Registered charity and social enterprise BH Live was proud to host the first-ever Pompey Games at Mountbatten Leisure Centre to bring families, community groups, and local organisations together for a day of creativity, physical activity, and fun.

The event was delivered in partnership with Portsmouth’s Seekers Create as part of Portsmouth City Council’s Portsmouth100 programme, a series of events designed to celebrate a centenary of city status.

Delivered by BH Live’s Community Sports team, activities took place throughout Mountbatten Leisure Centre, including its sports hall and running track, encouraging hundreds of participants to take on a variety of physical and creative challenges.

Designed around the theme of "Move, Create & Play", the event combined sport, art and community engagement in an imaginative format. Families and participants enjoyed a range of activities inspired by traditional sports day games as well as creative tasks that encouraged drawing, design, storytelling and teamwork.

Community organisations and local partners* from across Portsmouth played a central role in the day, helping to deliver activities, connect with residents, and showcase the support and opportunities available across the city.

Throughout the day, participants were invited to participate in group activities, bringing everyone together for shared moments of fun and friendly competition. The celebrations concluded with a community gathering featuring food, awards and a final dance performance, providing a fitting end to the inaugural event.

The day demonstrated the power of partnership working, bringing together creativity, physical activity and community spirit under one roof.

Mountbatten Leisure Centre is operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live on behalf of Portsmouth City Council.

On behalf of BH Live, Carla Earle, Community Sports Manager, shared;

“Pompey Games was a fantastic example of what can be achieved when organisations come together to help people be active, creative and connected. It was wonderful to see families, community groups and local partners enjoying the wide range of activities on offer throughout the day, while showcasing the incredible community spirit that exists across Portsmouth.

We were proud to deliver the event alongside Portsmouth Seekers Create as part of the Portsmouth100 programme and would like to thank everyone who took part. The success of this first event demonstrates the power of combining physical activity, creativity and community engagement in a fun and inclusive way.”

Following the success of the first Pompey Games, organisers hope the event will become an annual celebration of community connection, creativity and active lifestyles across Portsmouth.

A representative from Portsmouth’s Seekers Create shared;

“The Pompey Games showed the power of collaboration, with BH Live and the community coming together to give families a free day of play, creativity and connection. People and organisations brought their time, ideas and energy to make it happen. One family who lived in Portsmouth for years told us it was literally the best event they’d ever been to in the city, and so different from what they’d usually seen.”

Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, added;

"Portsmouth100 is about celebrating our city, the people who make it special and the strong sense of community that defines Portsmouth.

"Pompey Games brought all of those elements together, creating a fun and inclusive event where people could get active and creative. It was fantastic to see so local organisations working in partnership to provide opportunities for residents and help showcase the incredible community spirit we have across the city."

More information about Portsmouth’s Seekers Create is available at seekerscreate.com.

More information about Mountbatten Leisure Centre is available at bhliveactive.org.uk/Mountbatten.

More information about BH Live is available at bhlive.org.uk.

Notes to Editors:

*Special thanks to Pompey Games’ wonderful partners and supporters:

• Hampshire Flag Company
• Blagrave
• Rapid Relief Team
• Portsmouth Music Service
• Game Over
• Foster Portsmouth
• HAF Fun Pompey
• Comserv
• SPARK Community Impact
• Home Start
• Spinnaker Tower
• Shaping Portsmouth
• Gunwharf Quays
• Citrus
• Delivered Social
• Wymering Manor
• Motiv8
• The Reilly Enterprise
• TL
• The Roberts Centre