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Proud of Promoting Choice and Control Since 2008
Before the television shows…before the clinical criteria…when there seemed to be no support…we have been here to help! Established in 2008, as a not-for profit organisation, HoardingUK is the only UK National Charity solely focused on supporting people impacted by hoarding behaviour.
“I’m never going back to living like this.”
How an innovative project is helping hoarders
by Amelia Hill, The Guardian.
The home of a person with a hoarding behaviour in Gloucester. Local authorities have no statutory duty to intervene, but many are increasingly trying to help. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian
“Hoarding was a way to protect myself from the world.”
How Hoarding impacted Carol’s life.
Image and video, courtesy of BBC Ideas
After two years of planning, Gloucester city council launched its hoarding care and support initiative last April.
“We were wasting huge amounts of money by failing to deal with this group,” said James Dykes, a housing regulation, resettlement and projects manager at Gloucester.
“We had children being brought up in these homes. We had substantial numbers of residents trapped in hospitals and care settings because they couldn’t return to unsafe homes. We had families being made homeless. We had homes that had been previously cleared that were now just as bad as before – with all the risk of fires and infestations that brought.
“It was very expensive,” he said. “We had to come up with an entirely new way to help this group properly.”
Dykes brought in the national charity, Hoarding UK, to help develop a programme and train officers across multiple agencies. It created six support groups and set up teams offering personalised psychological support, decluttering and home safety improvements to residents….
There are several reasons I helped with this film.
- To encourage more people, including those who suffer from/with it, to view Hoarding Behaviour differently. Behaviour can change, IF given the opportunity to have the right understanding and appropriate support.
- I wanted more people like me to realize they are not alone. Help and support is available from people who understand how we can begin to alter our thinking patterns and “habits” and live a safer, and “easier”/less complicated/happier life.
- For even more professionals, than already do (e.g. local enablement and fire services, medical, housing, environment,) and friends, and relatives, to really SEE the person/human being BEHIND the “PILES OF BELONGINGS and “STUFF” including/as well as the difficult, sometimes hazardous living conditions and restrictions resulting. To have a more meaningful understanding of why and how someone might develop this behaviour over a number of years.
Honouring the people we support and raising awareness that hoarding is a complex mental health condition affecting an estimated 2–5% of the population.
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Support Groups
Living with hoarding behaviours or supporting someone who does can feel isolating, but you’re not alone. HoardingUK runs compassionate, confidential support groups where you can share, listen, and learn in a safe space.
Is clutter, disorganisation, or hoarding are affecting your health?
Use the Hoarding Ice-Breaker Form.
Once you’ve completed the Hoarding Ice-Breaker Form, the person you share it with, whether it’s your GP or another professional, should ask a range of questions to help them understand what might be contributing to your symptoms and explore ways to support your wellbeing.
Check out our Research Page
There are a wide range of research studies available, all of which are actively seeking participants. These studies cover various topics and are essential for advancing an understanding in hoarding behaviour. Your involvement could make a significant contribution to the success of these studies and help gather valuable data.
Upcoming Training
OUR COURSES FOR 2025
13 November 2025
10:00-16:30
9 December 2025
10:00-16:30
22 January 2026
10:00-16:30
Hoarding Choice and Control course was amazing! A total investment and highly recommend as gained so many insights into hoarding, and learnt so much from Megan, a true Angel and has most certainly found her calling in life, wonderful to see such passion, a fabulous trainer! HoardingUK does such wonderful work, a fabulous charity and I cannot wait to get signed up for another course. Thank you Megan, so much to take away and use going forward.
Research Opportunities
An Exploration of Hoarding in Autism
Beliefs about possessions
HERE TO HELP
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Join one of our new virtual support groups! Space will be limited.
Please register for the group of your choice.
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137-149 Goswell Road
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