Portland College ‘on the ball’ for new sports facility

Welcome backing: Staff at RBS will be in attendance at Portland Colleges black tie ball in September, which is raising funds for the sites new £2million sports faciity.

The event on 26th September will also double up as the official launch of the Sports Academy and will include speeches from principal Dr Mark Dale and key staff detailing future plans, plus a DVD featuring students.

MC for the evening will be Chris Sellars, while Mansfield 103.2’s Tony Delahunty will host a live auction.

Around 250 guests will be treated to a three-course meal and live entertainment provided by Harrogate-based five-piece band Freeway.

The proposed new sports facility at Portland College.

“We’ve had a great response so far in the short time we’ve been working on this and we’re delighted to have RBS as event partners,” said the college’s fundraiser, Andrea Hudson.

Other fundraising events penned in include an outdoor Promenade Concert, organised by golfing group the Hilltoppers Society, which takes place on Saturday, a cricket match next Tuesday, a Mansfield 2020 breakfast presentation on 31st July and a TrekFest walking challenge on 6th September.

There is also a Golf Day on 12th September, a six-hour night walk called Fright Hike on 25th October and a family Halloween experience called Fear Forest on 31st October.

The new facility at Portland aims to be second nationally only in stature to that at Stoke Mandeville when it comes to disabled sports, although they will also be open for public use.

Wheelchair rugby, powerchair football, boccia, badminton and wheelchair basketball will be the college’s five specialist sports.

For tickets to the ball, priced at £45 each or £400 for a table of 10, call Andrea Hudson on 01623 499141 or email [email protected]