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Fishing for Knowledge was one of the inspiring and innovative LEADER projects celebrated at the recent D&G Rural Awards. The Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries was transformed on 12th November with a bold, pink and confident theme for the event which attracted 130 participants from the area and further afield.

Fishing for Knowledge reached the final three in the Smarter Scotland category and now features in the third edition of D&G LEADER's Best Practice Guide -

Building Resilient Communities, which was launched at the event. Maura Walsh, Chief Executive of IRD Duhallow, County Cork in Ireland was impressed by the high level of entries in her category Smarter Scotland. The award was won by the Queensberry Initiative based at Wallacehall Academy in Thornill. Also nominated were Eco Schools with Energy and Fishing for Knowledge.

Ros Halley, Rural Development Manager for the Dumfries and Galloway LEADER Programme gave a thought provoking keynote speech at the awards ceremony which confronted the current economic climate. She said, "There is so much negativity, concern and uncertainty around likely cuts to local services in our communities, that I felt that it would be impossible not to address this during the speech. The key issue I can see in D&G is that even before the cuts have impacted, people are massively anticipating troubles ahead. This isn't surprising, but in terms of community activity, it can have a significant knock-on, leading to a reduction in improvements to the local environment, a weakening of community spirit and a slow down in the local economy. I hoped that the audience would see that we all have a part to play in continuing to move D&G forward in a positive way and that how we deal with adversity is increasingly important."

"Cumbria Constabulary supports properly run angling coaching and development schemes due to potential significant benefits to individual young people and communities as a divergent activity away from offending. Fishing is a very cost-effective way of contributing to Government's social policy objectives, representing good value in the context of personal and community development. Borderlines are developing strong community and schools links, using angling and the environment to tackle both criminality and social exclusion"

"Borderlines has a strong focus on community interaction which uses angling to provide support and structure to young people bringing benefits to the young people and their communities"

Sgt Rab Milligan ~ Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary's Community Services Unit.