Supporting the Community locally

Please go to the individual Event Pages for dates, times and more detail on Upcoming Events

Every year we organise run a number of annual community fun events and also some one-off special events.

Heading in to Christmas we now organise the family Santa Fun Run held in the beautiful surounds of the City of Wells, with Christmas stalls set out in the market square and musical entertainment for all. Children are challenged to find Santa's reindeers along the route with a certificate and prize awaiting on return plus a snow machine to bring festive cheer. Funds raised in '23 went to Winston's Wish. This event replaces the Reindeer Parade that we used to run in December: perhaps the reindeer will join us at a future Fun Run.

Early January sees the Young Photographer of the Year Competition, with an evening viewing of entries at the Wells Museum with judging by public vote. A relaxed atmosphere awaits with buffet supper and reception drinks. Past youth events organised by the club include Kids Out, Youth Speaks and the Young Chef competition. Going forward we are looking to organise a Technology Tournament involving local businesses as sponsoring judges and teams from schools local to Wells.

A Wells Rotary project mid January on behalf of St Margaret’s Hospice Care sees us collecting and recycling your real Christmas tree. Close to the date we will provide an on-line link to book your collection: book early as registration closes early January.

Every week during school term as part of the Reading Listening Project a team visits St Cuthbert's Primary School in Wells to listen to young chidren read from set books: it is so rewarding to see the impact we have on their reading skills. Additionally on a weekly basis through out the year members of the club support the Talking News Papers project for the blind and partially sighted members of our community.

Typically we hold a couple of Frugal Lunches at the Crown in Wells each year (often on market days) serving homemade soup with bread and cheese for £20 per head. Funds raised are donated to local needy causes: '23 they were used to support of Wells Food Bank.

Early to mid-July sees The Wells Rotary Charity Boules Tournament taking place in the gardens of the Bishop's Palace in Wells. An annual event and a great family day out where teams compete agaisnt one another in a fun competition in aid of local and international good causes. Teams are regaled with a live jazz band while enjoying a picnic on the Palace garden lawns with the magnificent backdrop of the Cathedral. Team registration details are published on our web site in April. Its always fingers crossed for a dry day!!

Late summer sees a group of volunteers from within the community join the Wells Rotary team Stewarding Glastonbury Festival. Volunteers receive appropriate training and get a free ticket to attend the festival in return for working a number of shifts stewarding; post festival the club gets a handsome donation from Michael Eavis towards its charity account. A win-win for all involved.

As a one-off event, Wells Rotary staged an auction of promises at the Wells Town Hall in 2023 to raise funds in support or the project to extend the Heads UP Outreach Service. This was a major fund raising fun event with Charlie Bigham and Tim Pitman as principal guests. Many from the local business community joined us in bidding wildly for whatever. Looking forward we plan to organise a Sedan Chair race around the Bishop's Palace fields.