27/05/2026
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 .
Lucy describes herself as “very, very organised” someone who loves paperwork and tidying her room. She also wants to work in fashion, live in a flat, earn her own money and build a life for herself, just like her older sister’s.
These are the things she talks about now. She didn’t always.
In the past, she's struggled with noisy, unpredictable and disruptive environments where she felt unsettled, unable to focus, and as a result her confidence dipped and it wasn't easy for her to share her feelings.
But things changed when she came to Orpheus. Thanks to staff who made her feel listened to, helped her to recognise when anxiety was coming and find strategies like painting her nails.
For half our students, difficulty with sensory processing means the lights, the textures, the closeness of other people in an environment can literally feel like more than they can bear.
A sensory room with soft lights and gentle sounds is a place where the world dials down and they can reset. Ours is in desperate need of re-building.
Please donate if you can to help us re-build our sensory room, and read more about Lucy’s journey here - orpheus.org.uk/re-build-our-sensory-room
