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History

Our History

In the mid-1990s, musician and song-writer Sir Richard Stilgoe and neurologist Dr Michael Swallow started piloting music weeks for disabled people. These were so effective that Sir Richard decided to start a place where disabled people and students could work together for longer than a week – to change their own and other people’s lives by creating new music and performing in public. The Orpheus Centre opened in 1997 at Sir Richard's former family home in Godstone, Surrey.

Orpheus started with five disabled students who lived on-site, learning to cook, manage budgets, do laundry and go shopping. They also wrote songs, devised dances and challenged people’s preconceived ideas about disabled people whenever and wherever they performed. Nearly twenty years later and Orpheus has up to 28 full time students living in independent flats, as well as around 20 day students. Our students are all motivated by the performing arts and have performed in venues all over the country including the Royal Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury Festival, Notting Hill Carnival, the Paralympic Opening Ceremony, The Royal Festival Hall, and appeared in hit TV show Call The Midwife.

In 2018 we celebrated Orpheus’ 20th anniversary year. As we look back on the successes over this time, we are also excited to see what the next 20 years hold for Orpheus.

Orpheus Student Fankie reports on proposals for college life and grounds: 'Orpheus in 20 Years Time'. 

Published: 17th July, 2017

Updated: 7th October, 2019

Author:

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  • Join us

    Join us

    If you share our passion for changing the lives of disabled people then take a look at our current vacancies.

  • About us

    Our vision and mission.

  • For parents

    For parents

    If your son/daughter or young person is aged between 18 and 25 and has a physical and/or learning disability we’d love for them to join us.

  • History

    History

    The Orpheus Centre was founded by Sir Richard Stilgoe in 1997. Twenty years later Orpheus has transformed the lives of hundreds of young people and their families.

  • The Orpheus Centre Appeal

    The Orpheus Centre Appeal

    The Orpheus Centre is a registered charity and we rely on your support to make our life-changing work with young disabled people possible.

  • Term dates and calendar

    Term dates and calendar

    Download our planner and term dates.

  • Who we support

    Who we support

    Any student can access domiciliary care and support, and we provide packages to meet the needs of the individual.

  • Our ethos

    Our ethos

    At Orpheus we use the arts as a vehicle to promote learning and personal development. We teach a diverse curriculum that covers the arts, independence and employment skills.

  • Support us

    Support us

    The Orpheus Centre is a registered charity (no 1105213) and your support enables our life-changing work with young disabled people.

  • Therapies

    Therapies

    We have introduced a range of therapies to complement the learning programme.

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Emergency Appeal

Emergency Appeal

We can't dress this up ... we need your urgent financial support now more than ever. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 24th March, 2020

Updated: 12th April, 2021

Author: Beverley Worsley

Comments: 6

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01883 744664 [email protected]

The Orpheus Centre is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 05089501 and registered as a Charity number 1105213

Registered office: The Orpheus Centre, North Park Lane, Godstone, Surrey RH9 8ND