Wakefield Cathedral welcomes back a familiar face after securing funding for a new community outreach officer to join the team.
Gillian Bunn is no stranger to working for the Cathedral; she developed some exciting projects as part of her role as heritage learning officer which ended last December.
During that posting, she set up Little Cherubs, a music group for pre-school children and their carers, helped to tell the story of the Cathedral’s stained glass heritage and uncovered some unknown stories of Wakefield’s role during WW1 as well as delivered an exciting outreach programme for schools.
Now she is back, with a more community-based brief, to work with schools and the community, and develop the provision for under 5s.
The new post is thanks to a three-year grant from Allchurches Trust – one of the UK’s largest grant-making trusts benefiting churches, charities and communities.
Said Gillian, pictured left: “I am really happy to be back, and this time my role is not constrained by heritage. I want to embed education even more deeply into the daily life of the cathedral.
“My job will be far more Mission-based, far more community-focused – and I am looking forward to working again with schools, and further developing our provision for the under 5s,” she added.
And Gillian has taken no time getting back into the swing of things, with Family Fun Thursday in the Cathedral which saw over 60 people explore different activities around the Easter theme. 
Next week sees Gillian’s first school visitors from St Michael’s Academy coming to Wakefield Cathedral, followed by an assembly in Flanshaw Junior and Infants School and more work with St Michael’s and Oak Field Park School later in the week.
Plans for the future include expanding the Little Cherubs project to introduce more craft and music and the chance to socialise.
The Revd Canon John Lawson, Canon Librarian at the Cathedral, who steered this grant-funded project, said: “We are really pleased to have Gillian back with us and allow her to build upon the wide diverse programme she has already helped us develop with school groups throughout the year.
“These were very well-done workshops, well delivered and well received. So we are doubly pleased to welcome her back."