Hi,
contact your local group anyway. Even if they run the beginners courses in the wintertime. They are always happy to help beginners. I am pretty sure somebody will take you under his/her (bee) wing and you can help in the apiary. So, you can learn this summer and might even get your first hive at the end of the summer.
Everybody how has space and time should have bees!! Easy to keep and lots of honey!