Walking Together: Travel Hands × Sainsbury’s Corporate Volunteering Day

On 24th September 2025, Travel Hands partnered with Sainsbury’s for a special corporate volunteering day at St Paul’s Cathedral. The day brought together 15 Visually Impaired People (VIPs), 13 Sainsbury’s volunteers, and 2 members of the Travel Hands team for an enriching experience of accessibility, history, and shared connection.

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Exterior and interior views of St Paul’s Cathedral — the iconic dome and statues outside, and the grand interior with intricate architecture, golden details, and softly lit candles inside.
The day began with awe-inspiring views of St Paul’s Cathedral — its magnificent architecture setting the scene for a memorable and inclusive experience with Sainsbury’s volunteers and VIPs.

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Beginning the Journey

Travel Hands VIPs exploring St Paul’s Cathedral with support from Sainsbury’s volunteers — one pair smiling outside the grand entrance and another walking together inside the cathedral’s historic hall.
Sainsbury’s volunteers guided VIPs through the beauty of St Paul’s Cathedral — from its stunning exterior to its peaceful interiors, sharing an inclusive and joyful day together.

Each VIP shared with us a pickup location convenient for them, where a Sainsbury’s team member was present to pick up the VIP. Some of the VIPs requested to be picked up from their home, others were happy to meet at the nearest tube station to our event venue, St Paul’s Cathedral. We gathered at the accessible entrance of St Paul’s Cathedral, where VIPs and their respective volunteer assembled. Each participant received headphones to use during the guided audio tour. With volunteers by their side, VIPs explored the Cathedral’s grandeur, with guidance and explanations that made the experience more vivid and interactive.

Exploring Together

A collage of four photos showing Travel Hands VIPs and Sainsbury’s volunteers exploring St Paul’s Cathedral. The pairs are seen smiling, conversing, and touring the historic site, including the statue area and Admiral Horatio Nelson’s tomb.
Moments from the Sainsbury’s corporate volunteering day, where volunteers guided Travel Hands VIPs through the beautiful and historic St Paul’s Cathedral.

The tour lasted around 1.5 to 2 hours, during which volunteers helped VIPs engage with the surroundings beyond just listening. They kindly described details and assisted VIPs in touching elements such as tombs and crystals, adding a tactile layer to the tour that made history come alive.

Reflecting & Sharing

A group of people seated in a semi-circle inside a historic building with arched ceilings, participating in a Sainsbury’s volunteer event. One person is standing and speaking to the group, while others listen attentively. The setting appears warm and collaborative, with statues and stone walls in the background.
Sainsbury’s volunteers engaging in a meaningful group discussion during their corporate volunteering day, fostering teamwork and community connection in a historic venue.

After the tour, we gathered in the Cathedral café for refreshments, feedback, and conversation. It was a moment to relax, share experiences, and reflect on what the day had meant to each participant. Laughter, learning, and plenty of chit-chat filled the space, strengthening bonds between volunteers and VIPs.

Feedback & Reflections

Travel Hands VIPs and Sainsbury’s volunteers enjoying a meaningful day together — one pair sharing smiles during a break and another group exploring the cathedral grounds in the sunshine.
Building connections and creating memories — Sainsbury’s volunteers and VIPs enjoying a day filled with companionship, laughter, and accessibility in action.

After the tour, everyone gathered in the Cathedral café for snacks, feedback, and plenty of conversation. Both VIPs and volunteers shared how meaningful the day had been:

  • One VIP participant said:
    “It was amazing to experience St Paul’s in such an inclusive way. Having someone describe and guide me while I could touch parts of the Cathedral made it so much more real and memorable.”
  • Another VIP shared:
    “Usually, places like this can feel overwhelming. Today I felt welcomed and supported, TH have changed the lives of VIPs..”
  • A Sainsbury’s volunteer reflected:
    “Walking with a VIP gave me a whole new perspective, and how important it is to make culture accessible for everyone.”    ‍
  • Another volunteer added:
    “I loved being part of this. It wasn’t just about helping, I learned so much and had such genuine conversations. I’ll carry this experience with me.”

Training: In preparation for the volunteering day, we held a training session on 17th September with Sainsbury’s volunteers. During this session, we introduced them to the Travel Hands platform, explained how to register, and shared practical tips on guiding and walking with VIPs. This ensured that everyone felt confident and prepared to make the experience safe, supportive, and enjoyable.

A screenshot of a virtual meeting showing multiple participants from the Sainsbury’s team attending a corporate volunteer training session, each visible in individual video call windows, engaging attentively.
Training session with the Sainsbury’s team preparing for their corporate volunteering with Travel Hands.

Link to recording - Recap: Travel Hands Training Session 17 September | Meeting | Microsoft Teams

Gratitude

We extend our heartfelt thanks to St Paul’s Cathedral for welcoming us and offering their kind support throughout the visit. A special thank you also goes to the Sainsbury’s volunteers, whose patience, enthusiasm, and generosity made the day truly memorable.

Closing Thoughts

This collaboration highlighted the power of walking together, sharing stories, and making cultural spaces more accessible. For our VIPs, it was an opportunity to explore a historic landmark with confidence and inclusion. For the Sainsbury’s volunteers, it was a chance to see the world through a different perspective, deepening empathy and awareness.

We look forward to building more such partnerships and creating journeys where accessibility and community walk hand in hand.

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