Bee Sober: Fitness for the Recovery Community

Who We Help, Why We Help & the Difference It Makes

What We Do

SUPPORT

We’re that friend you can cry with one minute - and you’ll be snort-laughing with us the next. You can be always be real with us - without any judgement.

Looking for a supportive community that accepts you for who you are? Bee Sober is here to offer you a judgement-free space where you can be your true self. We understand the challenges of living in a world where drinking and partying are the norm, and we're here to say that there's a better way to have fun. With Bee Sober, you can be yourself, without any life pressures. We're always here to lend a helping hand, and we'll be there to cheer you on every step of the way. So join us and let's have some proper fun, while being brave, kind, and sober!

• Do you want to feel amazing in 30 days?
• Do you ever feel that you may be drinking too much?
• Do you sometimes drink just for the sake of it?
• Do your social media posts often revolve around drinking?
• Do your birthday/Christmas cards and gifts often reflect the same?
• When you go out with friends are you always the first one to the bar and the last one home?
• Do you sometimes open a bottle of wine with the intention of only having one glass, but then finish the bottle?
• When was the last time you ever attended a wedding, works party, funeral, birthday party, family gathering or social event without wanting a drink?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, then the Bee Sober Experiment is for you!

The Sober Experiment® is now free. Don't forget to download the Bee Sober journal to work alongside this here

To join the Sober Experiment click here

Volunteer

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Community Trail

This project took place in 2023 and has now finished. Bee Sober offer a range of other opportunities please see their website for more information 

Bee Sober successfully applied to the Innovation in 2023 to develop their Fitness for the Recovery Community  project. 

What did the project aim to achieve:

The goal was to motivate individuals, especially those in recovery, to participate in fitness and physical activities. We hosted three online fitness sessions each week to maximize our reach, along with one weekly outdoor activity that included accountability support. With the assistance of a fully qualified personal trainer, we engaged participants in regular exercise. Our approach addressed all five aspects of well-being:

• We connected via Zoom three mornings a week.
• Each session lasted 30-45 minutes, focusing on bodyweight exercises and weights to promote physical activity.
• Participants learned new skills and exercises collaboratively.
• We offered this program free to the community for three months, with no cap on the number of participants.
• Each session also included stretching and breathing exercises to foster mindfulness.

Additionally, we encouraged all participants to partake in a weekly outdoor step challenge to enhance and reinforce these efforts.

The aims of this project were to

• To encourage physical wellbeing for individuals who are unable to afford or do not have confidence to access to gyms
• To encourage and promote mental wellbeing through exercise for individuals who are unable to afford or do not have confidence to access to gyms
• To encourage collaboration and community through regular fitness meetings for individuals who are unable to afford or do not have confidence to access to gyms
• To support those in recovery to build new healthier habits to support their wellbeing and recovery
• To bring like-minded individuals together through exercise and community

What were the outcomes of the project?

Regular attendees to the Bee Fit sessions now established and two more permanent members joined. Regular attendance is now 15 and up to 20 people. We had an amazing turnout for the Bee Wild event with 30 participants on the Saturday fitness and 15 on the Sunday fitness – both of these have more than doubled since before the project

We now have 15-20 people regularly attending the classes. They are all based across the country. 1 from North Wales, 1 from the borders, 1 from Edinburgh, 1 from Glasgow, 1 from Essex, 1 from South Manchester, 1 from Yorkshire,5 from London, Hampshire and Surrey and others across different locations, 1 from Nottingham, 1 from Newcastle. Yoga sessions attract different people but the location also reaches California and Dublin

The main audience for the project have been people over 35, mainly ladies are benefitting from our project. Many are menopausal ladies and are using the exercise to manage their symptoms. All are either in recovery, living a sober lifestyle or aspire to do so, mental health of these individuals has been greatly improved and formed a good way to connect and discuss topics in a likeminded way. As well as exercise we do engage in a coffee and conversation each morning. Most cannot afford a gym membership or do not have the confidence to step into a gym environment – the sessions have become ‘non-negotiable’ for most members.

Feedback from participants

“ I am a member of bee fit and it has transformed my mornings! I am physically stronger and happier through the amazing connections I have made . Alex is a skilled and motivational trainer”

“I'm very grateful for bee fit, which gives me the opportunity to exercise before the demands of the day start! Exercising with kindred spirits is essential for the continuation of my sobriety, and the hilarity and entertainment ensures the BEST start to any day ”

“Bee Fit is a pivotal part of my routine. My physical fitness is better than it’s ever been and my emotional well-being is increased through the amazing sense of community provided by Alex”