Somerset Youth Angling Club Case Study: Growing Junior Angling with Clubnest

When Somerset Youth Angling Club (SYAC) launched, our mission was simple: to give local young people the chance to discover the joys of fishing in a safe, structured, and supportive environment. We knew angling had the power to change lives — improving wellbeing, teaching patience, and building community — but running a modern junior club comes with challenges. 

From safeguarding requirements to parent communication, booking management to match organisation, the admin side of running a youth angling programme can quickly overwhelm volunteers. That’s why, in our very first year, we turned to Clubnest, a purpose-built digital platform for angling clubs. 

Less than 12 months later, we already have 150+ parents and juniors registered, a fully-functional website, streamlined coaching bookings, and a safeguarding system that gives peace of mind to our volunteers and parents alike. Most importantly, our membership and engagement are growing fast — with website traffic up by 504% year-on-year and engagement up by nearly 600%. 

This is our story of how Clubnest helped us scale grassroots angling in Somerset.  

About Somerset Youth Angling Club

 
Somerset Youth Angling Club was set up to give juniors across Somerset an entry point into angling.
 

• Who we are: A volunteer-run, community-focused club offering coaching, matches, and events for young people aged 7–16.
• Our mission: To grow the next generation of anglers while promoting inclusivity, safeguarding, and outdoor wellbeing.
• Where we fish: Local stillwaters, canals, and community venues across Somerset.
• Our network: Parents, schools, local councils, and partner organisations including the Angling Trust and SASP.

What started as a small idea has quickly become a vibrant community. But behind every coaching session and every junior match is a mountain of admin. Before Clubnest, we relied on paper forms, spreadsheets, and Facebook messages — not exactly efficient.

The Challenges We Faced Before Clubnest

 
Running a junior angling club comes with unique challenges:
 

• Membership Management – Tracking juniors, parents, consent forms, and renewals was messy and time-consuming.
• Safeguarding & Compliance – DBS checks, parental consents, medical information, and risk assessments all had to be handled securely, but we lacked a proper system.
• Communication Gaps – Parents would message coaches directly on Facebook, others emailed, some called. Important information often slipped through the cracks.
• Coaching & Booking Chaos – We ran regular coaching sessions, but managing who was booked in, who paid, and who actually turned up was stressful.
• Match Organisation – Peg draws, results sheets, and leaderboards all lived on scraps of paper or disconnected spreadsheets.
• Website & Promotion – We had no central hub where new families could learn about the club, book sessions, and sign up.

We realised that if SYAC was going to grow — and survive — we needed a system that combined all of these moving parts into one secure platform.

Why We Chose Clubnest

 
When we discovered Clubnest, it felt like the software had been built for clubs exactly like ours. Unlike generic booking tools or membership apps, Clubnest was designed by anglers, for anglers — with features that actually made sense in the real world of grassroots fishing.
 
The features that stood out most were:
 

• Memberships & Safeguarding – Digital records for families, juniors, consents, and DBS checks. Everything stored securely, with instant access for our safeguarding officer.
• Coaching Bookings – One-off, recurring, and block sessions with capacity limits, waiting lists, and easy registers. Parents can book online with no hassle.
• Matches & Results – Digital peg draws, live results, and leaderboards without the paper shuffle.
• Risk Assessments – Templates and checklists for every venue, easily linked to coaching sessions and matches.
• Club Website – A professional, mobile-friendly site with built-in SEO. Within months, parents searching “junior fishing club Somerset” were finding us directly through Google.
• Communication Tools – Automated confirmations, reminders, and updates that save hours of volunteer time.

It wasn’t just about saving admin time — it was about giving SYAC the tools to run like a professional organisation while keeping our grassroots values.

Implementation: Getting Started with Clubnest

 
We expected a steep learning curve. What we found was the opposite.
 

• Setup was quick – Within days, we had our membership system, bookings, and website live.
• Support was hands-on – The Clubnest team guided us through setup, offered training, and responded quickly whenever we had questions.
• Parents adapted instantly – They loved being able to book sessions online, pay securely, and get instant confirmations.
• Volunteers felt reassured – Safeguarding records, consents, and emergency contacts were finally organised and accessible.

What could have taken us months of trial and error was solved in weeks.

Results & Impact

 
Here’s where things get exciting.

📊 Growth at a Glance

• 150+ parents & juniors registered — despite not even completing our first full year.
• +504% increase in website traffic year-on-year.
• +595% increase in engagement across sessions, bookings, and content.
• 50% less admin time for volunteers, freeing up energy for coaching.

Membership Growth

 Before Clubnest, we struggled to track who was a member and when renewals were due. Today, every junior and parent is in the system, renewals are automated, and communication is seamless. Parents feel reassured knowing everything is handled professionally.

Coaching Delivery

Clubnest’s booking system transformed our coaching programme. We can now:

• Publish sessions online weeks in advance
• Limit numbers to ensure quality coaching
• Run waiting lists automatically
• Generate registers for coaches on the day

Result? More sessions filled, fewer no-shows, and a better experience for everyone.
 

Safeguarding & Compliance

Safeguarding is non-negotiable for a youth club. With Clubnest, our safeguarding officer can access DBS details, medical notes, and parental consents instantly. Risk assessments are stored digitally and linked to each event. Parents see that we take safeguarding seriously — and that builds trust.
 

Match Organisation

Running junior matches used to mean late nights of paperwork. Now:

• Pegs are drawn digitally
• Results are logged instantly
• Leaderboards update automatically

Juniors love seeing their names on the leaderboard, and parents enjoy being able to follow results online.
 

Website & Visibility

Our new website, powered by Clubnest, quickly became the hub for all activity. Families searching for junior fishing in Somerset started finding us organically. In fact, organic search now drives over 40% of our traffic, showing how Clubnest’s SEO-ready design works in practice.

Testimonials

“Before Clubnest, we spent more time on paperwork than coaching. Now everything is centralised, and we can focus on the kids, not the admin.”
— SYAC Chairman Mike Griffiths

“As a parent, I love being able to book sessions online and know my child’s details are safely stored. It feels professional, organised, and trustworthy.”
— Parent

Future Plans

 
We’re only just getting started. With Clubnest, we plan to:

• Expand our coaching network further across Somerset
• Partner with more schools and community groups
• Grow membership beyond 200 juniors
• Launch new digital initiatives like catch reports and online learning

Clubnest will be central to all of it.

Conclusion

In less than a year, Somerset Youth Angling Club has gone from scattered spreadsheets and Facebook messages to a professional, scalable, and engaging club experience — all powered by Clubnest.
 
With 150+ parents and juniors already registered, safeguarding handled with confidence, and traffic growth of over 500%, our club is proof that the right tools can transform grassroots angling.
 
For any angling club looking to grow, modernise, and safeguard its juniors, Clubnest isn’t just software — it’s the foundation for the future.