Associate Membership of The British Bee Charity

By becoming an Associate Member of The British Bee Charity, you are joining a community of people who share a passion for bees, beekeeping and the protection of our precious pollinators.

Your membership helps support the work of our charity, including promoting good beekeeping practices, educating the public about the importance of bees and other pollinators, supporting beekeepers and encouraging the next generation to care for the natural world.

We are a charity run by people who are passionate about bees and the environment. We believe that by working together, sharing knowledge and encouraging responsible beekeeping, we can help protect bees and other pollinators for generations to come.

Associate Membership Benefits

Our Associate Membership is designed for people who keep bees and wish to support the work of The British Bee Charity through a one-year membership.

As an Associate Member, you can enjoy being part of our beekeeping community and benefit from opportunities to connect with other members, learn more about beekeeping and support the charity’s activities.

Your membership includes:

• One year’s membership of The British Bee Charity.
• The opportunity to connect with fellow beekeepers and share knowledge and experience.
• Access to relevant charity events, shows and social activities.
• Regular information and updates about the charity and its activities.
• Opportunities to support our educational and environmental initiatives.
• The chance to contribute to the wider work of the charity in promoting the welfare of bees and other pollinators.

Please note that Associate Membership does not include Third Party Product and Public Liability Insurance or Bee Disease Insurance (BDI). Members are responsible for making their own arrangements for any insurance cover they require.

Insurance Arrangements

As an Associate Member, it is important to understand that your membership does not provide insurance cover for your beekeeping activities.

Third Party Product and Public Liability Insurance

Third Party Product and Public Liability Insurance is not included in Associate Membership.

If you require insurance to protect against potential liability arising from your beekeeping activities or bee-related products, you should arrange appropriate cover independently and ensure that the policy meets your individual needs.

Bee Disease Insurance (BDI)

Bee Disease Insurance is also not included in Associate Membership.

This means that your membership does not provide BDI cover for American Foulbrood (AFB) or European Foulbrood (EFB).

We strongly encourage all beekeepers to understand the risks associated with bee diseases, maintain good standards of hive management and biosecurity, and consider whether separate bee disease insurance is appropriate for their circumstances.

If you have questions about membership or the insurance options available, please contact our Membership Secretary at:

membership@britishbeecharity.com

Supporting Good Beekeeping

Whether you are an experienced beekeeper or are still developing your skills, we encourage all members to continue learning and sharing their knowledge.

Responsible beekeeping involves regular inspections, good hive management, awareness of common bee diseases and careful attention to biosecurity. These practices help protect your own colonies and reduce the risk of disease spreading to other apiaries.

Being part of a beekeeping community offers valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from others and seek advice when needed.

We hope your membership will encourage you to remain engaged with the wider beekeeping community and continue developing your interest in these remarkable insects.

Events, Shows and Social Activities

The British Bee Charity attends shows and organises events and social activities throughout the year.

These provide opportunities for members to meet other beekeepers, exchange experiences, learn more about bees and discover the work being carried out by the charity.

We encourage you to take part whenever possible. Whether your interests lie in practical beekeeping, conservation, education or simply meeting like-minded people, we hope you will find opportunities to get involved.

Please keep an eye on our website and member communications for information about forthcoming events and activities.

Helping to Protect the Future of Bees

Membership is about more than simply belonging to an organisation. It is about supporting a shared purpose and helping to make a positive difference.

The British Bee Charity works to promote the welfare of bees and other pollinators, explain why they are so important and encourage people to take practical steps to help them.

Our educational initiatives, including BeeBombs4Schools and Bees4Schools, help children learn about bees, pollination and the importance of protecting the natural environment.

By supporting the charity, sharing knowledge and encouraging others to appreciate the value of pollinators, you can help us continue this important work.

Every member has a part to play in helping to protect bees for future generations.

Keeping Bees at a British Bee Charity Apiary

Please note that Associate Membership does not include the right to keep bees at The British Bee Charity’s apiaries.

If you would like to keep your bees at one of our charity apiaries, you will need to upgrade your membership to Full Membership.

Full Members may apply for a place at one of our apiaries, subject to availability, approval by the relevant Apiary Manager and payment of the applicable annual apiary fee, which is payable in addition to the membership subscription.

Our apiaries provide excellent opportunities to develop your beekeeping skills, share knowledge and experience with other beekeepers, and become more involved in the charity’s activities.

If you are interested in upgrading to Full Membership or would like further information about keeping bees at one of our apiaries, please contact our Membership Secretary at:

membership@britishbeecharity.com

We will be happy to provide further information about Full Membership and the arrangements for keeping bees at a charity apiary.

Rules of Membership

All members are asked to familiarise themselves with The British Bee Charity’s Rules of Membership.

Please read the current rules here:

The British Bee Charity – Rules of Membership

We encourage all members to follow the charity’s rules and guidance and to act responsibly in their beekeeping activities.

Data Protection

Information supplied during the membership application process is used by The British Bee Charity CIO for purposes relevant to its activities and is handled in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and the charity’s privacy arrangements.

Please contact the Membership Coordinator if you have any questions or concerns about how your information is used.

National Bee Unit (NBU)

We recommend that all permanent and temporary apiary locations are registered with BeeBase, the National Bee Unit’s online system.

Further information is available at www.nationalbeeunit.com.

Registering your apiary locations helps support bee health monitoring and the management of serious notifiable bee diseases.

Gift Aid

If you are eligible, you may be able to Gift Aid qualifying donations to the charity, allowing The British Bee Charity to claim additional funds from HM Revenue & Customs at no extra cost to you.

To make a valid Gift Aid declaration, you must have paid sufficient UK Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the relevant tax year to cover the amount reclaimed on your donations. If you pay tax at the higher or additional rate, you may also be able to claim further tax relief through your Self Assessment tax return.

Please ensure that any Gift Aid declaration you make meets the applicable requirements.

Contact Information

The British Bee Charity CIO generally prefers to communicate by email and WhatsApp. Providing up-to-date contact details enables us to keep you informed about membership matters, charity activities and important announcements.

If you have any questions about your Associate / Partner Membership, please contact our Membership Secretary at:

membership@britishbeecharity.com

For questions about a particular apiary, please contact the relevant Apiary Manager.

Thank you for supporting The British Bee Charity. We are delighted to welcome you as an Associate / Partner Member for the next 12 months and hope you enjoy being part of our community as we continue working together to support bees, beekeepers and the wider environment.

Data Protection

Information supplied during the membership application process is used by The British Bee Charity CIO for purposes relevant to its activities and is handled in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and the charity’s privacy arrangements.

Please contact the Membership Coordinator if you have any questions or concerns about how your information is used.

National Bee Unit (NBU)

We recommend that all permanent and temporary apiary locations are registered with BeeBase, the National Bee Unit’s online system.

Further information is available at www.nationalbeeunit.com.

Registering your apiary locations helps support bee health monitoring and the management of serious notifiable bee diseases.

Gift Aid

If you are eligible, you may be able to Gift Aid qualifying donations to the charity, allowing The British Bee Charity to claim additional funds from HM Revenue & Customs at no extra cost to you.

To make a valid Gift Aid declaration, you must have paid sufficient UK Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the relevant tax year to cover the amount reclaimed on your donations. If you pay tax at the higher or additional rate, you may also be able to claim further tax relief through your Self Assessment tax return.

Please ensure that any Gift Aid declaration you make meets the applicable requirements.

Contact Information

The British Bee Charity CIO generally prefers to communicate by email and WhatsApp. Providing up-to-date contact details enables us to keep you informed about membership matters, charity activities and important announcements.

If you have any questions about your Associate / Partner Membership, please contact our Membership Secretary at:

membership@britishbeecharity.com

For questions about a particular apiary, please contact the relevant Apiary Manager.

Thank you for supporting The British Bee Charity. We are delighted to welcome you as an Associate / Partner Member for the next 12 months and hope you enjoy being part of our community as we continue working together to support bees, beekeepers and the wider environment.