National Lottery funding helps lay the foundations for Project Apis CIC

16 Feb

Some projects begin with a single idea. Ours began with the question of how beekeeping could be opened up to more people, especially those who might not otherwise have the chance to get involved.

Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, Project Apis CIC was able to take those first important steps, moving from an idea into a working, community-led organisation.

This support played a key role in helping us establish our early projects and create the foundations that our work now continues to build on.

Getting started and building something sustainable

National Lottery funding supported the early development of Project Apis CIC, helping us put the practical building blocks in place to operate safely, responsibly, and inclusively.

This included:

establishing our first community apiaries
putting the right training, insurance, and safeguarding in place
purchasing essential equipment so more volunteers could get involved
creating a model that allows projects to grow at a pace that suits each community

This early support meant we could focus on doing things properly from the start, rather than rushing to deliver without the right structures in place.

A new community apiary in Ludham

One of the key outcomes of this funding was the establishment of a new community apiary in Ludham. This created a shared, outdoor space where local people could take part in beekeeping and nature-based activity in ways that feel accessible and welcoming.

As with all our projects, involvement at the Ludham apiary is flexible. Some people are hands-on with the hives, while others take part through planting, learning, or simply spending time in the space alongside others.

Supporting more volunteers at existing sites

The funding also allowed us to expand participation at our existing community apiaries, including St Mary Magdalene Church and ACE CIC.

By purchasing additional beekeeping suits and equipment, we were able to safely welcome more volunteers, remove cost barriers, and ensure that anyone interested could take part without needing to provide anything themselves.

This has been particularly important for people who may be new to beekeeping, returning to learning, or looking for something calm and practical to be involved in.

Looking back and moving forward

The support from the National Lottery Community Fund helped turn Project Apis CIC into a functioning, community-focused organisation. It gave us the space to learn, grow, and develop a model that centres people, wellbeing, and long-term community ownership.

Many of the projects we are delivering now, including new community apiaries, workshops, and partnerships, have been made possible because of those early foundations.

We’re grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund and to National Lottery players for helping make this work possible, and for supporting grassroots projects that grow from local ideas into lasting community spaces.

We’ll continue to share updates as our network of community apiaries grows and more people find their way into beekeeping through Project Apis CIC.