Lorraine Kelly made an unscheduled appearance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games this week, spending a morning working alongside the volunteer corps who will be at the heart of welcome and spectator services throughout the event. More than 4,000 volunteers — known collectively as “legends” — are supporting organisers, and Kelly took on three distinct roles to see that work first hand.
Hands-on volunteering across the venue
The presenter’s tasks included meeting members of the workforce responsible for greeting guests, spending time with the Team Scotland netball players ahead of a training session, and joining the spectator services team to assist the public within the venue. Her visit was organised with support from Allwyn UK, the National Lottery operator and the games’ official volunteer learning and development partner.
“There was no way I was missing the chance to get stuck in and be part of this,”
Kelly said the experience underlined just how much preparation and training underpins the volunteer effort and praised the dedication of those who have signed up to support the event.
Training, public-facing roles and social value
Allwyn UK has provided training and development for volunteers, a factor cited by organisers as central to volunteers feeling confident in front-line roles. Alastair Ruxton, Allwyn UK’s chief impact officer, described the visit as capturing the essence of volunteering at the Games and reiterated the company’s commitment to social value through skills development.
- More than 4,000 volunteers are assigned to roles across Glasgow 2026.
- Volunteer duties span welcome, athlete liaison and spectator services.
- Allwyn UK has supported training and deployed staff as volunteers.
| Volunteer role | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Welcome team | Greeting workforce and delegates |
| Athlete liaison | Meeting teams ahead of sessions |
| Spectator services | Helping public with directions and facilities |
For local authorities, event hosts and community groups, the scale of volunteer engagement is a reminder of the logistical planning required to stage major sporting events. Volunteers provide much of the visible public-facing support at venues and their training and coordination are crucial to the visitor experience.
As hosting cities prepare for large crowds and complex delivery challenges, the Glasgow example shows how public and private partners, including lottery operators, are investing in the volunteers who will shape the Games on the ground. That collaboration also aims to offer lasting benefits for those who gain new skills and experience through their service at a high-profile international event.
Coverage of the Games will continue as the event progresses and the role of volunteers becomes increasingly visible in every venue across Glasgow.
