Mansfield Rotary Club has added its support to a £1.65m plan to transform a hall at Portland College into a state-of-the-art theatre and sports space for people with disabilities.

The college launched a £25,000 fundraising campaign last year to help the development of Newstart Hall by securing sponsorship of £250 each for more than 100 chairs.

The development will include a multi-use sports and performance facility with a modern theatre environment and state-of-art LED glass flooring, enabling customised sport layouts at the click of the button — one of only three such floor systems in the country.

Now Mansfield Rotary Club has agreed to sponsor a seat in the new sports and theatre space.

President Kate Allsop said: “Mansfield Rotary Club looks forward to supporting the very worthy project, which will provide state-of-the-art facilities for disabled people in our area.

“Our members work within our communities to add extra value to the lives of those whose needs are greater than ours.

“During the pandemic we feel its even more important to support local initiatives.

“Therefore, we are proud to sponsor a seat in the new sports and theatre space.”

Originally built in the 1950s, Newstart Hall has been the central hub of Portland College for many years with a theatre, music and performance studio, and a bar/lounge.

Now with a focus on sports and performing arts, Newstart will become a hive of activities, events and education programmes for learners, local groups and wider communities.

A spokesman for the college, which has thanked the Rotary club for its “generous” donation, said: “You will be able to enjoy a range of productions in the new theatre, relax and socialise in our coffee shop, join a sports, music or dance club, or enrol on to a range of education programmes.

“There really will be something for everyone to get involved in.”

The college has so far raised more than £1.48m towards its target.

l To find out how you can help back the campaign, go to portlandnewstart.org