HOARDING is officially recognised as a mental health condition – but Warrington-based social care charity Making Space can help deal with it.
The charity has delivered specialist training to North West housing providers and local councils, aimed at improving understanding and support for people living with hoarding behaviour in the local area.
It is hoping to do more in the future.
Hoarding behaviour affects an estimated 1.2 to 4 million people in the UK, with 2–6 per cent of the population experiencing clinically significant hoarding difficulties.
In 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially recognised hoarding disorder as a distinct mental health condition, often linked to a range of underlying causes including trauma, anxiety and other mental health challenges.
With support from a £1,250 grant from the Cheshire Community Foundation’s Warrington Small Grants Programme, Making Space delivered a specialist workshop designed for charities, public agencies and individuals with lived experience of hoarding. The session explored effective approaches to support, increased awareness, and encouraged shared learning across organisations.
A total of 19 people from a range of local organisations attended, including: Jigsaw Homes, Sanctuary Housing, Guinness Housing, Halton Council, ForHousing, Torus, Your Housing, Warrington Council, Muir Housing, and Making Space.
Attendees also received practical help guides and best practice resources to take back into their organisations.
The training was delivered by Ian Porter, a specialist psychologist from the Hoarder Helping Hoarders Group, who provided clinical insight and real-world strategies for supporting people with hoarding behaviour.
Bob Towers, fundraising manager at Making Space, who helped secure the funding, said: “This project has significantly raised awareness of hoarding behaviour in the Warrington area. Housing associations, local authorities and charities now have a better understanding of hoarding and how to support people who experience it.
The project brought agencies together around the topic of hoarding, with a view to improving practice, sharing resources and developing a self-help group. We are now exploring opportunities to create a Hoarding Support Group and a network of agencies to share best practice in supporting people with hoarding behaviour.”
While this was a one-off session for now, Making Space is actively looking at opportunities to run additional workshops or develop further support in the future. Anyone interested in future hoarding-related training or support initiatives is encouraged to contact [email protected].
