Help us re-build the sensory room. A sensory room with soft lights and gentle sounds is somewhere the world dials down. It isn't therapy. It's where students learn to reset themselves, so the lesson, the rehearsal, the rest of the day can happen.
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There's a magic at Orpheus that you won't find anywhere else
Step through our doors and you’ll feel it immediately – in the fearless voice of a student on stage, in the proud smile of a parent watching their child becoming an adult and defying expectations, in the laughter that echoes through corridors, that have many times seen a ‘no’ become a triumphant ‘yes’.
This magic happens when young disabled adults, who’ve spent their lives being told what they can’t do – finally discover what they can. It happens when chance meets opportunity, when talent meets belief, when potential that society overlooks finally gets its moment to shine.
About Orpheus
The Orpheus Centre is a charity and specialist college that empowers young disabled adults to build independent, fulfilling lives through the performing and creative arts. Our students are 18-25 years old.
Our Vision is of an inclusive world where disabled young people, with a passion for the arts and desire to live and work independently, can achieve their aspirations.
Our Vision is of an inclusive world where disabled young people, with a passion for the arts and desire to live and work independently, can achieve their aspirations.
Impact Overview
Only 4.8% of people with a learning disability are in paid employment in the UK. Meanwhile we receive multiple applications for every place at Orpheus, with waiting lists that grow longer each year. Young disabled adults across the country are being denied their chance to discover what they’re capable of achieving. We’re working to change these odds, but we rely on support from people like you to make our life-changing work possible.
Being at Orpheus I feel listened to. I feel less anxious talking in front of people, as I know they all support me. They won’t laugh, or talk over me, so I can express myself more.
Megan - Orpheus Alumnus
98%
of Orpheus students said:
“I am happy at Orpheus and I
enjoy my study programme”
94%
of Orpheus students said:
“I feel more confident since attending college”
100%
of Orpheus students said:
“The support I get in class helps me learn”
Built-in Magic, Built-in Independence
Our current home was never originally designed for education or accessibility, yet the students achieve extraordinary things whilst navigating facilities that need constant modifications to meet the growing complexity of their needs.
But the most heart-breaking problem is that we’re massively oversubscribed. We turn away so many talented young people every year who would flourish at Orpheus.
Why a quiet room at Orpheus matters more than it sounds.
Lucy paints her nails purple and gold. She used to bite them when she was anxious. The polish gave her something else to focus on, one of the small, self-found strategies that helped her find her footing at Orpheus.
She got there over time, by herself. Many of our students can't. Around half have sensory processing issues that make a busy environment, the lights, the textures, the closeness of other people, literally feel like more than they can bear. One overwhelming moment can take a student out of their day for hours.
