Walking Together: Travel Hands x JP Morgan Chase Corporate Volunteering Day

All the participants are posing for the camera together with Ishan and Krinal form the Travel Hands team included. The beautiful Canary Wharf background is visible in the picture with big buildings and greenery.
Travel Hands and JP Morgan Chase corporate volunteering day participants

On 19th August 2025, we hosted a very special corporate volunteering event in Canary Wharf with the incredible team from JP Morgan Chase. This event was made possible through their Force for Good Programme, where Travel Hands has been selected as a special project for 2025. Together, we are co-developing an AI-powered audio chatbot for our mobile app, designed to help Visually Impaired People (VIPs) plan journeys and connect with nearby volunteers.

Our idea was simple: bring JP Morgan employees and VIPs together in their local neighbourhood, and test our prototype in a real-world, meaningful way.

The Experience

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Group of VIPs and Volunteers standing in front of an art work. Deepak is taking a selfie
Selfie in front of a colourfull artwork and people
4 pictures of VIP and Volunteers walking, smiling, posing and sharing in the event
VIPs and Volunteers enjoying the walk in different parts of Canary Wharf

We had 10 VIPs and 10 volunteers join us for a morning of guided walks exploring Canary Wharf’s outdoor art exhibition (art map). Each pair followed mapped routes, sharing conversations, laughter, and reflections along the way. Many volunteers admitted they had passed these streets countless times but had never truly noticed their surroundings until walking with a VIP. One participant beautifully summed it up: “What started as nerves quickly turned into joy. By the end, we were laughing like old friends.”

Lunch at the JP Morgan Chase office gave everyone a chance to connect further before moving on to explore the Travel Hands app and share feedback.

Honest Feedback, Real Insights

Our VIPs generously shared what works and what needs improvement:

  • Maxine: “Make the settings clearer and easier for VIP users.”
  • Aksa: Suggested big fonts, dark mode, and more voice interaction.
  • Fabiana: Asked for fewer emojis in emails, as they’re confusing with screen readers. For us, “Less is more.”
  • Kevin: Enjoys phone support and highlighted his passion for blind cricket.

Volunteers echoed the importance of direct communication with VIPs in the app, rather than just customer service. The overwhelming conclusion was clear: simplicity matters most.

Reflections

VIP Fabiana posing with a thumbs up and VIP Paula smiling facing the camera. They are in front of a fountain
A big thumbs up from Chavez sisters
VIP Kevin posing in the same way as the sculpture behind. Volunteer explained how the sculpture looks
Posing with the sculpture - did any volunteer explain the pose?

The day was more than a volunteering event—it was a reminder of how connection, empathy, and accessibility can transform everyday experiences. Many VIPs were emotional by the end, sharing how the day was both unexpected and joyful. Volunteers left with new friendships, deeper awareness, and a renewed appreciation of inclusivity.

We are excited to continue this partnership with JPMorgan Chase, with more events planned for October and December 2025. Each step we take together brings us closer to making safe, inclusive travel a reality for all.

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