Broadcaster and Scottish legend Lorraine Kelly swapped the studio for the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) this week, going undercover as a volunteer at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games to experience first-hand the training and support delivered by Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery and the Games' Official Volunteer Learning and Development Partner.

She started the morning by welcoming the hard-working Glasgow 2026 workforce  as they started their shifts, before escorting several Team Scotland netball athletes from their hotel to the SEC for 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.

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'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'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 helped prepare.

‍Lorraine Kelly said: “There was no way I was missing the chance to get stuck in and be part of this. Spending the morning with the Glasgow 2026 staff, 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 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."

‍Diane McLeod, Director of Games Services at Glasgow 2026, said: “Our Legends are at the heart of everything we do at these Games, and it was brilliant to have Lorraine join them for a morning to see their hard work and enthusiasm up close. With more than 4,000 volunteers taking on roles across the city, the scale of what they deliver is enormous - and that's only possible because of the training and preparation Allwyn has helped provide.”

Allwyn's support for the Glasgow 2026 volunteer programme is delivered through its Social Value Fund, which backs training and development for volunteers across major UK sporting and cultural events. The partnership is designed to help volunteers develop skills, build confidence, and gain experiences that extend beyond the events.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is taking over Glasgow until 2 August, with the Scottish Event Campus serving as one of the Games' venues.

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Notes to Editors

About Allwyn and The National Lottery

Allwyn operates The National Lottery® under licence, raising vital funds that help communities thrive across the UK. Every ticket makes a difference - from grassroots sport and local arts to heritage and community initiatives. Distribution of funds is managed by independent bodies.     

• Players of The National Lottery raise around £33 million every week for National Lottery-funded projects. Since its launch in 1994, more than £53 billion has been raised, funding over 680,000 Good Cause projects in every part of the UK. In every postcode district, most people will have benefited from a National Lottery-funded project at some point.     

• The National Lottery has awarded players over £103 billion in prize money, creating more than 8,000 millionaires.    

• Learn more about Allwyn and The National Lottery at www.allwyn.co.uk and www.national-lottery.co.uk. · Explore projects funded in your area at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk.    

• Players must be 18 or over. Please play responsibly.    

Press enquiries: Allwyn Press Office - 020 7632 5711

About Glasgow 2026

Glasgow 2026 promises an altogether brilliant Commonwealth Games, taking place from 23 July to 2 August and combining world‑class sport with a future‑focused vision delivered through the vibrant spirit of the city. Set within a concentrated eight‑mile corridor, the Games will feature 10 sports and six Para sports, across four iconic venues, including Scotstoun Stadium, the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome & Arena and Tollcross International Swimming Centre. 

Highlights include a record-breaking Para sport programme, the biggest Track Cycling, Swimming and 3x3 Basketball competitions in Commonwealth Games history, and the return of the Commonwealth Mile in Athletics.

Alongside the Games, the Glasgow 2026 Festival will feature a vibrant programme of culture, music, sport and community‑led celebrations. Running from 23 May to 9 August, the Festival will feature world‑class creative talent alongside local events delivered by community groups and sports clubs. With opportunities for people of all ages to get active and get involved, it will create a citywide celebration that brings communities together, inspires participation and amplifies the excitement of the Games.

Led by Chair George Black CBE and Chief Executive Officer Phil Batty OBE, Glasgow 2026 Limited is the privately funded Organising Company responsible for delivering the Games. Based in the city centre, the organisation employs nearly 200 people and will generate an estimated £150 million in local economic activity, welcoming 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories, supported by 3,000 volunteers and thousands of fans from across Glasgow and beyond.