‘I’m never going back to living like this’: how an innovative project is helping hoarders

Gloucester council approach offers psychological support, decluttering advice and cuts through shame of poorly understood condition

Carol has been trying to clear her home for two years but in her maelstrom of dishevelled possessions, there is still nowhere to sit - and barely anywhere to stand.

To her, however, things look great. She is delighted that the chaotic towers of tumbled clothes, yellowed newspapers, pebbles and innumerable bags stuffed into other dusty bags are now waist- instead of shoulder-high: six months ago, these perilous mountains teetered close to the stained ceilings, brushing the thick cobwebs that still hang from broken light fittings.