Bradley Parkes

Bradley started a youth angling group four years ago to provide access to the sport for other young people. It is the only youth angling group of its type in Staffordshire and the first to achieve Clubmark award for quality standards in the West Midlands. Brad became UK Angling Ambassador during 2010 when he was judged against stiff national competition based on his contribution to young people and the sport. During the last three years he has developed a peer mentoring group and has supported three young people, ages 16 - 17 through their Level 1 angling coaching award. He has also worked closely with other adult volunteers including a retired person and a vulnerable adult with wellbeing issues who he has also supported to achieve their Level 1 coach award. In 2009 Bradley started a wildlife pool project with the youth angling group, was successful in drawing down funding for this. The area was worked on by the group and is now complete with raised sensory beds, walkways, willow sculpture, done and screen, benches, trees, wildflower planting, wildlife habitats and three pools, all with different eco themes. He arranged partnership working with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust through his involvement as a volunteer with SWT for over 5 years. The pools are accessed by young people with disabilities, school groups and young toddler and parent groups. He continues to lead this group as chairman, and is in his third year at University, with one year left.