LISTEN: Nottinghamshire Hoarder Thanks Charity For Saving His Life

19 June 2018, 07:04 | Updated: 19 June 2018, 07:18

A man from Nottinghamshire has thanked a charity for saving his life from hoarding.

Dean started compulsively hoarding after his dad died - but was helped out by Jigsaw Support Scheme.

The charity - which offers help to compulsive hoarders and help get their lives back on track - has now been given funding from Nottinghamshire County Council.

The county council's Local Improvement Scheme has awarded £10,000 a year for the next three years.

The project, based in Mansfield, aims to provide support to hoarders by building their self-esteem to help them reach their goals to achieve and maintain clearance of their properties and to provide them with health and social care links, financial advice, and access counselling and befriending services.

Co-ordinator of the project Alison Waring said: "1.5 to 6 per cent of the population is affected by hoarding in some way and not only affects the hoarder but has a huge impact on their immediate family, friends and neighbours. The idea to set up this project came from partnership working with colleagues at Nottinghamshire County Council, when we identified that hoarders for example, can find themselves living in tents and unable to access their homes.

"Hoarding is a way of life for some and is an addiction. This funding from Nottinghamshire County Council's Local Improvement Scheme is essential to ensure we can continue the vital work we do in the community with local people affected by this."