- National Lottery operator Allwyn UK is helping more than 4,000 volunteers prepare for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games through its Social Value Fund
- Partnership highlights how National Lottery players help support communities, volunteering and major events
- Six Allwyn UK employees have signed up to volunteer at the Games themselves, demonstrating the company's commitment to community participation
Scottish broadcaster Lorraine Kelly swapped the studio for the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) this week, going undercover to support the volunteer team at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games to experience first-hand the training and support delivered by Allwyn UK, operator of The National Lottery and the Games' Official Volunteer Learning and Development Partner.
Over the course of a morning, Lorraine took on three frontline volunteering roles supporting the Glasgow 2026 workforce, Games athletes and the public alongside the Games' “Legends” – the army of more than 4,000 volunteers helping to stage this summer's Commonwealth Games.
She started the morning by welcoming the hard-working Glasgow 2026 workforce as they started their shifts, before meeting Team Scotland netball athletes ahead of their training session and rounding out the day by joining the Spectator Services team to greet the public and help fans find their way around the venue – complete with megaphone and foam finger.
The visit shone a spotlight on the training that sits behind every one of the 4,000 Legends taking part in this year's Games. Through Allwyn UK's Social Value Fund, the partnership has supported the delivery of a comprehensive training programme, both online and in-person, ensuring volunteers are fully prepared and confident in their roles before stepping out in front of spectators and the watching world.
Three-quarters of this year's volunteers are from Scotland, and a third are returning Games-makers, having previously volunteered at Glasgow 2014, Birmingham 2022 or the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – bringing a wealth of experience alongside a new generation of first-time volunteers. Allwyn UK's own commitment to the Games extends beyond training: six members of Allwyn UK staff have also signed up to join the Glasgow 2026 volunteering team themselves, working shoulder to shoulder with the Legends Allwyn UK helped prepare.
Lorraine Kelly Image: Allwyn UK
“There was no way I was missing the chance to get stuck in and be part of this,” said Kelly. “Spending the morning with the Glasgow 2026 workforce, Team Scotland athletes and Spectator Services volunteer team showed me just how much goes into making the Commonwealth Games run so smoothly and how ready and switched-on every single volunteer is. That doesn't happen by accident – it's down to the training Allwyn UK has put behind these Legends, and I take my hat off to every one of them. Glasgow knows how to put on a show, and this year's volunteers are going to make sure the world sees it.”
Alastair Ruxton, Chief Impact Officer at Allwyn UK, said: "Lorraine's visit perfectly captured what makes volunteering at Glasgow 2026 so special. Behind every warm welcome, helpful conversation and memorable Games moment is a volunteer who has invested their time, energy and enthusiasm to be part of something bigger. Through our Social Value Fund, we're proud to support the training and development that helps those volunteers feel confident, acquire new skills and create amazing memories. We're also incredibly proud that six of our own colleagues are volunteering at the Games, standing alongside the Legends. Seeing Lorraine join the team for a morning underlined just how important the Legends will be in creating an unforgettable experience for everyone who comes to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games."
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is taking over Glasgow until 2 August, with the Scottish Event Campus serving as one of the Games' venues.