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With just three hoarding services across the country, P3’s hoarding support is one of our lesser-known services; yet it is just as vital, with just as many life-changing stories.
In this piece, we’ll also hear from Senior Wellbeing Worker, Jodie Carter, and Hoarding Home Coach, Simona Radut, from P3 Charity’s Derbyshire Hoarding Service, as they share the realities of working in a small, specialist team and offer insight into the experiences of the people they support.
As outlined by the NHS, Hoarding Disorder is a mental health condition where you collect lots of things and find it very difficult to get rid of them, even if it’s affecting your life.
Over time, this can lead to living spaces becoming cluttered or unsafe, making it harder to carry out everyday tasks like cooking, sleeping or using bathrooms. Hoarding is not simply about having too many possessions, it is often linked to deep emotional attachments, past experiences or difficulties with decision-making. For many people, the idea of getting rid of items can cause significant distress or anxiety.
Without the right support, hoarding can have a serious impact on a person’s health, relationships and wellbeing. But with understanding, patience and the right help, people can make positive changes at a pace that works for them.
Simona explains, “A lot of people see hoarding and they think of cleaning, they think we go in and clean the house and that’s it. But for us we think about beyond the cleaning, it’s about maintaining.
“Hoarding without mental health support, it will happen again. These changes don’t happen overnight, even once we leave, we need to know that the people we support are having ongoing mental health support to continue maintaining a clean home.
“Mental health support really helps us to understand why that person is hoarding, and that’s how we avoid ending up with the same problem.”
Simona tells us that the aim of P3’s Hoarding support service is to provide people with the skills to continue living independently beyond their support plan.
She adds, “If we take a new referral who has no mental health support, we work with other local professionals to provide mental health support to help us to understand the obstacles that lead them to hoarding in the first place. We are better equipped to approach the trauma, to approach the person.”
This multi-agency approach means people are not just supported to manage their homes, but to better understand themselves; building the confidence and resilience to maintain their independence long after the service has ended.
Despite affecting up to 2.6 million people across the UK, hoarding remains one of the least understood mental health conditions. It is often hidden from view, with many people not receiving support until they reach crisis point, by which time the impact on their health, home and relationships can be significant.
This is something the team are working to change. By building greater recognition of hoarding as a mental health condition, they hope to increase understanding, reduce stigma, and ultimately see more consistent support and resources available for the people who need it.
Simona starts by saying, “Hoarding is not recognised truly as a mental health condition in the same way as other conditions [such as anxiety and depression] are. It is often ignored, even when it relates to another condition. For example, I work with somebody who is diabetic and when I go round and see piles of chocolate and sweet wrappers, I am concerned. I’ve seen nurses go into that house and see those wrappers and don’t take any action.
“Hoarding is not acknowledged, but the behaviour can often give insight into other health problems. I think if it was recognised or acknowledged more, people would identify with it more.”
Jodie nods in agreement, acknowledging that mental health and hoarding are synonymous. As she explains, mental health is often the biggest barrier when it comes to decluttering. She says, “Mental health is the biggest challenge for people, for example, we had a lady who was getting eaten by bed bugs. All care services were no longer allowed in the house, so she was receiving no support for other needs. And for this lady, she found it psychologically easier to be bitten by bed bugs and not have her care and support needs met than to clear her property. That to me is huge and [explains] the complexity of what hoarding is.
“Another challenge is that we only tend to see people when they are on the top end of the [clutter] scale. Though prevention is better than cure, by that stage we are only seeing people who are in dangerous situations. Yet we get involved at the last resort, which means it’s at its hardest point mentally to get over it.
“We see loads of houses that are deemed unsafe, marked with zero per cent survival if a fire was to take place – nobody can go in to help, and nobody would be able to get out.”
Simona adds, “The sessions can get very intense, especially when people don’t understand that we are there to help. You know it can get challenging, but when you see happy people who have overcome challenges, it’s so rewarding.”
Hearing Jodie and Simona about these issues, it’s clear they have had a deep impact on them both. Talking about their own mental health, Simona says, “I’ve learnt a lot after working in the care sector, for me after difficult sessions it’s important that I clear my mind. I listen to music, I get outside or I call Jodie – whether that’s to shout, laugh or cry.”
Jodie echoes what Simona said, adding, “I always have a good chat with Simona, we express our feelings together whatever they are. We are a safe space for each other, and those discussions are so important.”
As a close-knit team, Jodie and Simona look out for each other; and in turn, can provide better support for the people they are working with, creating a compassionate, consistent approach that helps people feel safe, understood and able to take the next step forward at their own pace.
In Derbyshire, our P3 Hoarding Service provides intensive, hands-on support to help people address the practical and emotional challenges of hoarding difficulties. We offer emotional support, advice and practical assistance to create a safer home environment while building confidence and independent living skills for people affected by hoarding. Our approach is person-centred, ensuring each individual receives the right hoarding support at their own pace.
As Jodie says, “We are very lucky that we have such a beautiful service that has grown over time. Hoarding is massive, it’s genuinely unbelievable at the amount of people who have these hoarding behaviours. All the stories are from incredible people; each one is unique and stem from bereavement or trauma which has led to where they’re at today.”
With only Jodie and Simona, the service has a very small team. As hoarding sits under P3’s BeWell Service, Jodie’s time is divided between the hoarding service and BeWell’s wellbeing support. Simona is the only full-time member of staff working on the hoarding team.
Though this can come with some challenges in terms of capacity, the impact Simona has made to so many people across Derbyshire is nothing short of inspirational. Jodie praises Simona, saying, “Simona has worked extremely hard, her work has ensured that our service has grown through word-of-mouth and local impact.
“We have so many people asking us to join their Multi-Agency Risk Management meetings (MARMs)”, Jodie explains, “which is a meeting for vulnerable people with various support services and local authorities.”
She adds, “Local social care is starting to hear about P3’s Hoarding Service, so a lot of people are spending their budget on the service. We’ve found that we’ve been able to work [with local partners] to find out what works for people.
“To start with we would only be with people for six weeks, but that is nowhere near enough to sort a property out – let alone help them with the mental and psychological impact of trauma and lifestyle.
“We can’t clean without building rapport, that is why the hoarding service is holistic. We see a person as a person, regardless of where they are on the clutter scale. So now our support plans are a minimum of six months because we’re not a clearance company, we’re a support service.
“I’m so happy to say we’re getting great results and seeing great feedback.”
Jodie’s words reflect a service that is growing in both recognition and impact; one that takes the time to build trust, understand each person’s experiences and create lasting change rather than quick fixes.
If you’re struggling with hoarding, you’re not alone. Reaching out can feel difficult, but it’s an important first step towards feeling more in control and getting the right support for you.
To make things a little less daunting, you could start by reaching out to someone you trust. This could be a friend, family member or support worker. You don’t have to explain everything at once, even a small conversation can help.
It’s OK to take things one step at a time; support with hoarding isn’t about decluttering everything quickly, it’s about understanding what’s behind it and making changes at a pace that feels right for you.
If you’re worried that your living situation is affecting your safety — for example, blocking exits, creating fire risks or impacting your health — it’s important to seek support as soon as possible. Local councils, housing providers or support services can help you find practical solutions.
Next you should aim to seek professional support from services that will be able to help you manage your current situation and work with you to find long-term solutions.
As Hoarding is a recognised mental health condition, your GP has a duty of care to help you access the right support. In your initial meeting, your GP may:
Some organisations offer support specifically for people affected by hoarding. These services understand the challenges and can work alongside you at your pace. If you’re already connected with a service like P3, your support worker can help you access the right help.
To connect with our Hoarding support services, click here.
Mind have also put together a list of useful contacts for hoarding support, which you can find here.
Senior Wellbeing Worker for P3 Charity's Bewell and Hoarding Services
Hoarding Home Coach for P3 Charity's Hoarding Service in Derbyshire
Every day, P3 teams support people to move from crisis towards stability with dignity, respect and hope. Services like P3’s Hoarding Services provide more than practical support: they offer the time, guidance and emotional support people need to rebuild their lives.
Each year, P3 works alongside more than 81,000 people in-person and through our helplines. Operating across 57 local authorities, we help individuals find housing, reconnect with support networks and realise their potential so they can unlock new possibilities for the future.
If you’d like to learn more about what other services P3 provides, click here.
Alongside our P3 Derbyshire Hoarding Service, we have two other services based in Redditch and Warwickshire, both providing intensive, hands-on practical help alongside wellbeing and independent living support.
Other helpful resources include:
