Calderdale in Recovery creates a buzz

A local project is buzzing with excitement after securing a grant to develop a bee keeping project in Southowram.

Calderdale in Recovery, based in Halifax and Todmorden, provides recovery orientated life changing support and inspiration to people who use the new drug and alcohol treatment system. This new bee keeping project aims to inspire even more people to join the recovery community and demonstrate how life can be enjoyed without using drink or drugs. The new treatment system Recovery Steps, made up of a partnership between DISC, St. Martins Healthcare and The Basement Recovery Project, is already delivering successful outcomes to hundreds of people across the area since commencing operations in February.

The recovery community, was initially consulted on what kind of project they would like to become involved with, and one of the suggestions that caused a stir was the development of a bee keeping programme.

Following an application to Community Foundation for Calderdale, a sum of £1,571 has been received from the Kathleen Mary Denham Fund that has allowed the purchase of hives, safety equipment and the first colony of bees; in fact, everything that is required to develop a thriving bee keeping community.

The Calderdale recovery community members are swarming over the project and have taken delivery of their first bee hives, alongside a nucleus of 4000 hybrid New Zealand honey bees. The aim of the bee keeping project is to allow people in recovery to develop their husbandry skills and to ultimately produce “Recovery Honey” that will be sold to support local community led initiatives.

Andy Bryant, Recovery Builder and Chair of Calderdale in Recovery is delighted;

“This project is innovative and exciting, and allows service users the chance to develop unique skills and to be part of a project where they can witness progress and actually enjoy the fruits of their and the bees labour. We’re proud of how the new treatment system is doing and how Calderdale in Recovery is helping. This helps highlight the willingness of service users and workers to develop new ways of supporting people with addiction.”

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For more information on the project, and to arrange a photo opportunity, please contact Andy Bryant at Calderdale in Recovery, tel 01422 383063