Volunteer News
Here is the latest email newsletter with all news relating to volunteering here. Previous newsletters are in the Archive page. If you want to know what is happening more generally at the Palace, please sign up to the Bishop's Palace Newsletter ( click on 'What's On' menu tab and then scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up).
26 October 2026
Dear Volunteers,
Another packed volunteer news. Brace yourselves!
- The introduction of Bishop Michael to the House of Lords will be shown live on Parliament tv. Tuesday 27th October 2.30pm. You can search for the event using this link as it has now been archived: https://parliamentlive.tv/Search?Area=
Thank you to Rosemary, one of our volunteers, who has produced an information packed document about what this involves. You can find it on the volunteer website using the ‘Bishops’ tab/The Role of the Bishop's Office and Bishops.
- The eagle eyed amongst you may have spotted that your lanyards expire soon. Elaine Burgess, the new Community Engagement Assistant, is not starting until 17th Nov so it may be more like the beginning of December that the new lanyards are ready for you to collect . We will let you know. In the meantime we have let the staff in the shop know and you can just show them your current lanyard which will remain valid until the new ones are issued. Please note it will not work in the scanner after the expiry date.
- Here is an invitation to come along to a Kindness and Self Care Workshop here during Wells Kindness Week. There are 4 places set aside for members of our volunteer team and priority will be given to those who need it the most. Please let me know if you would like to come along by 4th Nov. It is part of many activities going on here during that week, and across Wells. We will be leaving gifts of plants around our city, placing ideas for random acts of kindness in the café, hosting participating organisations for a celebratory coffee and cake, hosting an art group and running a relaxing activity for staff in the community garden.
- Here is the report from this year’s Volunteer Survey. A reminder that all the volunteer role descriptions are up on the volunteer website – do have a look if you would like some clarification. Thank you to all of those who took part and congratulations to the six lucky winners chosen at random for a free coffee and cake!
- Would you like to help out with some of the Christmas set up and/or the Artisan Market? Here is a doc with all the info and a link to an online rota to sign up! I spent a happy 2 hours creating a felt goose decoration at the weekend (while listening to the football!) for the Twelve Days of Christmas Tree.
- Volunteer Coffee. This took place last week. Apologies to those of you who had it in your diary for this Friday. I did rearrange that a few weeks ago but it sounds like not everyone spotted that.
- The Somerset Poppies will be out on moat walk by the bastion on the corner near Palace Fields 6- 19 Nov. For those of you who don’t already know, each one represents the life lost of a serviceman from Somerset during WW1. The original display had 7,986 and were on the croquet lawn. Some were sold for charity and the remaining ones have been displayed in various location s in and around our grounds. They will be displayed for the final time next year.
Best Wishes
Siobhan