We are excited to announce our recent application to the Church Times Green Health Awards. We want to showcase the impact our beekeeping project has on mental and physical wellbeing of our volunteers and the wider community. The film below, by James Ross McCormack, perfectly captures the project at both Manchester and Salford Cathedrals.

The following words are by our Canon Apiarist Adrian Rhodes, and demonstrate the immeasurable benefits of beekeeping with Volition:

“Volition’s volunteer beekeeping project allows long-term unemployed people to develop life-skills and enhance their wellbeing during their journey back into employment.

As the ten weeks unfold, the volunteers undertake more and more complex tasks: some to clean up equipment, others to open, dismantle and replace the hives; others to undertaking full inspections. On wet (or this year, over-hot) days, we stay in the workshop and do practical beekeeping tasks – making frames, cleaning equipment – or making candles, badges etc.

Our volunteers are taken out of themselves, forgetting troubles and anxieties, getting absorbed in the life of the colony. They show concern and compassion for bees – and chastise the beekeepers if ever a bee gets hurt! They wonder, and experiment and start making suggestions about what to do next. As new volunteers rotate in, the ‘older’ ones take a leadership and mentoring role – showing others – and themselves – how much they have learned, how much they have changed. Those initially panicked by being on the roof or near bees, reassure and encourage the new, anxious volunteers.

Alongside this, of course, they are learning about how to look for jobs, how to write CVs and having mock interviews. So, when called for a job interview they are prepared; and when the employer asks, “What else do you do?”, they say, “Well, I’ve been beekeeping…”. And the opportunities unfold for them.”

We do hope we are shortlisted for the wonderful work our volunteers and Volition team achieve. We will keep you updated in the coming months.

For further information, please email beapartofit@volitioncommunity.org.