Corporate Volunteering Day at Canary Wharf: Community, Curiosity, and Co-Creation

On 18 February, Travel Hands and JPMorgan Chase hosted a Corporate Volunteering Day at the Canary Wharf office, our second collaboration and the first of many planned for 2026.

VIPs were picked up from their locations by Travel Hands Guides (JP Morgan Chase Employees) and brought safely to the venue, setting the tone for a day built around care, curiosity, and shared learning.

Breaking the Ice (and a few assumptions)

We began with a simple but revealing game: Two truths and a lie. Participants shared facts individually or in pairs (VIP + volunteer), while others guessed what was real and what wasn’t.

What stood out?
Sighted participants often gave themselves away: eye rolls, hesitation, nervous laughter. VIPs, however, showed almost no visible cues. It was a light, funny start, and quickly created the feeling that everyone already knew each other.

A Day in the Life

This session focused on understanding how VIPs navigate everyday routines.

Volunteers captured reflections on:

• _{daily schedules}
• _{habits and routines}
• _{how structure supports independence}

Most VIPs follow structured days to stay efficient, though some actively experiment with new habits and ways of living.

When asked about aspirations, the answers were powerful and practical:

• _{redesign inaccessible roads and footpaths (especially Oxford Street)}
• _{safer underground transitions and reduced train–platform gaps}
• _{improved communication accessibility}
• _{goals for 2026: resolving work support issues, buying homes, learning new tech, relocating}

Activities, Technology & Navigation

Conversations turned to everyday life:

• _{favourite activities}
• _{tech used daily}
• _{transport and navigation methods}

Assistive technology plays a central role, from smartphone accessibility features to software tools and Meta glasses.

Many VIPs rely on Transport for London staff assistance, though challenges remain:

• _{limited staff availability}
• _{inconsistent training}
• _{difficulty locating help quickly}

Lunch, Laughter, and Myth-Busting

After a shared lunch and a well-earned rest, the group moved into what many voted the highlight of the day: Myth Busting.

Volunteers shared assumptions; VIPs responded with lived realities.

Some myths discussed:

• _{“Guide dogs are automatically provided depending on impairment.”}
• _{“Blind people don’t go to the gym or play sports.”}
• _{“VIPs have superior hearing or a ‘sixth sense’.”}
• _{“All blind people use canes or guide dogs.”}
• _{“Most VIPs read Braille.”}

Reality check:

• _{only a small proportion use guide dogs or read Braille}
• _{blindness is a spectrum, not a single experience}

The humorous myths were equally memorable:

• _{the “magic guide dog” that can take you anywhere on command}
• _{accidentally eating fruit stickers because they’re impossible to detect by touch}
• _{the belief that blind people sleep with their eyes open}

One surprising discussion: around half the VIPs present used medication to regulate sleep due to reduced light perception — something many sighted participants related to through jet lag and seasonal light changes.

Testing VIP Assistant 

The afternoon focused on testing VIP Assistant, the AI audio chatbot developed through the Force for Good programme.

It enables VIPs to:

• _{plan journeys hands-free}
• _{create itineraries using voice}
• _{request in-person or remote support}
• _{receive safety prompts and live monitoring}

Initial tests revealed valuable insights:

What worked

• _{Android testing stabilised performance}
• _{strong interest in conversational, voice-led interaction}
• _{enthusiasm about real-time assistance potential}

What needs improvement

• _{too many booking questions creating friction}
• _{30-second response times felt long}
• _{robotic tone and background ticking sound caused irritation (especially for neurodivergent users)}
• _{users compared expectations to conversational AI experiences}

Suggestions included:

• _{capturing key information first, then letting operations teams follow up}
• _{improving accent recognition}
• _{providing backup devices during sessions}
• _{clearer visibility on which volunteer will assist a journey}

Volunteer Reflections

For many JPMorgan volunteers, this was their first guiding experience.

Initial thoughts:

• _{uncertainty about physical guidance (“How do I touch? Will it be uncomfortable?”)}
• _{reassurance from in-app training}
• _{confidence grew quickly through real interaction}

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive:

• _{“A novel and meaningful experience.”}
• _{“I’d love to continue volunteering.”}
• _{“Let’s set up tech earlier next time to avoid delays.”}

Deepak Pandiyarajan, lead volunteer, shared his appreciation for the day and encouraged everyone to spread the word about the next event planned for May 2026 in an outdoor setting.

Closing the Day

The event ended with photos, conversations, and warm goodbyes — until next time.

VIPs were supported back to their respective locations by volunteers, closing the day exactly as it began: with care, coordination, and community.

More than a corporate volunteering session, the day became a space where:

• _{assumptions were challenged}
• _{technologies were tested honestly}
• _{relationships formed naturally}
• _{and accessibility moved from theory into lived understanding}

Special thanks to Deepak and the entire JPMorgan team for their commitment, openness, and willingness to learn alongside the VIP community.

Let’s Collaborate

If your organisation is looking for a meaningful, hands-on corporate volunteering experience, one that builds empathy, strengthens teams, and creates real social impact, we would love to work with you.

💌 Email: contact@vipworldservices.com
🌐 Website: www.travelhands.co.uk
📞 Phone: +44 20 3966 1650

Because at Travel Hands, we believe in Turning Movement Into Good.

‍