North East charity helping young dads in the region become the next generation of beekeepers

A North East nature project is celebrating World Bee Day after receiving £584,000 of funding to help young dads in the region become the next generation of beekeepers.

The Birds, Bees, Bikes and Trees project is a collaboration between charity North East Young Dads & Lads (NEYDL), Newcastle University and Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art which sees young dads in the region build their skills and confidence in areas such as habitat management and honey production.

Four bee hives have been installed on the 138ft high rooftop of the Baltic and will be available to train young dads and provide a safe home for around 160,000 bees.

NEYDL was set up in 2017 and works with marginalised and disadvantaged young dads under 25 in the North East- the majority of which are not in education or employment when they arrive.

They are able to attend a range of support services and workshops, including advice on parenting and employability.

The Birds, Bees, Bikes and Trees project has received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, as part of its 10-year £100million Climate Action Fund programme.

Many of the dads have progressed into volunteering and paid work, with one young dad launching his own brand of honey, ‘Raw&Rich’, made from three hives in the west of Gateshead, which is sold online and at outlets including the nearby Staiths Café. Honey from the Rooftop Roof hives is sold in the Baltic gift shop and features on Baltic Kitchen’s menu.

World Bee Day takes place on 20th May each year and raises awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy.  Kevin Stoodley, founder and CEO of NEYDL, said: “The interest in World Bee Day highlights the growing strength of feeling around the UK’s declining bee population and the issue of climate change more generally. These have always been issues close to our heart as a parenting support charity that wants the very best for young fathers, their partners and children, for generations to come.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, we are excited to continue our climate action journey through the Birds, Bees, Bikes and Trees project, which has also embraced cycling, both as a way of reducing our carbon footprint and a way of reconnecting our young dads with nature.”