Grants Up For Grabs: Gwalia Care and Support

Newport care leavers project links with HIPPO to tackle hoarding problem

HIPPO recently joined forces with Cynnal to help support a young person tackling a hoarding problem that was impacting on her mental health and every day life.

Cynnal, a Pobl Group service, based in Newport which supports young care leavers to manage their tenancies and develop and enhance their life skills, approached us through our ‘Grants up for Grabs’ scheme, through which we award free waste disposal help to charities, community groups and organisations across the UK that inspire respect for the environment or have a positive effect on the community.

Theresa Phillips, Cynnal Support Worker, who is working closely with the young person said: “The impact of this free service on the young person is that her mental health and self-esteem has improved and she is starting to feel really proud of her home.

She kept the hoarding problem a secret, until it had escalated to a point where it was taking over every room in her property.

Her landlord had previously received complaints from her neighbours, so she no longer feels her tenancy is under threat.  She has also started recycling her waste which is helping the environment and something she feels positive about”.

The young person added “I’m so grateful to Hippo for sending a skip bag to help get rid of all my extra rubbish.

It has helped so much as I had rubbish and items that were basically blocking me in my own home. Thanks to my support worker’s help, this has now been cleared and its brilliant! I suffer with depression and anxiety and one of these factors is over worrying and getting upset, but it's one less problem now thanks to Hippo, thanks so much for your help!”

Need help?

If you think your project might be eligible for free help from the Grants up for Grabs scheme please contact us and tell us your story.