New online Hoarding Programme for Surrey residents

PRESS RELEASE – Leatherhead – 2 February 2023

Mary France Trust & Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust launch a new free online Hoarding programme for Surrey residents

Leading Surrey mental wellbeing charity Mary Frances Trust (MFT) is launching a new, free online Hoarding Programme for Surrey residents, in partnership with Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This evidence-based approach will focus on understanding theory, developing practical skills as well as peer support, to empower people experiencing issues with hoarding to manage their condition and move forward.

Starting on 9 March 2023, the new online Hoarding programme will run monthly on the second Thursday of every month between 7pm and 9pm on Zoom.

It consists of two parts – people can book their place on either or both (places are limited):

• A 45-minute practical course (7pm-7.45pm) focusing on learning and applying skills to help participants deal with their hoarding issues, and make progress. The course will run from 9 March 2023 until December 2023 with limited spaces. Participants will need to register by 23 February 2023 for this part and commit to joining the course from beginning to end as well as carrying out set tasks in between sessions.
• A one-hour peer support group (8pm-9pm). People can book their place on this group at any point of the year if they would like some support with hoarding. It is also open to people who are not on the practical course. The aims of the peer support group include supporting each other by sharing tips and experiences as well as discussing how to put in practice the learning from the course.

The new Hoarding Programme will replace the former hoarding group which the two organisations have been running together for nearly 10 years and which will end after the last session on 9 February 2023. This new programme will be a refreshed, renewed version with exciting content focused on delivering successful outcomes. The programme will be delivered by Dr Anna Gosling, Chartered Clinical Psychologist (Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust), Patrick Wolter, Psychologist and CEO (Mary Frances Trust) and Helen Dixon, BACP Registered Counsellor and Volunteer (Mary Frances Trust) who will lead the practical course with Helen also facilitating the peer support group.

What is Hoarding?

Hoarding is mental health disorder where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner, usually resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter which they find difficult or impossible to throw away. The items can be of little or no monetary value.

According to Hoarding Disorders UK around 6% of the UK population is affected by hoarding disorder but experts believe the true figure is higher. And 92% of people who hoard have at least one other mental health disorder.

The NHS recognised the condition in 2013 yet it remains little understood. Hoarding is often linked to other serious mental health issues, such as childhood trauma or clinical depression.

It is important to encourage a person who is hoarding to seek help, as their difficulties discarding objects can not only cause loneliness and further mental health issues but also pose a health and safety risk.

What’s covered in the practical course?

The practical course will focus on the following topics:

• Why do I have so much stuff and an introduction to the ‘Four Pillars’ of Hoarding
• Making decisions and problem solving- focusing on help with acquiring and discarding
• Understanding how emotions impact hoarding behaviour
• Thinking about thinking … and tips to help with unhelpful thoughts
• How to keep motivated – tips to help when we become ‘stuck’
• Planning for the future

How to register for the Hoarding Programme

The new hoarding programme is designed for and open to anyone aged 16+ living in Surrey who identifies hoarding as an issue they experience, with or without formal diagnosis.

Carers and supporters of people who hoard are welcome to attend the Peer Support group but the practical course is reserved for people who have hoarding issues themselves.

To join the programme, participants will need to:

• first register with Mary Frances Trust by filling in an online form on the charity’s website: www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk. This form can be filled by the participant or a mental health professional referring them to the programme. Existing MFT clients do not need to register again.
• once registered with MFT, contact the MFT office to book their place (either onto the course or the peer support group, or both) at info@maryfrancestrust.org.uk, on 01372 375 400 or SMS 07929 024 722. The MFT office is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

People wishing to register for the practical course will need to do so by 23 February 2023 and be committed to joining the course every month until it ends. People who only want to join the peer support group can register at any point and come to sessions whenever they want (but will still have to book their place each time).

Once registered with MFT, people can also access any of the free wellbeing activities, groups and courses offered by the charity.

Notes to Editors

Mary Frances Trust is a mental health and emotional wellbeing charity for Surrey residents (aged 16+). They provide individual goal setting sessions, wellbeing activities, courses and groups, advice and information, crisis support as well as run SUN, a service for people with complex emotions often associated with personality disorders.

For a list of their services, please visit: www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/how-we-help/

Surrey and Boarders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services for people in Surrey and North East Hampshire. For more information please visit: https://www.sabp.nhs.uk/

Media Contact

To request media interviews, please contact Connie Ridout, Communications Lead, Mary Frances Trust

Tel: 01372 375 400
Email: connie@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Available for interview:

• Patrick Wolter, Psychologist and CEO, Mary Frances Trust
• Dr Anna Gosling, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP)

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