The Orpheus Centre

The Orpheus Centre is an independent specialist college in Surrey. We focus on developing independence skills through performing and visual arts and make dramatic improvements to young disabled adults’ lives. We believe that every young disabled person should have the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers and we offer a personalised study programme focusing on building independence, communication and social interaction skills through the arts, supported housing and a personal care service. Our students are between the ages of 18 and 25 and have learning and/or physical disabilities. They stay at Orpheus for up to three years. Everything at Orpheus is focussed on maximising lasting independence for our students. We have an entrepreneurial spirit, taking a lead in finding new and effective ways of working in the arts, learning and social care sectors. Our impact and ethos has so engaged and inspired visitors to the college that we benefit from a steady stream of help from arts professionals, tutors, support staff and volunteers. Our students have performed at the House of Lords, the Royal Albert Hall and venues across the UK and worked with schools, prisons, community groups and businesses to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes. We can have a maximum of 28 students who live in supported housing on-site and a further 22 students learning subjects like English, Maths and IT alongside the arts and independence and work skills. Our focus is to deliver a personalised study programme to meet the needs of our students and enable them to develop the skills to live independently and seek paid or voluntary work opportunities in arts-based industries as well as associated employers. We offer a range of qualifications working with awarding bodies such as Ascentis, Trinity College, LAMDA, OCR, Gateway and the London College of Music.