Sports, Health & Wellbeing Quarterly Update - March 2026

It has been a strong and energetic start to the year for Maccabi GB, with our 'Sports for All' and 'Community Sport' programmes continuing to grow and engage a wide range of Jewish people across the country.

Sport for All

The start of 2026 has been particularly exciting for Maccabi GB’s participation pathway, with new programmes launching and existing activity continuing to thrive across all age groups.

At the earliest stage of the journey, the launch of Mini Maccs – Toddler Football has been a huge success. Introduced in February, the programme has already engaged over 50 toddlers in its first term. Designed for children from walking age up to four years old, Mini Maccs provides a fun and engaging introduction to movement, teamwork and confidence-building through football, while also creating a valuable social space for parents. The new term begins on 19th April, and there is strong ambition to grow the programme further in the months ahead.

As children progress into school age, the schools PE and delivery programme remains a cornerstone of Maccabi GB’s work. Weekly sessions are now delivered across five schools, including new partnerships with Independent JDS and Gesher School, alongside Nancy Reuben, Torah Temimah and The London Machaneh. These sessions engage more than 500 pupils each week, supporting both physical development and a lifelong love of sport.

The wider schools competition programme continues to go from strength to strength. Since January, seven primary school tournaments in football and netball have been delivered, engaging an impressive 1,330 players from 160 teams and attracting over 670 spectators. A standout moment came in February with the largest girls’ netball tournament to date, bringing together 170 players across 18 teams and highlighting the continued growth of girls’ sport within the community.

This pathway continues into student sport, where Maccabi GB remains closely involved in the university landscape. The UJS Cup recently brought together 16 universities for a large-scale netball competition, while Maccabi GB also continues to support and celebrate student achievement through its involvement in the annual UJS awards.

Across adult participation, grassroots clubs remain a vital part of the offer. The Maccabi GB Strollers Walking Football Club regularly engages over 20 participants each week, providing an inclusive and enjoyable way to stay active. Basketball continues to grow, with strong numbers across junior age groups and a well-attended adult social session, while the Junior Netball League runs weekly, offering consistent competitive opportunities. Looking ahead, the relaunch of table tennis will further expand opportunities for both junior and adult players.

Alongside this, Maccabi GB has expanded its offer for those in early parenthood through the introduction of pre- and postnatal Pilates funded by Sport England. Launched in January in Borehamwood, the weekly sessions have welcomed over 30 women, with a focus on accessibility, affordability and community connection. This area of delivery will continue to develop, with plans to broaden provision for those navigating early parenthood and looking to stay active.

Adult-focused leagues have also been a major highlight. The launch of the Parents Football League, through the Tecta Systems Football Cup, has brought together 15 teams of dads in a competitive and social environment. With 16 matches already played, the league is now approaching its semi-finals and finals in June, alongside an exciting one-day small-sided com

petition.

Building on this success, preparations are underway for the launch of the Mums Netball League in April. With 14 schools already signed up, the league is set to mirror the football model, providing another fantastic opportunity for parents to stay active, connected and engaged through sport.

Community Sport

Alongside participation programmes, Maccabi GB’s community sport activity has delivered a vibrant calendar of events, partnerships and competitions, continuing to strengthen connections across the community.

March provided a particularly special moment, as Maccabi GB celebrated International Women’s Day with two dedicated events focused on female participation and wellbeing. A Social Tennis Tournament brought together 32 women for an enjoyable day of competition followed by a relaxed social gathering, while a Wellness Morning on 12th March welcomed 25 women for a session of Reiki and Soundbath healing. Hosted at Maccabi London, this marked an exciting step into new areas of wellbeing-focused programming.

Tennis activity more broadly has enjoyed a busy start to the year. Three successful events have engaged nearly 40 players across men’s and women’s doubles competitions, spanning junior through to masters athletes. Looking ahead, the introduction of an American mixed doubles event promises to

bring a new and exciting format to the calendar. Alongside this, padel continues to grow in popularity, with increasing opportunities for the community to get involved.

Community tournaments remain a key feature of the programme, with a number of events planned in the coming months. Basketball, table tennis and padel will all feature, providing accessible and engaging opportunities for players of different ages and abilities to take part in competitive sport.

International Maccabi Games

This summer, Team Maccabi GB is heading into an action-packed international season!

At the JCC Maccabi Games in Toronto, 42 athletes and 12 managers are preparing to compete, with two Boys U15 football teams, a Girls U17 football team, and representation in track and field, swimming, and dance.

Over in Israel for Maccabiah 2026, over 130 Junior athletes will be taking part in football, tennis, swimming, futsal, netball, table tennis, fencing, judo and golf, while 150 Open athletes compete across tennis, netball, football, cricket, rugby, padel, pickleball, Maccabi run, table tennis. Our Masters athletes aren’t missing out either, with 95 competing in football, futsal, pickleball, padel, golf, pickleball, tennis, judo, maccabi run, swimming.

Behind the scenes, our managers have been fully engaged in social and training sessions, strengthening their leadership skills across a range of areas including safeguarding, situational management, and effective team support. With squads stepping up their training, playing friendly matches, and managers preparing to handle all aspects of international competition, our teams are ready to make this a summer to remember, representing Team GB with skill, pride, and confidence on the world stage.