What happens when a home no longer supports the life of the person living there? When preparing a meal, sleeping in a bed or welcoming a visitor becomes difficult, the impact reaches far beyond the belongings we can see.

At Enabling Spaces CIC, we bring an occupational therapy perspective to working alongside people experiencing hoarding, self-neglect and squalor. Founded in 2017 and led by specialist occupational therapists Yvonne Singleton and Johanna Dowdeswell, our work starts with understanding the person, their experiences and the everyday activities that matter to them.

A cluttered kitchen might draw attention to the volume of possessions. An occupational therapist asks: can this person prepare food? What happens when they try? Are pain, fatigue, grief, anxiety or difficulties with planning affecting their ability to begin? What meaning do these belongings hold, and what would make accepting support feel safer?

These questions change the focus of intervention. Creating space may be part of the work, but meaningful progress also involves rebuilding trust, supporting decision-making and helping people participate in daily life.

Our approach recognises that a home holds identity, relationships, memories and routines. Changes within that space can carry emotional weight. We work collaboratively, at a pace informed by the person’s needs, while addressing risks and the realities of their environment.

Through assessment, therapy, groups, training and consultancy, we help individuals and professionals look beyond the visible presentation and consider the relationship between the person, their occupations and their surroundings.

At the Occupational Therapy Show, our interactive “Beyond the Clutter” display will introduce visitors to our Tree of Transformation® framework. It offers a way to explore the experiences beneath the surface and the conditions that can support change.

We want to open conversations about occupational therapy in situations where its contribution may be overlooked, and share why curiosity, compassion and reasoning belong at the heart of this work.

Visit Yvonne and Jo at stand L43, NEC Birmingham, on 25th–26th November 2026. Come and explore the tree, reflect on your practice and see the person beyond the clutter.

Understanding. Supporting. Transforming.

Yvonne Singleton (left) and Johanna “Jo” Dowdeswell (right), Directors and Specialist Occupational Therapists at Enabling Spaces CIC.