Our Story: Rooted in Practice, Grown with Purpose
Enabling Spaces CIC is an Occupational Therapy–led specialist service supporting people affected by hoarding behaviours, squalor, and self-neglect.
Our work is shaped by years of frontline practice and guided by a bespoke therapeutic framework developed in response to what people actually need, not what systems find convenient.
Where It Began
Our journey began in 2015, when Occupational Therapists Yvonne Singleton and Jo Dowdeswell launched a piloted hoarding service in partnership with a local social housing provider in Coventry.
At the time, most responses to hoarding were crisis-driven and clearance-focused. Yvonne and Jo recognised that this approach failed to address the deeper occupational, emotional, and relational factors underlying hoarding behaviours.
Using their core Occupational Therapy skills, theory, and clinical reasoning, they developed a client-centred, therapeutic approach that focused on understanding why hoarding existed, not simply what needed to be removed.
The pilot demonstrated meaningful outcomes — but ultimately closed due to funding constraints. The need, however, did not disappear.
How We Grew
Rather than stepping away, Yvonne and Jo took a bold step forward.
In 2017, they founded Enabling Spaces CIC, creating an independent, OT-led service dedicated to doing this work properly — with time, care, and clinical integrity.
Over the years, their practice evolved into a structured, transferable framework that integrates:
- Occupational therapy assessment and formulation
- Trauma-informed, consent-based pacing
- In-situ therapeutic and practical support
- Risk-aware, harm-reduction decision-making
This framework now underpins all our work — from individual therapy to training, consultancy, and system-level support.
Who We Are Today
Today, Enabling Spaces CIC is a framework-led, OT-governed service working with individuals, families, and professionals facing complex hoarding-related challenges.
We do not offer clearance-only solutions.
We provide therapeutic change.
Our approach recognises hoarding as a whole-life issue, connected to occupation, identity, safety, trauma, loss, routines, and meaning. Clients remain active partners in their journey, with goals shaped around strengths, readiness, and real life — not imposed targets.
What We Do
We provide flexible, responsive support, including:
- OT-led therapeutic intervention
- In-situ therapy combining emotional and practical support
- Support for families and wider systems
- Risk reduction and safety planning
- Training, consultancy, and professional development
Our work supports people to:
Featured in The Guardian
The Guardian has highlighted the work of Yvonne Singleton and Jo Dowdeswell, recognising the role of specialist Occupational Therapy in supporting people affected by hoarding disorder.
In the article, “Hoarding: the possessions are almost part of them”, Yvonne and Jo share insight into how therapeutic, occupation-centred approaches help people make sense of their belongings, their homes, and the meaning attached to them — moving beyond clearance-led responses to create lasting change.
The feature explores how Occupational Therapists work alongside individuals with compassion, skill, and clinical understanding to support safer living, emotional wellbeing, and sustainable outcomes.
👉 Read the full article on The Guardian website
Hoarding: the possessions are almost part of them
https://www.theguardian.com/careers/2018/aug/31/hoarding-the-possessions-are-almost-part-of-them
Our Journey -A Timeline of Growth
🌱 2015 Where It Began
Pilot Hoarding Service | Coventry
Occupational Therapists Yvonne Singleton and Jo Dowdeswell launched a piloted hoarding service in partnership with a local social housing provider.
This early work revealed a clear gap: hoarding support that addressed people, not just properties.
🌿 2015–2016 — Developing a Different Approach
From Clearance to Care
Using core Occupational Therapy theory and clinical reasoning, Yvonne and Jo developed a client-centred, therapeutic approach focused on:
- Meaning and attachment
- Routines and daily occupations
- Trauma, loss, and identity
- Safety and wellbeing
The pilot demonstrated strong outcomes but closed due to funding constraints.
🌳 2017 — Enabling Spaces CIC Is Formed
An Independent OT-Led Service
Determined to continue the work with integrity, Yvonne and Jo founded Enabling Spaces CIC — an Occupational Therapy–led service specialising in hoarding behaviours, squalor, and self-neglect.
🌲 2018–2022 — Practice Deepens
Complexity, Risk & Real-World Work
Through sustained frontline practice, Enabling Spaces worked with:
- High-risk, long-standing hoarding cases
- Multi-agency systems (ASC, Housing, Environmental Health)
- Individuals labelled “non-engaging” or “non-compliant”
This period shaped a more structured, risk-aware, trauma-informed model of working.
🍃 2023–2024 — A Framework Takes Shape
From Practice to Structure
Years of learning were formalised into a bespoke therapeutic framework, integrating:
- OT assessment and formulation
- Emotional readiness and pacing
- In-situ therapy and practical support
- Harm-reduction and safety planning
This framework now underpins all Enabling Spaces work.
🌼 2025–Present — Who We Are Today
Framework-Led | OT-Governed | Values-Driven
Now based in Warwickshire, Enabling Spaces CIC delivers:
- OT-led therapeutic intervention
- In-situ therapy combining emotional and practical support
- Training, consultancy, and professional development
- System-level support for complex hoarding cases
Rooted in practice. Grown with purpose. Designed for lasting change.