July Newsletter
A Letter from the Chair
Reflection. Learning. Being.
For the 20 years that I have been involved in this work (a few years before HUK, while working at another mental health charity, is when I learned about hoarding), my personal focus – and the focus of this organisation has been mental health. We have always been a mental health charity. Additionally, our work is rights and responsibility based across all areas of this complex configuration. People who hoard and those who support them both have both! As such, we have always provided advocacy services.
We have navigated the challenging period of the past three years (I feel proud of myself and the team for doing this not only so efficiently and effectively but with so much joy and love). We are stronger, and the holdout we’ve maintained – refusing to deliver services that do not include mental health services – is being recognised as having been the correct one. While we’re still asked, ‘Can you provide the practical support without the mental health part?’ We still say no.
So, the reflection is that we’ve taken the road less travelled, but it seems we’ve arrived at where we set out to be.
Learning is that no one at HoardingUK will ever call themselves an expert – we will always work from a place of using our seventeen years of experience as a starting point, not thinking we are ‘there’. Being is working from a place of connection.
We still are rebuilding. But dang! In seven months, this monster group of human beings has accomplished more than any in the three years preceding them.
I thank them. I thank you.
Reflection. Learning. Being.
Megan
Dr Lynne M Drummond
Dr. Lynne M. Drummond
Honorary Consultant, SW London and St George’s NHS Trust and Visiting Professor, University of Hertfordshire
Everything You Need to Know About Hoarding by Cambridge University Press offers insights for those affected by hoarding and their support network. Drummond presents current research with real life stories, providing self-help resources.
With 40 years of experience in OCD and related conditions, Drummond has authored 5 books for both the general public and professionals.
“My belief is that knowledge is so important for people living with these serious mental health conditions as they try to navigate receiving appropriate help. I hope that my books increase awareness, reduce prejudice and improve services.”
Leading the Charge: the Future of Charities
Last month at Third Sector’s The Conference, Megan participated alongside other specialists with the goal of setting the direction of the future of charity work. She enlightened the audience with her personal experiences working with people with hoarding behaviours and working as the chair of a highly esteemed charity.
Congratulations to Kino Bino!
Kino Bino’s short film Of All the Things is selected for the Animation Category at the Bolton International Film Festival! Congratulations to the studio on this achievement We are thrilled with the film’s success and its message about hoarding behaviours and family impact receiving praise.
Help Support Laura
The time to myself has been transformative already, giving me time I would never normally have to properly process things. I’ve managed to work through some difficult thoughts and the immersion in nature has really calmed my nervous system.
I walked into my hometown of Plymouth a few days ago and spent one night at home. What I found both challenging and exhilarating was how I assessed my things now I’ve had time away from them. I’m in a situation where I have been able to curb the instincts to acquire new things but am still in the process of decluttering. I felt that I had a much healthier attitude when I was at home this time and could already see things I’d be happy to let go of.
I’ve also found that I’ve had so many new ideas for plays and poetry, my little notebook is teeming and I’m so excited to get going on some of them when I finish, though I know I may feel a bit lost at first, I’m not quite ready for this all to be over, but I still have 183.9 miles left.
Nothing can beat the feeling of making it to the top, sitting and taking in the twinkling sea, the sounds of the sea birds and lush green scenery.”
Your Online Communities
Choice and Control in Hoarding Behaviour Training
Chairing Postive Change
Motivational Interviewing Training
Join us for an inspiring Motivational Interviewing Open Day on Thursday, 25th September, from 10:00-16:30, and enhance your skills!
Family, Friends and Others Support Groups
At the request of many, HUK has launched an online support group for family, friends and others who are not professionals to get support, then in turn better support people who hoard. For more information about the impact we’re making, read about here in this Guardian article.
HUK Helpline
Sign up for 27 45-minute sessions on a weekly, fortnightly and then monthly basis through our Helpline. We offer the service free of charge, but are asking people to make a donation of any amount to support our important work.
Place in the Space Support Group
These monthly psychological and practical support sessions offer a safe space to anyone who hoards who wants to work on managing their space and wellbeing. Please consider joining, no one is required at any point in these sessions to let go of any item explored.
User Involvement Group Meetings
If you are a user and have suggestions about how we can improve our services, we encourage you to join us here and give your valued feedback.
