PEOPLE who hoard can get the help they need, thanks to a community interest company (CIC) which has set up in the county.
Beyond The Hoard CIC was created by Christine Searl, CEO and founding director, in May 2025 after recognising a need in the county for hoarding behaviour support.
Christine brought Carol Christmas on board as the organisation’s director and together they have established four hoarding behaviour support groups in the county.
The CIC runs three monthly support groups in south Worcestershire to help people declutter their homes, minds and lives.
In Worcester, the monthly session runs from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on third Wednesday of the month at Worcester Fire Station.
Evesham sessions take place from 5pm to 7pm on the fourth Thursday of the month at Wallace House, Oat Street, and in Pershore, they run from 12pm to 2pm on the second Saturday of the month Beyond The Hoard CIC’s office Banbury House, Lower Priest Lane.
As part of its work to highlight the issue of hoarding, the CIC created a new display in a room at a building in Evesham (pictured) to replicate a cluttered room synonymous with people who hoard.
The exhibition has now ended but a video of the mocked-up room can be viewed on Beyond the Hoard CIC’s website.
The NHS estimates that between two and five per cent of the population have hoarding disorder – based on Worcestershire’s population of around 604,000, it is thought between 12,000 and 30,000 people live as hoarders in cluttered houses.
Hoarding disorder has been recognised as a mental health condition by the World Health Organisation since 2018 – affecting all cultures and backgrounds.
Christine said: “The exhibition created an opportunity for people attending to see a person beyond the hoard and see the new ‘Beyond the Hoard CIC support service in Worcestershire.
“It is important to break down barriers and stigmas attached to the condition. We have been supported by local organisations and grant funders to enable us to be at the point we are at today.
“We provide access to a public health funds through Kidderminster Foodbank and use of its venue for the Kidderminster Hoarding Behaviour Support Group sessions.”
On the assistance available, she added: “We help someone over the period of one month to six months to understand the reasons behind their hoarding behaviours, understand how they use the spaces in their home, whilst decluttering the home at a pace that is comfortable for them.
“We aim to reduce the risk of emotional harm, compared to traditional methods of home clearances of hoarded spaces.”
She thanked Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service for the help and support it offered with the sessions in Worcester.
She also thanked John Martins Charity which provided a grant for the Evesham support group at Wallace House, and Samual Wallace, Smedley Trust, for use of the property 42 High Street, Evesham for the exhibition.
People can email: [email protected] or visit: beyondthehoardcic.co.uk to find out more about Beyond The Hoard CIC and the services offered.
To access support, people with hoarding behaviours (not professionals) and their family and friends can attend any of the support groups free of charge.
There is also an online group available for those not able to physically attend a face-to-face groups.
People seeking support can also complete the contact us page on the website, email their details or call/text/WhatsApp 07301 069211.
