The fishing club set up to help men's mental health

"Fishing is about more than catching fish" - that's the view of two anglers who have set up a new mental health initiative for men who enjoy the sport.

The Fish On! project was created by the pair - collectively Youtubers Snagged Bro - and Black Country community organisation Bostin' Creative, to show how fishing and getting active could improve wellbeing.

A short film raising awareness of the project, supported by council-led Crowdfund Walsall, recently premiered at Walsall Arena.

Walsall borough councillor Gary Flint said the authority was "delighted" to have supported a project for men to get involved in fishing and to improve their mental health.

"It is great to support something with such a wide reach into the heart of our communities and we look forward to finding out where this inspirational project may lead," he added.

Angling-themed Youtube channel Snagged Bro features friends and content creators Tom Synnott-Bell and Sean Edwards, who have been posting fishing videos for about seven years.

The pair partnered with Bostin Creative, set up by Mr Synnott-Bell's wife, Emily Synnott-Bell Summers, to create the Fish On! project which sees men get together to fish and chat, with more than £9,000 raised for the scheme through crowdfunding.

The group had put out a call for men to join the initiative after receiving messages from individuals for whom fishing had become a "life-changing pastime".

One participant said: "'[The project] has saved me... I was way down and now I am a lot better."

Mr Synnott-Bell told BBC Radio WM fishing was an "escape".

"You walk on to a canal, and it's a whole new world," he said.

More than 150 people on 20 November attended the screening of the film, which featured club members of various ages and backgrounds.

The support for the initiative had been overwhelming, Mr Synnott-Bell said.

"It was just a real good vibe. It felt like everyone in the room was completely behind it and I can't wait to grow this project as big as possible," he added of the film's premiere.

"Everyone was just applauding, cheering."

Mr Edwards said the pair had initially come up with the idea to set up a Youtube channel to become a "better angler".

"People watch our videos... It's infectious, I think everybody should give it a try," he said.

His mental and physical health had also benefited from the recreational activity, he added.

The group hopes to continue to grow the initiative and advocate for men's mental health.

"We thought 'let's go for it and see first of all if we could raise some awareness'... and we think it's going to turn into something really special," Mrs Synnott-Bell Summers said.

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