The Omega Centre, Creative Community, a partnership between the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) and Portsmouth City Council.

The Omega Centre represents a fantastic opportunity for individuals, community groups, organisations and businesses in and around Portsmouth.  Apart from an ever-expanding adult education and family learning programme it will offer a range of services, from room hire, marketing and sponsorship opportunities to partnership and project development.

Located in Somerstown, the Omega Centre has been part of Portsmouth’s arts and education landscape for many years and has a reputation for involving local people of all ages and backgrounds.  Now, the WEA has taken over the building and undertaken major refurbishment with support from the City Council.  It is now reopening as a multi-purpose centre specialising in the Arts, media and IT.

The building’s redevelopment has largely been made possible thanks to the Jeffery-Machin Foundation (JMF).  The JMF is the legacy of Canon Ivor Jeffery-Machin and his wife, Brenda.  Canon Jeffery-Machin worked for the WEA as a part-time tutor from 1940 until 1984; both were great believers in the value of lifelong and community learning. 

The Jeffery-Machin Foundation supports and enhances the work of the WEA in Hampshire.  It does this through creative partnerships and by reaching out to new learners and groups, particularly those who would otherwise miss out on learning opportunities.