Volunteer Drivers

If you drive a vehicle to carry out church-related duties, you should check the level of cover provided by your insurance company and tell them that you are volunteering. In the vast majority of cases your insurance company will not charge an additional insurance premium for your volunteering work and will simply make a note on your policy.  They may provide cover under your SDP policy or they could choose to add personal business cover. If they suggest that a payment is required, this may be waived if you tell them how little you drive for the church compared to your other activities.

Please complete the annual declaration (Form F8) downloadable via this link: https://diocesehn.org.uk/services/health-safety/health-safety-manual/

Submit the form to your parish health and safety representative johnwells2911@gmail.com or to the parish secretary. You do not need to provide documentation.  Examples of church-related journeys include:

·                             those who use cars to take communion to the housebound

·                             driving to the bank with collection monies

·                             being part of a rota to collect members of (for example) a lunch club

·                             an organised or semi-organised arrangement where parishioners with cars pick up other parishioners to bring them to Mass.

4th May -No Eucharistic Service St Bede's

Eucharistic Service at St. Bede’s - Please note there is no service on Monday May 4th (Bank Holiday) Services resume Wednesday May 6th at 9 am

Thought from Fr. Colm - 3rd May 2026

I’d like to welcome, and thank, Gillian McArthur, who is our new Safeguarding Officer for the Parish of the Durham Martyrs. As you know, Kathleen Murray and Dennis Bradley have been our Safeguarding Officers for nearly twenty years. They have worked diligently to ensure safeguarding practices were of the highest priority. I’d like to thank both for their care, sensitivity and support, to me in particular over the years . Thanks to Gillian for taking on the roles of two. But from the parish perspective, it is better to have one.

We had a visit from the Youth Ministry Team last Saturday for our Youth Team. What a great evening it was. Well done to our parish team for organising it.

We welcome Bishop Stephen next Tuesday night for our Confirmations. We expect a full house with parents and sponsors joining us.