Saturday 5 October, after six years of fundraising and development, celebrated the official opening of Lucy’s Room.

The room takes pride of place at Warneford Hospital – bringing a much-needed space for adult mental health patients on both the wards and with community teams to benefit from music therapy – providing an escape to love music, be imaginative, feel free, and perhaps discover a new talent.

Patients contributed ideas and views on how Lucy’s Room can have the most positive impact for them through focus groups and consultation sessions hosted by the Activity Coordinators, Oxford Health Arts Partnership and wider ward teams. The modern room has an outside green space with seating, whilst inside offers a welcoming atmosphere with comfortable sofas, bean bags, and a collection of instruments.

Lucy received care through Oxford Health’s adult mental health teams and missed having a space to play and make music during that time. Following her passing, Lucy’s family wanted to create the space she had been missing for other patients to benefit from in the future. The appeal was created in 2018 and along with donations from the Oxford Health Charity and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Lucy’s family fundraised to take the idea to reality.

With the sun shining, Trust Chair David Walker and Lucy’s mother Lesley officially opened the new, beautiful space surrounded by Lucy’s loved ones and those involved in the project.

David Walker said: “It’s taken a few years to finish this project, a huge thanks to Lucy’s loved ones, the team at Portakabin, Chiltern Rangers, RAW, volunteers from wards, the wider Charity and Involvement Team, the Oxford Health Arts Partnership, Johnson and Johnson, Headington School, and the Oxford Health’s Estates team, for their commitment and hard work to bring this idea to life. We look forward to this fantastic space being used, it will provide vital support for our patients’ recovery. This room celebrates the joys of music therapy – drums, keyboards, percussion and guitars will all be a part of the wonderful music making in here.”

Head of Charity Julie Pink added: “We are delighted to open Lucy’s Room, surrounded by those who the project means so much to. We hope this room inspires a love for music and offers an additional space to patients and staff to smile, feel safe and at ease. Oxford Health Charity know the value arts can provide to a positive mental health – this room will make a huge difference, and we are excited to see the Lucy’s Room appeal develop over the coming years.”

Lesley commented: “We would like to thank everybody who has been involved and contributed to the appeal. Your generosity is really appreciated to help us bring Lucy’s idea to life. We are overwhelmed with the outcome – Lucy’s Room is a beautiful space which we hope will have a positive impact on patients and be somewhere they can feel safe and creative.”

The appeal for Lucy’s Room will remain open to fund instruments, equipment and additional artist led activities. If you wish to donate, you can do so through Lucy’s Room Appeal. Additionally, if you would like to donate an instrument to a new home, please get in touch.