welcome to the
East Kent Masonic Fishing Charity
The East Kent Masonic Fishing Charity is part of the National Masonic Fishing Charity.
About Us
Our Mission & Vision
“The Masonic Fishing Charity’s aim is to bring an interactive fishing and countryside experience to people with special needs”.
It achieves this by running fishing events, both coarse and fly, at various fisheries and inviting participants from special needs schools and centres and people who have suffered trauma to come and join in.
The charity is completely run by volunteers and is a non-profit making enterprise.
Masonic Fishing Season Begins
The Masonic Fishing Season Begins at Horsham lakes. See how the Casters, Students and helpers got on.
Save the Last Cast
Save the Last Cast – Longshaw Fisheries provided the final event of the year, and what a finale, a guest appearance by the PGM.
Chart Lakes
Chart Lakes was the venue for our meeting in July. The sun shone, the children had fun and fish were caught, what could be better?
Horsham Lakes
Horsham Lakes provided yet another great venue for the Fishing Charity. A great day had by all, students and casters.
First Aid
Qualified First Aiders on Site
Fun
The students all have a great time
Education
The Students learn about fishing and the environment
Our Causes
What We Do
“The Masonic Fishing Charity’s aim is to bring an interactive fishing and countryside experience to people with special needs”.
A ‘Certificate of Achievement’ for all participants.
Medals for Biggest Fish, Best Caster, Best Retriever etc., are also often awarded.
Participating organisations or individuals are provided with Risk Assessments and Health & Safety Instructions
Qualified first aider always on hand.
Health and safety instruction is given to all helpers and fishermen.
Catch the Smile
What could be better than putting a smile on the face of a child or young person?
Here at the Masonic Fishing Charity we certainly do that.
We have found that this is far more than a day’s fishing though! It enables mentally disabled people to gain in confidence, meet new challenges and achieve tangible results; it helps disadvantaged people and those from harsh backgrounds to renew their confidence in meeting people and interacting with adults from outside their spheres; it helps physically disabled people (including war heroes and stroke victims) to participate and experience something that may otherwise be unavailable to them.
A lot of the schools and centres also use the day as a basis for a project or scheme, creating IT projects, models and wall displays. One school has gained a ‘special award’ for sporting achievement and their attendance at our events was an important part of this achievement.
Learn how to get involved
Whilst we are a Masonic Initiative the majority of our volunteers are not freemasons and there is no need to be one to join in.
Being one of our team of volunteers will bring a lot of pleasure and fun for you and most will gain hugely from experiences received during these days. Many have not had the experience of witnessing first-hand the problems that many of our participants face in their everyday lives. Whilst it is not the policy of anyone to pry into the participants private lives it can be a real education when this short time is spent with them and much more awareness of the great amount of work that goes on in the specialist schools and centres that we are in contact with is also learnt.
It also give a great opportunity to share our sport with those to whom it would be normally unavailable and to give something back to the community.