On 4 July 2025, the Oxford PowerHouse Games returned to the Iffley Road Sports Centre, bringing together students, teachers, university volunteers, and community partners for a day of inclusive sport, shared leadership, and unforgettable energy.

Delivered in partnership with the inclusive sports charity Power2Inspire, the Games featured adapted and accessible activities including boccia, sitting netball, new age kurling, and visually impaired football. Mixed teams of pupils from Cherwell School, Cheney School, The Swan School, Greyfriars Catholic School, and John Watson School were joined by our 1st year cohort of Oxford Laidlaw Scholars to compete, collaborate, and connect through sport.

The PowerHouse Games marked a joyful and unifying finale to this year’s Oxford Young Sport Leaders Programme (OYSLP), a four-week series combining sport, academic enrichment, and mentoring for Year 8 pupils from local state schools.

From dynamic coaching sessions and college visits to rowing on the Isis and running on the Magdalen track, this year’s programme has provided young people across Oxford with meaningful new experiences and built lasting bridges between schools and the University.

The atmosphere on the day was electric laughter, encouragement, and determination filled every game zone, and feedback from students, Fellows, and teachers alike reflected the same sentiment: this was a day to remember.

As we look ahead to 2026, the Lab will continue working with our university and community partners to scale the reach and ambition of both the OYSLP and PowerHouse Games, creating more opportunities for sport to inspire leadership, inclusion, and connection across Oxfordshire.

If you’re interested in supporting this work through sponsorship, collaboration, or volunteering, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch to help us expand the impact of sport for good.