PDAC Development Programme
What the Programme offers
The programme works closely with new and old anglers from a one-off angling experience event to improving skills and to individual or team event participation
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Each year, the Programme organises various events, including Get Fishing outreach campaigns, one-time angling tasters, teach-in sessions, and opportunities for both individual and team match fishing participation.
Campaigns
The PDAC Development Programme conduct outreach campaigns by attending various community events promoting scheduled up coming Get Fishing events.
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The Programme has attended various local events:
South Harting Festival.
Open Farm Day - Newhouse Farm
Southdowns Show. 2 day event
Churchers College Grand Summer Celebration.
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Petersfield Summer Festival. 2 day event
Get Fishing Events
Getting Started
Get Fishing is the Angling Trust’s campaign to get more people fishing more often. Each year the Angling Trust fund hundreds of events for all ages and abilities.
Get Fishing angling events are for anyone who wants to get into fishing, get back into angling or find out where to go fishing, who to go fishing with, what to use to start fishing and how to go fishing for the first time.
Our Get Fishing events are perfect for individuals and families looking for beginner sessions where you can learn to fish or just to get back into angling and we accept those of all ages and abilities.
We have qualified coaches and club volunteers on hand for advice and a support team to answer any questions you may have.
This year, the Programme held 2 Get Fishing events at Nyewood Ponds & Bopeep Pond. The format we use, allows us to meet the demand and to accommodate as many as we can. Each participant experienced a 60 minute introduction to angling with either a qualified coach or a programme volunteer.
May. Get Fishing Event - Nyewood Ponds.
16 Programme volunteers hosted 111 participants
July. Get Fishing Event - Nyewood Ponds.
15 Programme volunteers hosted 90 participants
September. Get Fishing/Showcase Event - Nyewood Ponds.
17 Programme volunteers hosted 120 participants
Angling Trust Awards Scheme
Teach-ins
Improving your skills
We offer 2 hour teach-in sessions, run by a L2 qualified coaches and assisted by experienced volunteers, sharing valuable skills, tips and advice to help improve your own skills.
Sessions cover the basics of types of methods, knot and casting demonstrations, table top display and advice with suitable equipment, fish handling, fish-care and a Q&A session.
Participants are presented with Bronze, Silver & Gold Angling Trust awards.
We welcome new, current and non members of all ages, new to angling or experienced, individuals, families and those with disabilities.
These sessions are limited to numbers and by bookings only.
31/05/25. Teach-in
3 Programme volunteers hosted 10 participants
12/07/25. Teach-in
3 Programme volunteers hosted 3 participants
20/09/25. Teach-in
4 Programme volunteers hosted 7 participants
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Individual Participation
The Pdac aim to encourage youngsters to participate in individual and team events, this is a great way to engage with other young anglers, Improve communication, self confidence and better relationships with peers.
We welcome non-members of all abilities to participate in Junior open matches. these events have a welcoming and friendly atmosphere and it's a great way to make new friends..
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28th June - Junior Open - Nyewood Ponds. This years event, had seen 15 young anglers participating, two young anglers had attended a Get Fishing event in May, experiencing angling for the first time and had managed to secure third & fourth places in their aged groups.
Junior League.
This year marked the launch of the Junior League, where young anglers participated in a series of competitions throughout the summer. Prizes were given for each match, and trophies were awarded to the overall winners at the end of the league.
Team Participation
This year, we had arranged 2 inter-club junior matches with a neighboring club.
These type of activities are great for team building exercises and designed to encourage communication-focused, trust-building, problem-solving, and decision-making and to strengthen interpersonal relationships.
21st June - Team event - Marsh Farm, Godalming AC.
The PDAC team had put in a good performance, but were up against a formidable Godalming team.
one PDAC team member had never experienced match fishing before and had attended our Get Fishing event in May, where he'd experienced angling for the first time.
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Looking Ahead.
The Programme are hoping to extend Inter-club Junior matches in 2026.
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Support
This programme is predominantly funded by the Angling Trust, although club events are self funded by way of donations and run by the programme's volunteers, it's vital that we have support for this to continue each year.
Members and non-members can help by either volunteering to the programme or by donating any second hand tackle. Your donations are passed down to youngsters, and anything that is not suitable, is sold on at car boots to generate funds to this programme.
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If you wish to get involved as a volunteer or would like to make a donation, please email thepdac@gmail.com
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Your support can make a huge difference!
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The PDAC offer free memberships to children 16 and under, Parents/Guardians may apply for a free Associate membership.
All Junior & Juvenile members must be accompanied by an adult at all times on PDAC waters.
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Charlotte
I d like to say a massive thank you to your whole team and especially Darren our instructor. We had a wonderful time my son and I and learnt a lot too. I could not fault anything at all. We both loved it.
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James
We absolutely loved it and are in the process of completing our registrations! See you soon.
Gemma
We attended the get fishing event on Sat 16th September, and wow what an event. My children (and husband!) absolutely loved it and have fallen in love with fishing.
Such a great afternoon, but then your 'display' at the the Southdowns show is what directed us to you and that was also the highlight of their day that day too.
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Sian
My son had a fabulous time hes been wanting to try fishing for sometime but we had no experience ourselves so this was an amazing opportunity. I don’t think there was anything you could improve. Thank you
Charlee
Just wanted to share my gratitude to everyone for todays event. Both boys thoroughly enjoyed it. In particular could we just give a special mention to David (coach) one of my son's has autism and sensory processing disorder and can find instructions particularly difficult to comprehend. David took his time and reassured my son along the way. The small touches really make a difference to his confidence so please do send him my thanks.
Thanks again.
David
My son and I really enjoyed the get fishing event, We are submitting our membership applications very soon.
Please thank the team.
Terry
Thank you very much for the fantastic Get fishing event you hosted last Saturday.
We very much appreciate the great deal of work done by the members and volunteers in putting this together especially in light of the unexpected road closures.
Our grandchildren had a fantastic time and were both fortunate to catch decent size carp and continue to talk about going fishing again. The photos on the PDAC website are great !
Thank you again
Marc
My son and I had such a lovely time.
The staff were a credit to the club, and we look forward to joining you all at more events in the future.
