• Scotland’s most decorated Track and Field athlete, Eilidh Doyle, will promote the role of Games volunteers
• Partnership funded through Allwyn’s Social Value Fund, building on its support for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture volunteer programmes

With just over six months until the first medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Allwyn UK, operator of The National Lottery, has been named as the Official Volunteer Learning and Development Partner. 

More than 3,000 volunteers will be at the heart of the action when the Games return to Glasgow this year from 23 July to 2 August. The partnership will support the delivery of a training programme that will ensure every volunteer is ready to help stage a world-class festival of sport and culture. 

Supporting thousands of Games volunteers

Allwyn backs the volunteering programme through its Social Value Fund, an annual £1 million fund that Allwyn finances to support initiatives as part of its commitment to operate The National Lottery in an environmentally and socially responsible way.

For Glasgow 2026, Allwyn’s investment gives all volunteers access to an exceptional online learning portal and in-person training. The programme equips volunteers for roles across event and venue support, transport, media services, content creation, athlete support, and ceremonies activity, ensuring every volunteer is ready to help deliver a world-class festival of sport and culture.

As part of its commitment to creating lasting social value, Allwyn is enabling colleagues to join the Glasgow 2026 volunteering team. This initiative ensures Allwyn’s commitment to volunteering translates into tangible on-the-ground impact and supports the smooth delivery of the Games for athletes, spectators and communities across Scotland. 

Post‑event evaluation will also be carried out to measure the programme’s impact and ensure the benefits of volunteering continue long after the final medal of the Games is won.

Eilidh Doyle to champion Glasgow 2026 volunteers

Eilidh Doyle, Scotland’s most decorated Track and Field athlete, is supporting the campaign to highlight the vital role of volunteers. Doyle, a three-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist — including at Glasgow 2014 — and Team Scotland flagbearer at Gold Coast 2018, will work with Allwyn as an ambassador to celebrate and champion the volunteers who are “the heartbeat” of the Games.

Scottish Para Cyclist Fin Graham, the reigning Paralympic and world champion who hopes to represent Team Scotland at Glasgow 2026, also attended the partnership launch at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Andria Vidler, Chief Executive Officer of National Lottery operator, Allwyn, said: "The Commonwealth Games are a cornerstone of the sporting calendar and volunteers help make them exceptional. Allwyn is proud to power the Glasgow 2026 volunteer programme through our Social Value Fund, helping ensure every volunteer is ready to deliver a world-class Games.

“I’m especially pleased that colleagues from across Allwyn will join the 3,000‑strong volunteer team - an experience that will benefit the Games, local communities and our people alike.”

Diane McLeod, Director of Workforce and Games Services at Glasgow 2026, said: “Our campaign for Glasgow 2026 volunteers had an incredible response with thousands of individuals putting themselves forward to support the Games to return to Glasgow. We’re now in the selection phase, reviewing applications and creating a diverse group of both experienced and first-time volunteers to bring the Games to life.

“Their passion is reflective of the spirit of the Commonwealth Games and with Allwyn’s support we can deliver an enhanced volunteer training programme that will prepare more than 3,000 volunteers for this Summer’s event.”

Eilidh Doyle added: “As an athlete, I can tell you that volunteers are integral to the success of a Games. They are the brilliantly efficient army working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs on time and to create a legacy of community impact. I have discovered the joy of volunteering for myself, supporting as a volunteer within schools and Scottish Athletics.

“Glasgow is one of the most passionate sporting cities on the planet, and I’m sure the volunteers will enhance its reputation as a host of world-class events. I can’t wait to help show how our 2026 volunteers will once again be the legends of the Games.”

Allwyn’s Social Fund has already galvanised volunteering and sporting and cultural events across the UK:

• The Fund powered the 1,500-strong volunteer team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, where two-thirds of volunteers were women and 41% volunteered at a major event for the first time.
• The Fund is enabling Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture volunteers to access ongoing training and development in 2026, beyond the year-long cultural programme.

In 2025, thanks to National Lottery players, over £144 million in grants were awarded to community, arts, sports, and heritage projects, changing lives in every corner of Scotland.

The Velodrome, originally built for Glasgow 2014, received £9.77 million of National Lottery funding through sportscotland. Today, it remains a major sporting hub, hosting international events and supporting community sport, and will again be one of four iconic venues for Glasgow 2026, staging Track Cycling, Para Track Cycling, and Artistic Gymnastics. 

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Visit Glasgow2026.com to find the full sporting schedule and available tickets for the UK’s biggest sporting event this year.