Last week, we were honoured to attend a very special event at Clarence House to celebrate the launch of GoVo, a groundbreaking new volunteering platform from Royal Voluntary Service. The event was hosted by Royal Voluntary Service and their Patron, Her Majesty Queen Camilla, and brought together an inspiring group of guests passionate about volunteering and community impact.
GoVo has been developed thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery. This innovative platform connects people with flexible local and remote volunteering opportunities, making it easier than ever to fit volunteering into busy lives. Research by Royal Voluntary Service shows that flexibility is key – people are far more likely to volunteer if roles can adapt to their schedules. GoVo answers that need, even offering opportunities that can be completed within a lunch hour.
To raise awareness of GoVo and its flexible roles, Royal Voluntary Service introduced the ‘Role of Lunchtime’ food truck, inviting people to “find a role on GoVo” in exchange for a hot jacket potato served by social media sensation Spudman. The food truck was hosted at Clarence House with Queen Camilla, shining a spotlight on the importance of volunteering and encouraging more people to get involved.
As one of only three charities invited, we were proud to have Senior Project Officer David from TCV London and 2025 TCV Hero Award winner Harrison representing The Conservation Volunteers. Both had the incredible opportunity to speak directly with Queen Camilla about the vital work TCV does to connect people with nature and strengthen communities. Her Majesty expressed her appreciation for the inclusive nature of our projects, which ensure everyone can get involved and benefit from volunteering.
The day was full of memorable moments! David and Harrison mingled with some well-known faces, including Ellie Simmonds, Tasha Ghouri, and Tom Read Wilson, and even shared a famous Spud Man potato with Gaby Roslin.
With so many volunteers in attendance, the event was a fantastic celebration of the impact volunteering has on individuals and communities. It also showcased how GoVo will make it easier than ever for people to find opportunities and get involved.
Royal Voluntary Service believes volunteers are the lifeforce of Britain’s communities. At a time when charities face increased demand and volunteer numbers are falling, GoVo is a tech-for-good innovation designed to connect volunteers to causes they care about, supporting charities across the country. The need for volunteers has never been greater, and GoVo will help mobilise volunteers for a better Britain.
A huge thank you to Royal Voluntary Service for inviting us to The Role of a Lunchtime event and to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery for supporting the GoVo platform. Together, we’re helping more people experience the joy and benefits of volunteering.