STEPHANIE Heasman has turned her life around with the help of the Omega Centre in Fratton.
Stephanie, 52 from Surrey, was forced to leave her ten year-old son behind when she sought shelter in a women’s refuge in Portsmouth after separating from her husband.
She suffered from severe depression after her ordeal and did not have the confidence to leave her house, but everything changed when she began to attend arts and crafts sessions at the Omega Centre four times-a-week. The centre hosts classes on a wide range of subjects on behalf of the Workers’ Educational Association, the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult learning.
“It was a terrible time for me, I knew no-one in Portsmouth and my family were refusing to talk to me,” Stephanie said.
"But now I’ve met a lot of friends here and I’ve learnt new skills like Mandala art and sign language. The more classes I signed up for, the more reason I had to get up in the morning, she said."
Stephanie’s depression prevented her from working but by attending classes she has found new direction: "I’ve now become reconciled with my son and have begun a relationship with a lovely caring man. It’s been a long road to recovery but I’ve never felt so happy," she said.
Karen Barrett, Tutor Organizer at the centre said: “We pride ourselves on being able to offer a friendly community-based learning environment. Adults of all ages and abilities are given the opportunity to learn, achieve and succeed here.”
More information on the range of classes at the Omega centre can be found at www.omegacentre.org or by calling 02392291346.
No comments:
Post a Comment