Helping disabled people enjoy fishing

In three separate donations, the Axis Foundation has helped The British Disabled Angling Association (BDAA) offer fishing opportunities to disabled children, young people and adults across the Midlands.

Electric reels

In 2023, we donated £5597 to purchase 20 electric reels (fishing reels and rod harnesses) as part of the adaptive equipment BDAA requires to deliver their projects.

“The British Disabled Angling Association (BDAA)would like to say a huge thank you for the generosity of the Axis Foundation’s latest donation of £5597. This has allowed the BDAA charity to purchase 20 specially adapted motorised touch button controlled fishing reels for people of all ages with disabilities to take up fishing for the first time or get back into fishing after a life changing event. These newly developed reels can be operated using only one hand making them ideal for stroke survivors and people with coordination difficulties.

“The BDAA’s overall aim is to enable disabled individuals to participate fully in angling, removing barriers and providing the necessary support and equipment to ensure a positive fishing experience. Your donation will go a long way in ensuring that individuals have the necessary tools to participate” – Troy Chadwick, BDAA Operations Manager

Fishing platforms

BDAA points out that many mobility and visually-impaired people have difficulties getting near the water’s edge. So, our earlier (2021) donation of £3,450 helped fund the creation and installation of an approved, bespoke, accessible group fishing platform.

“The Trustees and I would like to offer a huge thank you for the generosity of the Axis Foundation. Your grant has allowed us to provide accessible fishing platforms ensuring disabled people will be safe when fishing. The accessible fishing platforms with safety features help individuals and groups like our successful Disabilities Schools or Heroes Veterans.Your grant has ensured that the public can see first-hand the commitment we place on design and accessibility allowing more disabled children to participate alongside non-disabled people helping bridge social divides. We could not do this without the generosity of the Axis Foundation” –  Terry Moseley, Founder, BDAA

Junior Schools Fishing Project

Our 2020 donation of £3,320 helped BDAA develop their BDAA Junior Schools Fishing Project This is the first scheme of its kind in the UK and will help hundreds of disabled children and young people benefit from fishing.

“The Junior School’s disability project has been a long-time milestone for the BDAA. Having such great support and generosity from the Axis Foundation has made this ambition a reality. Hundreds of children, teachers and families have benefited directly from this pilot project and we hope they will continue enjoying fishing in adult life. The funding has provided essential training for teachers and volunteers, as well as clothing, adaptive fishing equipment, transport costs and independence for the students. They now have an additional skill they never knew they could achieve through fishing” – BDAA founder Terry Moseley

More about BDAA

BDAA offers fishing opportunities for disabled children, young people and adults across the Midlands. Angling helps improve the health and wellbeing of many disabled people. The sport encourages access to outdoor activities and, most importantly, offers the chance to socialise with others in the local community. Angling can change the lives of disabled people. BDAA offers inclusive fishing opportunities to disabled people of all ages and disability. And the charity provides adapted equipment, disabled platforms and access, services, information, support and practical advice on all issues encompassing angling.

 “I love to be outside. I can now hold a rod all by myself and have also learned how to be a good fisherman. I like to go fishing with my friends, and I think I will be a really good fisherman when I’m bigger” – Harry Bowen, Penn Hall School fishing club

There’s more about BDAA here.