Hoarding Disorders UK CIC

12/06/2026

Hoarding impacts far more than just the home - the emotional and physical effects can run really deep, and they are not always visible to others 💙

Swipe through to explore some of the ways hoarding can affect daily life, from shame and isolation to health, safety and finances.

If any of this resonates with you or someone you care about, please know that support is available - find resources via the links below:

https://hoardingdisordersuk.org/support/
https://hoardingdisordersuk.org/support/faqs/

12/06/2026

What causes hoarding behaviours? It is a question we are frequently asked - but the answer is extremely complex.

The exact cause is not fully understood, but research suggests it involves a combination of genetic, neurological and environmental factors.

Common contributing factors include:

▫️Trauma — significant loss, abuse or adverse life experiences can trigger or exacerbate hoarding behaviours.

▫️Family history — a family history of hoarding can increase the likelihood of an individual developing similar patterns.

▫️Co-occurring mental health conditions - hoarding frequently presents alongside depression, anxiety and OCD, among others.

For practitioners working with individuals affected by hoarding, understanding these contributing factors is essential to providing support that is genuinely effective, person-centred and compassionate.

https://hoardingdisordersuk.org/training/

10/06/2026

Not sure how to help someone you love who hoards? You're not alone.

Our free monthly support session is a space just for you. No professionals in a work capacity, just people who understand what it's like to love someone who hoards.

Tuesday 24th June, 6.30–7.45pm on Zoom. Free to attend.

Register via the link - or search HDUK support events on Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hduk-support-events-for-family-and-friends-impacted-by-hoarding-tickets-1032003609577?aff=erellivmlt

08/06/2026

Our CPD accredited virtual hoarding awareness training has been RESCHEDULED - Stage 1 is now taking place on 7 July 2026 🗓️

This full-day online training is designed to help practitioners, volunteers, and family members or friends supporting someone with hoarding disorder build real understanding and practical skills.

Delivered across three 1.5 hour sessions, the day covers:
🔹 Understanding hoarding disorder - history, contributing factors, characteristics and impact
🔹 How to help - visual assessment, multiagency working, decluttering tips, motivation and letting go
🔹 Further knowledge - the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, harm reduction, tools and techniques, and emotional resilience

Session times (UK): 9.00am–10.30am 11.00am–12.30pm 1.30pm–3.00pm

Accredited by The CPD Standards Office - CPD Provider: 22412.

This training is also available to book for your organisation for up to 15 people. Contact us at [email protected] to enquire.

Book via Eventbrite - head to the link in our bio to find out more or click below to book your place.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-hoarding-awareness-training-stage-1-tickets-752216609127?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

06/06/2026

Hoarding behaviours are not always visible - and digital hoarding is a growing area of recognition within the field.

For some individuals, the compulsion to save and the difficulty letting go manifests through emails, photographs, files and digital content rather than physical objects. The underlying emotional experience - the overwhelm, the anxiety around discarding, the sense of losing something important - is the same.

For practitioners working in this area, it is worth considering whether digital hoarding may be a factor for the individuals you support, particularly where physical clutter is minimal but the emotional presentation is consistent with hoarding behaviours.

Find out more at http://hoardingdisordersuk.org/

19/05/2026

A question we are frequently asked is: who can provide support for those impacted by hoarding, and is there funding available?

The answer varies depending on location and individual financial circumstances, but there are a number of avenues worth exploring. Potential sources of support include social services, MIND, Age Concern, local mental health teams, voluntary sector organisations and specialist hoarding practitioners.

Some provision is available at no cost, while other services may be means-tested or accessed via referral. A GP or social prescriber is often a good first point of contact for navigating what is available locally.

This variability is, of course, part of the wider problem - and one of the key reasons we continue to campaign for national guidelines that would ensure more consistent access to support regardless of where someone lives.

If you have questions or would like to know more, please do get in touch.
📧 [email protected]

15/05/2026

As National Hoarding Awareness Week 2026 draws to a close, we want to be clear about what this campaign has been building towards.

Hoarding behaviour is a recognised mental health condition that affects an estimated 2–5% of the population. It frequently co-exists with other conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD and OCD. It has significant implications for health, housing, safeguarding and social care. And yet there are no national guidelines in the UK to ensure that people affected receive consistent, appropriate support.
That is what we are campaigning to change.

In October 2025, the UK Parliament held its first-ever debate on hoarding. This week, we have continued that conversation - amplifying lived experience, sharing resources and tools, and making the case for a standardised national approach to hoarding support.

We are calling on practitioners, commissioners, policymakers and sector leaders to add their voices. What should national guidelines for hoarding support include? What does good practice look like in your area? What needs to change?

🔗 www.hoardingawarenessweek.co.uk

15/05/2026

It’s a wrap. Catching up with some of the team to talk about how hoarding awareness week went. Happy weekend all.

15/05/2026

This is something that sits at the heart of this year's campaign - lived experience.

Nigel's journey is a personal and honest account of his experience with hoarding. It is a reminder that behind every statistic and every policy conversation, there are real people whose lives are deeply affected - and who deserve consistent, compassionate, properly supported care.

As we wrap up this year's campaign, we'd like to thank everyone who has engaged, shared and contributed to the conversation around national guidelines for hoarding support.

The voices of people like Nigel are exactly why this work matters.

▶️ Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M5y6YHPYtg

9 likes, 3 comments. "Nigel’s journey – National Hoarding Awareness Week"

14/05/2026

Many people affected by hoarding disorder feel too embarrassed or stigmatised to ask for help - and without that first conversation, things can deteriorate significantly.

When hoarding goes unsupported, the consequences can be serious. Homes can become unsafe due to fire risks, slip and trip hazards, mould and infestations. People may lose access to basic facilities such as heating, hot water or a functioning kitchen. The impact extends beyond the individual - it can affect family members, neighbours, and in some cases lead to hospital admissions where discharge is impossible because the home is too unsafe to return to.

The Hoarding Ice-Breaker Form was created to help bridge that gap between struggling in silence and getting the right support.

It is a free, printable tool that empowers individuals to start a conversation with their GP, clinician or trusted professional about the impact of clutter, disorganisation or hoarding behaviours on their life.

The form covers:
— The types of difficulties many people experience day to day
— Safety concerns and risks in or around the home
— Contributing factors that may have led to the situation
— How the person is feeling and what kind of support they need

It also includes guidance on how to prepare for the conversation with a trusted person, what to expect, and what to do afterwards.

The form can be used by individuals themselves, or by family members, friends, neighbours and professionals who are concerned about someone's welfare. It is available in English, Dutch, Polish and Spanish - making it an accessible resource across communities.

For practitioners working across health, housing, social care and beyond, this is a practical tool worth having in your signposting toolkit.

🔗 Download it free at https://hoardingdisordersuk.org/ice-breaker/