A Fantastic, Fun Day at Portland Games

News, Reach Mansfield, Reach Newark, Reach Southwell July 24th, 2026

People from across our five centres enjoyed a fantastic day of sport, competition and friendship this week as they took part in the Portland Games alongside several other local SEND groups.

The Games offered a variety of inclusive sporting activities, including football, cricket, badminton, boccia and archery. Throughout the day, our group demonstrated determination, teamwork and a willingness to challenge themselves while enjoying the opportunity to meet new people and represent Reach.

Boccia ready!

One of the highlights of the day was the performance of our Newark football team, who progressed all the way to the final. After a series of impressive matches, the team narrowly missed out on taking the trophy but left the competition with a tremendous sense of achievement.

An extra congratulations to Luke and Tom for their achievements. As Luke D was awarded Footballer of the Day in recognition of his outstanding performance and sportsmanship throughout the tournament and Tom N was named Best Badminton Player after an excellent display of skill and consistency on the court.

Alongside the sporting activities, we also enjoyed meeting Portland College’s therapy donkeys. The college’s innovative Donkey-Assisted Therapy programme recently received national recognition for its positive impact on learner wellbeing, confidence and resilience.

The Portland Games are about far more than winning! They provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to build confidence, develop new skills, strengthen friendships and experience the positive impact of being part of a wider sporting community.

Everyone returned home with plenty of memories, new experiences and a real sense of pride in what they had achieved.

Congratulations to all of our learners who took part and represented Reach so brilliantly, and thank you to Portland College and YMCA for putting on a fantastic event!