Frostbite 2027 · in support of Tackling Minds
Cold water.
Clear minds.
Tackling Minds take people fishing to help with their mental health, and doctors can now prescribe it. Every Frostbite entry sends £4 their way. If you want to give more, this is where. You don't need to enter Frostbite to donate.
Who they are
Fishing as a way back
Tackling Minds was set up in November 2020 by Dave Lyons, after fishing helped him through his own recovery from years of mental health struggles. Today it runs fishing sessions across Greater Manchester for people living with anxiety, depression, addiction, loneliness, disability and long-term illness.
They campaigned for angling to become an official NHS social prescribing activity, and in 2021 became the first organisation in the country to make it happen.
[What Tackling Minds will spend Frostbite's money on, in their words, once they confirm.]
Why it matters to me
I've struggled with my mental health for a long time. Fishing is one of the things that helped me find my way back out.
There have been times I've gone back into myself. What keeps me pushing forward is knowing the bank will still be there when I'm ready, and seeing other people get out there too. Setting up Voyagers Hook with my family, and helping others get out fishing, is a big part of that.
Frostbite is our way of getting more people out on the water, and of backing Tackling Minds, who do this for people every day.
Joe, Voyagers Hook
What they've done
From one angler to the NHS
- November 2020
Dave Lyons starts Tackling Minds in Greater Manchester.
- April 2021
GPs, nurses and other health workers can prescribe fishing for anxiety and depression, starting with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. A first for the NHS.
- 2022
Becomes an Angling Trust Get Fishing for Wellbeing partner, and helps with the first peer-reviewed study linking fishing with better mental health, alongside Angling Direct and Anglia Ruskin University.
- 2024
Wins £19,800 from the National Lottery Community Fund to bring sessions to more people.
- 2025
Receives the King's Award for Voluntary Service, the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups. By now, more than 2,300 people have been prescribed fishing across several NHS trusts.
Sources: SWNS, November 2025, Real Rochdale, winter 2024, tacklingminds.org.
What they do
A session on the bank
- Kit provided
Tackling Minds supplies the kit and the coaching, so nobody needs gear or experience to come along.
- Trained coaches
Every participant fishes with a qualified angling coach trained to work with people in vulnerable situations.
- Support on hand
Each group has support workers, so there's always someone to talk to.
- On prescription
GPs, nurses and other health workers can refer people as part of NHS social prescribing, alongside or instead of medication.
"If it wasn't for fishing I don't think I'd be here." Dave Lyons, founder
You don't have to wait for a fishing trip, and you don't have to go through it alone.
- Samaritans are free to call, day or night, on 116 123.
- Tackling Minds use fishing to help people with their mental health: tacklingminds.org or fishing@tacklingminds.org.
- Voyagers Hook is always here to talk. No judgement, just a chat: Info@voyagershook.com or WhatsApp 07397 244450.