Her Majesty the Queen met superstar of spuds
Viral sensation Spudman joined Royal Voluntary Service to launch volunteering platform GoVo
- Royal Voluntary Service patron, Her Majesty The Queen, met viral TikTok star Spudman at Clarence House today to highlight flexible volunteering through GoVo, the charity’s volunteering platform, and encourage more people to give their time.
- Spudman and the ‘Role of a Lunchtime’ food truck travels to Shoreditch High Street, offering lunch to those who sign up and find a volunteering role that fits into a lunch break.
- New research from the charity reveals nearly three in four (71%) of Brits say they’d volunteer if it only took 30–60 minutes, the average length of a Brit’s typical lunch break.
- The new digital volunteering platform GoVo offers easy-to-access, flexible local and remote volunteering experiences to would-be volunteers.
5 November 2025: Her Majesty The Queen welcomed Spudman and Royal Voluntary Service supporters Gaby Roslin, Tasha Ghouri and Tom Read Wilson, to Clarence House today to celebrate the charity’s new digital volunteering platform, GoVo.
The Queen, Patron of Royal Voluntary Service, met volunteers from the charity, and found out how RVS is helping people discover flexible volunteering opportunities for everyone, through GoVo.org.
Sporting his signature pink mohawk, Spudman served up lunches from the ‘Role of a Lunchtime’ food truck, demonstrating that volunteering can be quick, simple, and rewarding - and fit perfectly into a lunch break. The viral Tik Tok star will be fronting RVS’s food truck for the day and after the special visit to Clarence House will set up in Shoreditch to serve up spuds to inspire would-be volunteers.
Spudman gave The Queen a behind-the-scenes tour of the ‘Role of a Lunchtime’ food truck, showing how the initiative operates and sharing how bite-sized volunteering roles can fit easily into a lunch break. During the visit, The Queen had the opportunity to see GoVo in action.
Following its Clarence House debut, the ‘Role of a Lunchtime’ truck will roll into Shoreditch High Street this afternoon, with Spudman helping the public sign up for bite-sized volunteering roles via GoVo, and serving free jacket potatoes in return. Toppings on offer include Full of Beans (baked beans and cheese), Hook, Line and Helper (tuna mayo), and the Coronation (coronation chicken) - a nod to the Queen’s visit to the truck earlier in the day.
Visitors can scan the QR code at the truck to explore exciting opportunities on GoVo, which has been made possible thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, from dog walking and reading with children to gardening and delivering essentials to vulnerable neighbours.
Recent research by the charity reveals that more than a third of Brits (35%) say lack of time holds them back from volunteering, while a quarter (25%) are unsure what the commitment would require. Yet nearly three in four (71%) would volunteer if it only took 30–60 minutes - roughly the length of a typical lunch break.
In fact, the research uncovered some surprising trade-offs, showing that close to two-thirds (60%) would choose a half an hour of volunteering over an after-work pint, and nearly seven in ten Brits (69%) would give up scrolling social media for the same amount of time if it meant making a real difference.
Motivations for giving time vary, as over one in four (28%) want to make a positive difference in society, while 22% are driven by personal connections to a charity or cause. Social and wellbeing benefits are also important, with around a fifth citing improved mental or physical health (22%), a sense of purpose (21%), or the chance to meet like-minded people (21%).
Many Brits are actively looking for ways to make a difference, as over half (55%) consciously seek opportunities to support causes or their local community more now than in the past. Other barriers include feeling nervous about volunteering (22%) and a lack of flexible or remote opportunities (19%).
Among roles people feel they could realistically do in a short time frame, delivering essentials to vulnerable individuals (38%), telephone check-ins or companionship calls (35%), and environmental litter picks (34%) are the most popular.
Brits’ Top 10 lunchtime volunteering wish list:
- Helping at local food banks or meal services (26%)
- Delivering essentials to vulnerable neighbours (26%)
- Assisting at charity shops/donation sorting (25%)
- Dog walking e.g. for animal shelters, hospital patients (24%)
- Reading or storytelling sessions with children or older adults (20%)
- Outdoor litter-picks or environmental volunteering (20%)
- Gardening/community green spaces (20%)
- Supporting local events or community projects (20%)
- Supporting homeless outreach with food, shelter, clothing and human connection (19%)
- Pet fosterer/ puppy socialiser (16%)
Work and life commitments also get in the way, as over a quarter (28%) said they’d volunteer if their company made it easier and it fit around their family, while 15% worry they don’t have the right experience. In reality, most volunteering roles don’t require any special skills — just enthusiasm and the willingness to give a little time.
"In my eyes, volunteering’s all about people, like having a chat to someone in need, or sharing a bit of kindness.
"The Role of a Lunchtime truck and GoVo shows
that it doesn’t take much to make a difference. Anyone can do something great in the time it takes to grab and eat your lunch and it shows that everyone can chip in no matter where you are! I’ve always believed in doing your bit, and if this gets more people giving it a go, then that’s a win for everyone."
Spudman
"It is wonderful to have Her Majesty The Queen and Spudman’s support to highlight bite-sized volunteering opportunities on the new digital platform, GoVo. Flexible roles can slot easily into busy days, proving that giving back doesn’t have to be a big commitment. Thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, initiatives like this show how even a small contribution in your lunch break can support causes you care about.
"GoVo makes it simple to find flexible opportunities locally or remotely. Now is the moment to step forward, get involved, and see what we can achieve when charities and communities unite. We’re hugely grateful to Her Majesty, Spudman and the celebrities whose support today helps to inspire people to find a great role and lend a hand."
Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service
"Our relationships with charities up and down the country mean we know that, now more than ever, they need volunteers to help meet growing demands. Our players are helping to fix that issue through GoVo which showcases short, no-commitment roles that fit around busy lives. By giving people an easy way to get involved in their community and see the impact of their actions, the platform is helping to unlock a new wave of volunteers when they’re needed most."
Clara Govier, Managing Director at People’s Postcode Lottery
Those inspired to get involved can explore the flexible volunteering opportunities available and see the difference they can make by visiting GoVo.org
Notes to Editors:
The research was conducted by 3Gem with a sample of 2,000 nationally representative respondents. Quotas were applied to nationally representative proportions for age, gender and region aged 16+. The survey fieldwork took place between 6 October 2025 to 9 October 2025.
