Reaper's Rewards help

Hi all 

I'm on week 3 of the Reaper's Rewards and I'm stuck on 'travel to Caster's Alley'. My main sim is not a Spellcaster and when I visit the portal it says it's damaged? It then says to ask the locals which I did and they know nothing!! 

I also tried with a different save as my main sim is a werewolf and still it says the portal is damaged. 

I always thought a non-spellcaster sim could travel through the portal? 

Anyone got any ideas?

Thank you!!