How Key Helped Power My Commonwealth Games Journey
14-August-2026
Julie began getting support from Key in January of this year. At that point, Julie had just moved into a ground-floor flat, after years of searching for a place she wanted to call home. It had take great determination for Julie to realise this life-changing milestone, but neither this nor her day job as an NHS researcher quite prepared her for the pace of life she was about to experience as she embarked upon the role of a Non-Executive Director for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Over to Julie, now, to describe in her own words how Key's support "has played a quiet but essential role in my daily life".
"Each morning, Key provided one hour of support to help me get set up for the day — a small window of time with getting ready that became the foundation for everything that followed. Without that support, I simply wouldn’t have accomplished the relentless early‑morning starts demanded by the Games.
In the intense build‑up to the Commonwealth Games, my schedule tightened. The monthly board meetings, and my commitments with the Games Operational and EDI committees meant planning my mornings with what I was going to wear!
During Games time, every day began by ensuring I was ready before my driver, Dominic, arrived to escort me across the city’s Commonwealth Games venues. Those early starts were unforgiving, but Key’s consistency meant I never began the day on the back foot.
Glasgow 2026 pushed me to my limits. Serving on the Organising Company has been the most demanding period of my life so far — long hours, high‑stakes decisions and the responsibility of helping deliver a reimagined, sustainable Games model. Yet, amidst the pressure, I rediscovered my confidence and applied my MBA knowledge in rooms where imagination and ambition helped shape the future of multi‑sport events.
Across 12 unforgettable days, Dominic and I worked 14–15‑hour shifts during Games time. The role demanded resilience and stamina, assisted by the dependable support I received each morning from Key Housing Support
Without Key's support workers coming in early in the morning to make sure my suit and my hair was tidied to perfection, I wouldn't have felt comfortable surrounding myself with all the engagements I had undertaken."
