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New hoarding support service available across East Suffolk
New hoarding support service available across East Suffolk
This week regional charity Access Community Trust has confirmed plans to provide a helpful community service - that focuses on positive support for local people experiencing a hoarding disorder across East Suffolk.
The new service, which is fully licenced and supported by East Suffolk Council, offers a professional and practical de-cluttering and house clearance provision, with additional holistic support therapies available, which assist clients throughout the process – providing them helpful techniques to counteract potential future hoarding.
The term ‘hoarding’ is defined as the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others. People that hoard find it extremely difficult to discard these items. This inability to dispose of these possessions can cause severe anxiety to those involved and potentially long-term affects to their health, career, personal and community relationships.
Launching the service Barry Norman, Head of Operations for Access Community Trust commented, “We began a pilot just before the pandemic hit, successfully assisting individuals effected locally by hoarding. Sadly, subsequent lockdown periods have further highlighted the need for an empathetic support provision - as these people have found themselves further isolated from support and society, which can lead to poor mental, physical health and of course dangerous living conditions for them and those around them. This service carefully helps people by actively finding the right tailored support for them, we don’t just want to improve their immediate living situation, we want to ensure that they feel confident about the future and have the right mind set to combat any future compulsions in a positive manner”.
The charity, which supports those at risk of homelessness and social isolation across Suffolk and Norfolk, has already assisted 17 hoarders using its sustainable model that avoids unnecessary waste. Suitable items donated and cleared - including furniture that can be reused or upcycled are then redistributed within the local community.
To find out more about this compassionate community service or to make a self or professional referral on somebody’s behalf email hoarding@accessct.org or contact 07884 750520.