Sarah Harding (Girls Aloud) had ADHD and died from breast cancer

Yesterday's news about the death of the British singer/actress/celebrity Sarah Harding is all over the front pages of today's UK newspapers.

Sarah sadly lost her life to breast cancer, aged just 39 years old.

She had been a member of the hugely successful British/Irish girl band Girls Aloud (which sold over 4.3 million singles and 4 million albums sold in the UK alone between 2002 and 2012); went on to have a successful career as a solo artist, actor, model, tv presenter and winner of the tv show Big Brother in 2017.  

Her autobiography "Hear Me Out" was published in March 2021, only a few months before her death, when she knew her cancer was terminal.

Before yesterday I admit to knowing nothing whatsoever about Sarah, except that she was famous.  So I was intrigued by the media coverage about her which revealed a fascinating, energetic character whose rollercoaster life and career screamed out at me that she was probably Neurodiverse.

So I did some online research, and sure enough, discovered that she was indeed diagnosed with ADHD as a child.  Which made total sense when I read interviews where she'd admitted things like:

• She eventually dropped out of school, having attended seven different ones
• She'd had multiple jobs, including waiting tables at Pizza Hut, van driver, debt collector and as a BT operator - while performing in clubs and pubs in the evenings
• ‘I might come across as confident when I’m out or onstage, but that’s my mask. When I’m around people you can’t shut me up; I’m a people person and I love to talk’
• "I'm very hyper, I’ve got a low attention span, I’m a control freak and I definitely have a bit of OCD, too." 
• She'd experienced alcohol dependency and depression over the years
• “I’m the rock chick, blonde bombshell, party girl, the caner of the band”.
• She didn't take medication for her ADHD until she joined Girls Aloud and began struggling with the pressures of fame
• "Somewhere - amongst the nightclubs, the frocks and hairdos, the big chart hits, and the glamour of being a popstar - the other Sarah Harding got utterly lost. She's the one who's been forgotten". 

Unfortunately, as with many other ADHD-ers, it’s likely that Sarah’s need for stimulation from others and impaired Executive Functioning meant that she neglected her own health and wellbeing (she probably self-medicated with alcohol as a coping strategy), and didn’t take action to address symptoms that could have indicated symptoms of a life-threatening condition until it was too late....

In my research I found various articles in which Sarah Harding admitted that she had dismissed a lump on her breast as a cyst during the pandemic in 2020, disguising her "denial" as COVID fear and concern for overrun hospitals.

In Sarah's autobiography "Hear Me Out", she wrote: 

"At first I thought it was just a cyst. The trouble was the pain was getting worse.  It got so bad that I couldn’t sleep in a bed. Eventually my skin started to bruise. By now I was terrified.

“One day I woke up realising I’d been in denial. Yes there was a pandemic but it was almost as if I’d been using that as an excuse not to face up to the fact that something was very wrong.”

It was only when Sarah's skin began to bruise that she sought medical help.  Unfortunately, her lungs and kidneys were already failing and she was rushed to intensive care after a port fitted into her chest led to sepsis.  Doctors put her in a medically induced coma for two weeks, followed by chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

I urge organisations that treat and support those affected by cancer to take the opportunity of Sarah’s sad passing to target Neurodiverse communities and raise awareness of the importance of regularly checking your breasts and taking action as soon as possible if there are irregularities.

Meanwhile, one article about Sarah (which was published in The Guardian Newspaper only a few hours after the announcement of her death) really struck me more than all the others.  

It was written by Michael Cragg, a music writer for the Guardian and Observer, and Editor of BEAT magazine, who included the phrase "....she suffered from undiagnosed ADHD as a child.....".

Which gave me a great idea that I’m going to suggest to Mr Cragg. 

Sadly, as Sarah is no longer around for him to ask her what this statement means to her, perhaps he might like to consider interviewing other performers who have been diagnosed with ADHD, and write articles about their views on how they might be able to relate to his statement about how Sarah "suffered from undiagnosed ADHD as a child", and what eventually getting a diagnosis meant to them, and how they live with the condition now. 

For example, for ADHD how about interviewing Dave Grohl (Nirvana, the Foo Fighters), Will.i.am, Mel B, Steven Tyler (Aerosmith front-man), Ozzy Ozbourne (who also has Dyslexia) or Justin Timberlake. 

And then perhaps other famous music industry icons too, who have been diagnosed with other Neurodevelopmental conditions such as:

• Dyslexia - Mick Fleetwood, Noel Gallagher, Jewel, Carly Simon, Sir Richard Barnson
• Dyspraxia - Florence Welch, of Florence +The Machine
• Autism - David Byrne, lead singer of Talking Heads; Gary Numan

Maybe also ask them about their own experiences of being affected by cancer, addictions or mental ill-health while you’re at it Mr Cragg? 

Before it’s too late, like it was for Sarah and countless other performers…

#ADHD #cancer #SarahHarding #GirlsAloud #mentalhealth #chronicdisorganisation #ExecutiveDysfunction #Neurodiversity #stopthestigma #breastcancer #music #celebrity #bigbrother

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Cherry Rudge is a Professional Hoarding Practitioner, trainer, mentor, mentor, consultant, activist, campaigner and creator of the Hoarding Icebreaker Form.

Her late father had hoarding behaviours, which is why she now specialises in working with people with hoarding behaviours and complex needs.

She has been a:

• Member of the Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers (APDO) since 2011 (and was a Board Member for three years)
• the National Fire Chief Council's Hoarding Working Group since 2013
• a Dementia Friend since 2015
• a Trustee of the Fastminds Adult ADHD Support Group in Kingston-upon-Thames since 2020 (she received her own ADHD diagnosis in 2019, aged 56) 
• consultant to Surrey County Council
• contributor to Jo Cooke's insightful book “Understanding Hoarding” (2nd edition published May 2021)

For further information please contact Cherry Rudge - Phone/Text: 07931 303310 - Email: cherry@rainbowred.co.uk

Clutter & disorganisation crisis looming for brain-damaged COVID-19 patients?

There's potentially some good news on its way for experienced Professional Organisers and Professional Hoarding Practitioners who work with people with complex needs - we're likely to be even more in demand as a result of COVID-19.

According to an article in The Guardian on 8th July 2020, UK neurologists have published details of mildly affected or recovering Covid-19 patients having serious or potentially fatal brain conditions.

The cases (published in the journal Brain) support a paper recently published in The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (by an American team of leading neurological experts), which says that some former COVID-19 patients may go on to develop cognitive decline, attention deficit, brain fog, or Alzheimer's disease.  

And that of course means they may (for example):

• Be left with degenerative COVID-19 related physical health problems that affect them for the rest of their lives
• End up with PTSD caused by the trauma of having had COVID-19, as well as having to adjust to having physical anxiety, depression or stress-related illness that they may not have had before
• Find it difficult to maintain their pre-COVID-19 career/employment status, level of income and lifestyle
• End up finding themselves reliant on the benefits system to be able to pay their bills - assuming there is an appropriate welfare system in place where they live of course...
• Need to downsize or request council accommodation if their situation becomes too dire (they may even have to relocate to other areas if there's insufficient suitable accommodation available in their area.
  
• Lose some of their Executive Functioning (EF) - the daily skills of life that enable us to carry out what "neurotypicals" take for granted, such as:
• the ability to remember were they put things; 
• arrive at appointments on time (assuming they remembered to write the appointment in their diary in the first place - assuming they could even find their diary or remembered to look in their diary); 
• organise their homes (eg. create and maintain effective filing systems for paperwork, photos, emails, etc; 
• manage their affairs (eg. pay bills on time, arrange repairs to be carried out to fix broken heating, etc)
• maintain a clean, safe, hygienic and clutter-free living environment

Not that these are good things of course - absolutely not - far from it!  

Life-changing experiences like these can be frustrating, exhausting, depressing, and time-consuming to address.  Especially for individuals who were previously physically active, focussed on career development and fiercely independent.  

And then there's the friends and families who end up becoming carers to them post-COVID.

Without appropriate and timely support, the health and wellbeing of people affected by these kinds of difficulties can rapidly deteriorate, and the consequences can be disastrous.

It's only in the last few years that some local authorities (especially those that have received specialist training from organisations such as Hoarding Disorders UK CIC, Clouds End CIC and Rainbow Red) have begun to understand that issues related to clutter, disorganisation, self-neglect and hoarding behaviours are:

• Very rarely lifestyle choices
• Until COVID-19, the chances are that that individuals experiencing these issues had underlying neurological and/or mental health conditions (often undiagnosed).  Post-COVID-19, the difficulties could be related to that issues caused by the Coronavirus, on top of existing problems.
• Likely to be physical representations of the chaos and overwhelm in a person's life
• Often made worse by sending in a clearance/cleaning firm, instead of someone who offers a person-centred service

So, why does this mean there's potentially a clutter and disorganisation crisis looming?

Because the bad news is that:

1. there may be no money to pay for these essential services

2. There aren't enough of us with sufficient skills and experience of working with people with complex needs to meet demand.  And those of us who do have been inundated with calls since lockdown started - we simply can't keep up (so apologies to all those who we've not yet had a chance to contact).

Health and social care services are likely to be overwhelmed with requests for support from the likes of professionals such as Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, support workers, mental health specialists and neurological specialists - all collaborating with Professional Organisers and Professional Hoarding Practitioners - empowering individuals to remain independent for as long as possible.

We predict there could be (for example):

• inadequate budgeting and training of NHS and local authority personnel to provide specialist person-centred practical support
• Many people who lose their job due to the deterioration in their health, and who turn to already over-stretched health and social care and/or benefits systems to pay for support
• enormous competition for already very limited health and social care budgets 
• an increase in demand for council accommodation
• an increase in the number of social workers required to deal with increased case-loads
• an increase in safety issues in the home due to self-neglect, fires; slips, trips and falls; infestations, etc. 
• an increase in the number of vulnerable people being targeted by unscrupulous scammers and and becoming victims of of cuckooing (when people are unwell they are less able to maintain their properties in which drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base for county lines drug trafficking. 

All of which could continue for many years to come.

Still, it's reassuring to know that decluttering and organising specialists are likely to at last become an integral part of multi-agency responses and interventions.  Better late than never.

My hope is that by re-training people who have struggled with organising issues the past - and either attended hoarding or clutter support groups or worked with professional practitioners (or both) to develop sustainable coping strategies that  brings order to their lives - we'll end up with a new generation of practitioners as passionate as we are about giving something back to clients who were once like them.

So, if you'd like to know more about attending training to become a Professional Hoarding Practitioner, please please please get in touch.  

Because without your empathy, patience, and ability to motivate, empower and coach people to believe in their ability to take control of their paperwork and their homes, some people won't be able to sort their way out of their mess - which wasn't their fault in the first place....

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To find a Professional Organiser in the UK, check out The Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers (APDO) website - www.apdo.co.uk

Families need support too

Client testimonials are always very much appreciated, and this one 

- from a lovely lady who contacted me for advice because she was concerned about her mother - absolutely made my day!

"I contacted Cherry during lock down due to my mother being taken extremely unwell. We received a phone call from the paramedic who attended to my mother, who had a very frank conversation as to how bad our mum's home was. He stated that in the future they may not be able to attend to her address due the appalling house condition. Mum's prospects at this time was very uncertain and even if she was to survive, then she couldn't return home due to her health and the home conditions.  

What the paramedic wasn't aware of was the years/ decades of battling we have had to try to get her to resolve the issue. It came to a point where her adult children had to choose not to go to her house because it was so upsetting. It was not through not trying, I have lost count how many times we have been to her house to try help get it into a habitable state or encouraged her to access service to support her in doing so, but due to her such poor self esteem, confidence and not wanting to lose any of her possessions this just wasn't achievable.  This life changing event forced our hand to face up to the situation and get professional help. This is where Cherry came into our lives.....

 

I called Cherry in March, as a stuttering, bumbling mess on the phone. Feeling helpless, bewildered, hopeless and most of all embarrassed. Cherry was absolutely amazing, she reassured, listened, empathised, had a complete understanding and most importantly made me feel supported and there could be a way forward. Cherry wasn't able to take on our mum as a client but she could hear my desperation and  promised she would look into it to see if she could find another professional to support her. Cherry supported myself and my sister via phone calls and emails. My sister suffers anxiety and had baby twins to contend with. I have a young family and working full time in a very stressful and demanding job. Cherry was completely understanding and worked around us. 

 

Cherry was able to connect us to Simon who is also a professional de-clutter and hoarder supporter. We managed to persuade our mum to meet Cherry and Simon via a video link. They offered her understanding, encouragement and strategies to encourage her to start making small steps forward. Sadly our mum didn't agree to work with Simon, we believe this because she has had a difficult life which she had little control and she wants to be in charge of her decisions now. However from their conversation it has spurred our mum on to start making the changes she so desperately needs to make. When she was fitter enough, she returned home and has started to clear the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, fingers crossed she can continue.

 

 I truly wish she had made the better choice of working with Simon. Myself and my brother and sister believe that this would have changed her life as it's not a straight cut solution of clearing a house, she would absolutely have benefited from the confidence and self esteem that would have come from Simon and Cherry's support. 

 

My family wants to whole heartily thank Cherry and Simon for there support through one of the toughest times". 

 Which just goes to show, it's not about the stuff, 

it's always about the people!

Finally, I must say a big thank you to my APDO colleague Simon Wigzell of 

Let's Get It Sorted for the calm and reassuring way he supported the family 

- and me!

Is it Depression, or is it more likely to be ADHD?

Here at Rainbow Red we regularly meet, hear from or hear about SO many people with issues related to clutter, disorganisation or hoarding behaviours who have been diagnosed with Depression.

We also recognise oh SO many symptoms of ADHD in those same people, and suspect that were inadequately diagnosed originally.  

Sadly, whilst a GP rarely has the time to thoroughly assess a patient who presents with depression symptoms, they do have time to prescribed antidepressant medication.

Had their patient been asked probing questions about what they find depressing about their life, the root cause may well have been because they were overwhelmed by life events (such as bereavements, bullying, issues at work), and struggling to cope with the everyday practical priorities like children, housework and relationships, losing weight, health problems, the washing machine breaking down ..... the list goes on, and on...

Instead of being prescribed antidepressants or bog standard Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), a combination of ADHD medication, appropriate therapy (sometimes), support (probably from peer-led Support Groups run by people with similar issues) and educating them about practical holistic strategies that help people who experience Executive Dysfunction could have have been far more effective than antidepressants - and at the same time, potentially saved a fortune in hidden costs to taxpayers (from interventions by the emergency services, healthcare, law enforcement, benefits and social care) - not to mention probably saving lives by preventing accidents from fires in the home, or reckless driving.

Receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment could potentially have enabled them to avoid (or at least reduce) many years of (for example):

• regularly losing things (like keys, phone, wallet….)
• impulsively purchasing, acquiring or accumulating non-essential items (and not being able to let go of them – even when they caused issues with their landlord or family members, or resulted in slips, trips, falls or even fires
• turning up late to appointments, or forgetting to go to appointments
• finding it difficult to plan or organise their homes or their lives effectively so they felt in control of their affairs
• being easily overwhelmed or overly emotional
• making unwise or inappropriate decisions that lead to relationship breakdowns, run-ins with the law, accidents (eg. because of reckless driving)
• unrewarding career choices, employment tribunals and/or losing their job
• excessive reliance on stimulants – including drugs, alcohol, food, exercise, extreme sports, etc
• health issues due to exhaustion (eg. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia) or unhealthy lifestyles (eg. Diabetes)
• not fully achieving their true potential

So if you know someone who has been struggling on-and-off with depression for a long time, and has also struggled with the type of difficulties listed above, how about suggesting the possibility they may have ADHD?

Or, if that feels like it may not be well received, simply forward them the link to this brilliant blog by Rick Green - a Canadian Comedian comedian, satirist, actor, writer, and advocate for awareness of adult ADD.  He was diagnosed with ADHD in 2001, at the age of  48 (when his son was diagnosed with ADHD), and went on to found the company TotallyADD.  Their aim is to:

• remove the stigma of ADHD
• liberate people from fear, shame and resignation
• create an interactive community for adults with, or affected by ADHD and ADD
• empower people to create customized tools and treatments
• provide reliable, credible and current information
• present information in a lively, visual, memorable and fun way
• give people the tools and support they need to create a life they love

So please share this blog with as many people as you can, to educate medical professionals so that their automatic reaction when presented with a patient who has depression symptoms is to reach for the ADHD (or Autism) assessment referral form before (or in addition to) pushing the antidepressant prescription request button.

If you'd like to find out whether you might have ADHD, you could:

• Download and complete this form and use it to start a conversation with your GP - Adult ADHD self Assessment
• It's from the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1 (ASRS-V1.1) Symptoms Checklist from the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview)
• Try the fun quiz from TotallyADD - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iozAFIr3BEw&feature=youtu.be

And please please please - exercise those lovely Executive Functioning and critical thinking "muscles" of yours properly, so you remain socially distanced and safe in these difficult COVID-19 pandemic times.  

Thank you.

xx

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Cherry Rudge is a Professional Hoarding Practitioner, trainer, mentor, activist, campaigner and creator of the Hoarding Icebreaker Form.

She received her ADHD diagnosis in 2019 (aged 56) and is a Trustee of the Fastminds Adult ADHD Support Group in Kingston-upon-Thames.  

Cherry was on the Board of The Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers (APDO) for three years, which is when she was invited to become a member of the National Fire Chief Council's Hoarding Working Group,  and helped launch the first ever UK Hoarding Awareness Week (in 2014) at the House of Commons in London.

She became a Dementia Friend in 2015, and contributed to the insightful and easy to read book “Understanding Hoarding” (published by Sheldon Press in 2017), to talk about her experiences as the daughter of someone with hoarding behaviours who went on to have Alzheimer's.

For further information please contact Cherry Rudge - Phone/Text: 07931 303310 - Email: cherry@rainbowred.co.uk

What's the matter with Tony Slattery?

If you're old enough to remember and enjoy (as I did) the 1980 improvisational tv show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", the name Tony Slattery has probably been imprinted on your brain forever.

I remember marvelling at the time at the lightening speed of the stand-up comedians who enthralled us with their creative genius.  Many - such as Sandi Toksvig and Paul Merton - have gone on to become household names in the UK.

What is less well known is that Tony's mental health declined over the years, and the reason for it.

So serious hats off to Tony and Mark Hutchinson - his partner of over 30 years - for allowing the BBC to follow them to film a Horizon documentary about what might be causing Tony's depression, alcohol dependency and addictions over the years.

There was lots of discussion about the possibility of him maybe having undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder, and having been repeatedly sexually abused as a child.  

What's unfortunate is that the documentary didn't explain that it's known that childhood abuse (also known as Adverse Childhood Experiences - ACES) can have adverse effects on victims as they get older, including having an effect on their health and wellbeing.

ACES (and abuse as an adult) also happens to be quite common amongst people with hoarding issues.

What's peculiar is that there was no mention in the documentary of any possible underlying neurodiverse conditions (eg. ADHD or Autism/Aspergers) - especially when you consider that other creative celebrities have these diagnoses.  

For example, British comedians Shappi Khorsandi and Rory Bremner (who famously made another documentary with the BBC about getting his ADHD diagnosis as an adult), or the American comedian Jim Carrey - who also has experienced prolonged periods of depression, which he describes as "the body's way of having deep rest - from the character you're trying to play".

Hopefully there will be a follow-up programme about Tony where they will dig deeper to find answers, but in the meantime we hope that by talking about the issues it has unlocked something that can begin to help him on the road to recovery. 

Tony, Mark - thank you for bravely sharing your experiences with us during Mental Health Awareness Week, we wish you all the best for the future.

 #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #HoardingHelp #HAW #SpeakYourMind

WARNING:  The documentary contains references to childhood abuse which viewers may find upsetting.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000jbcf

Professional Hoarding Practitioner Training

Do you work with people with complex needs or issues related to hoarding or extreme disorganisation? 

Have you thought of working with people who exhibit hoarding behaviours but want some reassurance before giving it a go?

The aim of our one-day courses is to teach professional practitioners about how to make sustainable progress when working with clients, service users, tenants, patients and their support networks, as well as some of the challenges and stigmas you might face along the way and how to reduce the risk of them happening.

By the end of each day you'll have a better understanding of some of the complexities you’d be letting yourself in for by working with people who live with extreme amounts of clutter, and whether the it makes sense for you personally, or for your business.

Who attends?
Our interactive training empowers all the agencies affected by hoarding behaviours and associated issues, including:

• Environmental Health Officers
• Charity workers
• Professional Organisers
• Community Health Officers
• Housing professionals
• Care workers
• Social workers
• Fire & Rescue Service
• Specialist support workers
• Occupational Therapists
• Healthcare professionals

Trainees are encouraged to share their experiences with the group, to help everyone understand each other's perspectives and challenges, and the importance of close multi-agency collaboration.  

Our aim is to end up with a community of professional friends and colleagues who follow common best practices when working with people affected by hoarding behaviours, and support each other through what can be challenging and sometimes emotionally draining experiences.

Training groups are limited to a maximum of 14, so there should be plenty of opportunities to ask questions – please help us make the day as interactive as possible!

STAGE 1

Venues & Dates

Solihull
- Currently on hold due to COVID-19 (date to be confirmed)

Cost per person: £195 including refreshments & lunch 

Course content includes:

• Hoarding Disorder Overview
• Traits of people with hoarding behaviours
• Common causes
• Reasons for Saving
• Tactics and How to Develop Them with the Client
• Some Techniques
• Key Stakeholders
• Practical Challenges
• Is it right for you or your business? 
• Support for clients 
• Safeguarding ourselves

Pre-training requirements - No requirements

To book please contact Jo Cooke - jo@hoardingdisordersuk.org  

STAGE 2

Solihull

- Currently on hold due to COVID-19 (date to be confirmed)

Cost per person: £195 including lunch and refreshments

Course overview:

This one-day course expands on Clouds End’s/Hoarding Disorders UK’s/Rainbow Red’s Hoarding Awareness Training for Professional Practitioners Stage 1 training, and examines in more detail (through practical case study exercises) some of the proven techniques and tools used by professional organisers and agencies to help hoarders achieve a more functional and energising environment in which to live.

By the end of the day you will have an overview of current best practice processes and be able to use a number of risk assessment and measurement tools designed to empower you to help people affected by extreme cluttering and hoarding behaviours make a positive and sustainable difference to their homes and their lives.

Course content includes:

• Getting through the door (if you’re lucky)
• How to stay there and how to make progress
• Assessments, measuring progress & reporting
• Safety in the home - from a member of the Fire and Rescue Service
• Hoarding task forces, multi-agency groups & hoarding protocols
• Examples of extreme situations – eg. eviction, squalor (Environmental Health), animal hoarding
• Legal stuff - Mental Capacity Act 2007, Mental Health Act, Care Act 2014 & Advocacy
• The voice of a person with lived experiences of hoarding behaviours - with the opportunity to ask them questions

Pre-training requirements - It will make MUCH more sense if you've attended our Level 1 training!

To book please contact Jo Cooke - jo@hoardingdisordersuk.org 

STAGE 3

Currently on hold due to COVID-19 (date to be confirmed)

It's not about the stuff - it's about the people

Cost per person: £195 including lunch and refreshments

Course overview: 

• Introductions
• Stage 2 re-cap & reflections
• Fears, blocks & gaps
• Case study exercises
• Change
• Case studies
• Group discussions
• Mindfulness
• Applying motivational interviewing and other techniques in the context of working with hoarding behaviours
• Therapies
• Lessons learned

Pre-training requirements:  Must have attended Stage 2 of our Professional Hoarding Practitioner training (and preferably Stage 1 too - otherwise it won't make as much sense) 

To book please contact Jo Cooke - jo@hoardingdisordersuk.org  

Testimonials

"Fabulous day at the Professional Hoarding Practitioner Training today, Stage 2 tomorrow.

Head buzzing with ideas, and heart is full knowing what I’m doing with my clients is not only right, but also the way forward. I love learning from others, and in this job there’s always something to learn. Rainbow Red UK, Clouds End CIC & Hoarding Disorders UK CIC know their stuff!"
Heather Tingle - Untangled by Tingle - March 2020

"What an absolute joy to learn from Heather, Jo and Cherry, three amazing ladies who care, support and give so much.

The training content was fabulous but more important was the infectious energy and enthusiasm with which the reality of the problem and practical solutions were shared. Hearing from Steph and Keith’s story, as former hoarders, were so moving they made me want to help others to find a way out. LOVED IT!!! Thank you".

Jo Cavalot, DOTTYMOW, Sheffield – September 2019

"Excellent training. Thoroughly enjoyed the level 1 course"

Paul Cooper - Hoarding Disorders UK

"All aspects of today’s training were exceptional. Certainly very though provoking. Gained additional knowledge and understanding. Sincere thanks to you all".  

Gail Tranter, Environmental Health, Newark & Sherwood DC - October 2018

I just wanted to say ‘Thank you’ for a informative and useful training day today. I left the day feeling informed and keen to learn more. You are all very inspiring women".

Anon – July 2018

"The training left me wanting more even though I am still not sure that dealing with serious hoarding clients is for me. So, I would like to come to level 2 when you run it.  I also think that the work that the three of you do is nothing short of amazing. As I said to you yesterday, this seems more like a vocation. It was so interesting to hear some of your case studies and also very moving".
Mary D – July 2018

"Very well presented, very clear and easy to understand.  Trainers are very knowledgeable and thoroughly enjoyed it. Look forward to Level 3 :-)"

"Really enjoyed this course, very empowering, thank you"

"Another brilliant day - motivating!"

About the Trainers

Heather, Jo and Cherry are all ILM^* and NCFE^* Accredited trainers.

*Training Accreditations:  

• ILM = The Institute of Leadership & Management
• NCFE = a registered educational charity

Between us we have over 20 years’ experience of working with people with extreme cluttering and hoarding problems, and regularly deliver training, coaching and advice to a variety of organisations including housing associations, mental health teams, charities, fire and rescue services and social care teams.  

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Heather Matuozzo founded the social enterprise Clouds End CIC in 2007, and is a professional trainer, declutterer, and activist for people who hoard. 

She co-founded the Pan London Hoarding Task Force and National Hoarding Task Force initiative, and runs three hoarder support groups in the West Midlands. 

Heather has taken part in BBC’s documentaries including Britain’s Biggest Hoarders; talks frequently on the radio; is Chair of the charity HoardingUK, and is an associate trainer for the mental health charity MIND.

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Jo Cooke is a Director of the Community Interest Company Hoarding Disorders UK, and also runs her own professional organising and decluttering business Tapioca Tidy.

She has been featured in The Guardian newspaper, and is the author of the book “Understanding Hoarding” which is fast becoming the “go to manual” for hoarders, their families and agencies that work with people exhibiting hoarding behaviours.

Jo runs three hoarding support groups (Bracknell, Newbury and Reading), and was a finalist in the Venus Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award 2018.

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Cherry Rudge of Rainbow Red is on a personal and professional development journey because her father had hoarding behaviours.  She was a Board Member of the Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers (APDO), is a Member of the National Fire Chiefs Association’s Hoarding Working Group, and helped organised the first ever UK Hoarding Awareness Week in 2014.

Cherry is a Dementia Friend, a Trustee at an ADHD/Autism Support Group (Fastminds in Kingston-upon-Thames), and devised the Hoarding Ice-Breaker form to empower people whose health has been affected by disorganisation, clutter and hoarding to start a conversation with a GP or medical professional, so they can be signposted for appropriate treatment and practical support.

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Cherry and Heather delivered the UK’s first Hoarding Awareness Training for Professional Organisers in 2014.