportunities both on and off the bank.
“John was a huge influence on thousands of anglers, as well as myself as I grew up.
“Lisa’s approach here is a fantastic legacy for John and I am hugely appreciate to Lisa for her work in this much needed area.”
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