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, and Scottish Para Cyclist Fin Graham, the reigning Paralympic and world champion are 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.
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.
To keep up to date with the latest news, visit www.glasgow2026.com.
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Notes to Editors
For media enquiries and interview requests, contact: [email protected]
Keep up to date with all the latest Games news via Glasgow 2026 social media channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Glasgow2026CG/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Glasgow_2026/
LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/company/Glasgow2026
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@glasgow_2026
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@commonwealthsport?lang=en
X: https://x.com/glasgow_2026
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CommonwealthGames
The Games hashtag is #Glasgow2026
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 £32 million every week for National Lottery-funded projects. Since its launch in 1994, more than £52 billion has been raised, funding over 670,000 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 £102 billion in prize money, creating more than 7,700 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, paving the way for a new era of Commonwealth Sport.
Taking place from 23 July to 2 August, Glasgow 2026 is an 11-day celebration that combines world-class sport with a future-focused vision, built and delivered by the vibrant spirit of Glasgow.
Set within a concentrated, eight-mile corridor that brings the Games closer to the fans than ever before, Glasgow 2026 will deliver:
A record-breaking Para sport programme – 47 events across six sports
The biggest Track Cycling, Swimming and 3x3 Basketball competitions seen at a Commonwealth Games
Groundbreaking events like the return of the Commonwealth Mile in Athletics
10 exhilarating sports across four of the city’s iconic venues; from Scotstoun Stadium to
the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Arena, to Tollcross
International Swimming Centre.
Glasgow 2026 will see 3,000 volunteers, alongside thousands of fans, and communities
from across the city join together to welcome 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and
territories to the city.
Led by Chair George Black CBE, an independent Board and Chief Executive Officer, Phil
Batty OBE, Glasgow 2026 Limited is the Organising Company (OC) which will deliver the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next summer.
Based in the city centre, the OC will directly employ around 160 people and is privately funded, securing its income through Commonwealth Sport, corporate sponsorship, broadcast rights, global partnerships and ticket sales, which will see almost £150 million direct external investment into the city of Glasgow, with no cost to the public purse to deliver the sporting competition.
About Commonwealth Sport
Commonwealth Sport is the organisation with responsibility for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and for delivering the vision of the Commonwealth Sport Movement: 'Our Commonwealth, united through sport'.
Our mission is to deliver inspirational and impactful Games; to excite and empower athletes and young people; and to drive equality in sport and society across the Commonwealth. Established in 1930, the Commonwealth Sport Movement brings together 74 independent nations and territories creating a diverse Commonwealth community of over 2.5 billion individuals, representing one-third of the world's population.
Together we stand as a beacon of unity, diversity, and equality, completely integrating Para athletes, driving gender equality and advocating for legacy and social change through sport.
About Commonwealth Games Scotland
Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is one of 74 Commonwealth Games Associations who are members of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Commonwealth Games Scotland is the lead body for Commonwealth sport in Scotland, and is the organisation responsible for selecting, preparing and leading Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
Commonwealth Games Scotland and its member sports rely on investment, including National Lottery support, from sportscotland, the national agency for sport. CGS also actively seeks additional support for team preparations from commercial partners, fundraising activities and the
Commonwealth Games Endowment Trust.
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