Christ’s is the first Cambridge College to open a Calm Room - a sensory-friendly space for students needing a different approach to manage stress, anxiety, or sensory overload.
The room is intentionally designed for neurodivergent students, but open to anyone who finds the intensity of daily college life overwhelming.
One of the first students to benefit from using the room said:
“Finding a space where I don’t have to explain my overwhelm has been a lifeline. I can just step in, reconnect, and breathe.”
Divided into distinct spaces, the room is a low‑stimulus sanctuary that helps with re-centring and emotional regulation.
The Calm Room is softly lit and arranged into various zones: seating and lounge spaces; areas with tactile and visual aids like weighted blankets, bubble tubes, and fibre‑optic curtains; as well as offering aromatherapy and calming soundscapes.
Students are encouraged to move between zones to suit their individual sensory needs.
Ana Rodrigues, Wellbeing Adviser, said:
“We specifically opted for a neuroinclusive design approach drawing on principles used in workplace and learning environments to create a space that is flexible, welcoming, and calm for people with different sensory profiles.
Our hope is that a neuro-positive designed environment will significantly improve wellbeing and concentration.”
Currently in a pilot phase, the Calm Room is available via referral through the Wellbeing Adviser.
Another undergraduate user said:
“It can be difficult to find spaces that feel safe and supportive when you’re struggling with overwhelm. Having a space like this – where you don’t have to explain or perform – has made a real difference to how I feel I can cope socially in College.”
Ms Rodrigues said:
“Neuroinclusive environments don’t just benefit individuals—they breed a culture of care that supports everyone. With this room, we’re investing not only in student wellbeing but in their broader experience of belonging and learning.”