Vita sponsors innovative project to help tackle trauma

Vita is helping to sponsor the Bee Free Project, a Welsh beekeeping charity that aims to help service personnel affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful and frightening events, and affects many personnel who have served in conflict zones. One such servicemen, Richard Jones, found that the coping mechanisms required in good beekeeping could be transferred to everyday life to great effect. He realised that this could be great training and experience to help others with PSTD to deal with other challenging situations.

Having gained so much from his beekeeping experiences, Richard set up the Bee Free Project and this year it aims to teach up to 15 ex-service personnel beekeeping skills and to provide them with equipment for them to take up what can be a life-changing hobby. The course is open to any ex-service personnel and is free.

When Sebastian Owen, Vita’s Commercial Manager, heard about the Bee Free Project, he was immediately impressed: “Ever since Vita was formed in 1997, we have been strong supporters of some beekeeping charities. In particular, we have a long-standing relationships with two charities – Bees for Development and Bees Abroad – that enable some of the world’s poorest people to improve their lives through beekeeping. The Bee Free Project is very innovative and looks set to make a real impact on individual’s lives in a very different way. We are delighted to support it.”

For more information and how you can take part or support the Bee Free Project, see www.beefreeproject.org. Individual beekeepers can offer their support by buying supplies online from the Project to help boost its funds.