Kat is the founder of The Hummingbird Effect, offering professional decluttering and home organisation services with a specialist focus on chronic disorganisation and hoarding behaviours. Based in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Kat brings a unique blend of lived experience, professional expertise, and deep empathy to her work.
With nearly 20 years in the charity sector, Kat has supported children, families, and communities through a trauma-informed, person-centred, and neuro-affirming lens. Most recently, she held the role of Assistant Director at Barnardo’s, overseeing a diverse portfolio including Family Hubs, Early Years Services, Domestic Abuse Support, and Neurodevelopmental Pathways. She also served as the Regional Safeguarding Lead for high-risk services—experience that has given her the confidence and competence to manage complex, sensitive situations with care and clarity.
Kat is a late-diagnosed autistic woman with ADHD (AuDHD), and this lived experience gives her unique insight into the challenges faced by individuals with executive dysfunction, chronic disorganisation, and hoarding-related behaviours. She is particularly passionate about supporting people who have struggled in silence or felt overwhelmed by shame, often in environments that have failed to understand or accommodate their needs.
Although she wouldn’t describe herself as “naturally organised,” Kat has developed simple, effective systems to manage her own home, career, and family life—including parenting a neurodivergent daughter. Her approach is grounded in realism and compassion, not perfectionism. She believes homes should work for the people who live in them, not against them—and that everyone deserves a space that feels safe, functional, and affirming.
Kat is known for her calm, clear-headed presence in times of crisis, and her ability to build trust quickly with individuals of all ages and backgrounds—even in the most complex situations. Clients and colleagues alike describe her as someone who helps them feel truly seen, heard, and held.
She works directly with individuals, children and families, and also welcomes referrals, commissions, and collaboration from Local Authorities, Public Health teams, and other statutory or voluntary sector partners.
Specialisms
ADHD
ASD
Kat is a late-diagnosed autistic woman with ADHD (AuDHD), and her lived experience gives her deep insight into the challenges often faced by neurodivergent individuals. She is especially passionate about supporting those who have struggled in silence or felt overwhelmed by shame, often in systems and environments that have misunderstood or failed to accommodate their needs.
As a practitioner, Kat is proudly neuroaffirming. She does not seek to “fix” or mask difference, but instead works alongside each person to understand their unique strengths, sensory preferences, and support needs. Her tailored approach might include adapting the pace of sessions, breaking tasks into manageable steps, offering visual tools, or creating calm, low-pressure environments—always with respect for individual communication styles and autonomy.
Although she wouldn’t describe herself as “naturally organised,” Kat has developed simple, effective systems to manage her own home, career, and family life—including parenting a neurodivergent daughter. Her approach is grounded in realism and compassion, not perfectionism. She believes homes should work for the people who live in them, not against them—and that everyone deserves a space that feels safe, functional, and affirming.
Hoarding behaviour
Kat is a specialist in supporting individuals experiencing chronic disorganisation and hoarding behaviours. She understands that these challenges are complex and deeply personal—rarely just about “too much stuff,” but often linked to trauma, executive dysfunction, neurodivergence, or unmet emotional needs. Her approach is gentle, respectful, and non-judgmental, focused on working at the person’s pace to build trust, reduce overwhelm, and support sustainable change.
Alongside her private practice, Kat is a Director of Hoarding Disorders UK (East) CIC, where she is actively working to expand the organisation’s reach across the East of England. She co-delivers specialist training with founder Jo Cooke and the core team, helping professionals and services better understand hoarding behaviours and respond effectively. This training is informed by lived experience, clinical insight, and real-world casework.
Kat is a passionate advocate for peer-led and group-based support. She co-facilitates a well-established in-person peer support group for individuals with hoarding behaviours in Stamford, in partnership with MindSpace Stamford, and also supports online peer and family listening groups through Hoarding Disorders UK. She is experienced in facilitating structured group interventions, including Buried in Treasures (Tolin, Frost & Steketee), an evidence-based programme supporting those ready to explore change.
Kat also serves on the UK Hoarding Partnership Steering Group (HPSG), working with other experts to promote cross-sector collaboration, raise awareness, and influence policy. She is committed to reducing stigma and increasing the quality of life for people who struggle to manage their home environments.
In addition to her practical work, Kat has a strong interest in contributing to research and innovation in this field. She has secured local grants through organisations such as Lincolnshire ICB and Anglia Ruskin University to explore what truly helps in addressing hoarding and chronic disorganisation—especially in ways that are person-centred, community-based, and sustainable.
Whether working directly with individuals or supporting multi-agency responses, Kat combines emotional insight and person centred practice, with practical tools. She creates safe, encouraging environments where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to take meaningful steps forward.
Public Speaking
Kat is also an experienced public speaker, story teller and facilitator, regularly invited to speak on topics such as burnout, perfectionism, AuDHD, executive dysfunction, clutter, hoarding, and chronic disorganisation. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, her talks are honest, relatable, and thought-provoking—shining a light on the often-hidden emotional toll of simply “keeping up.” Whether speaking to professionals in healthcare, social care, education, housing, or community and voluntary sector organisations, Kat brings warmth, insight, and a touch of humour to even the most challenging subjects.
To enquire about speaker bookings, panel contributions, or tailored training sessions, please get in touch to discuss your audience and needs.
Kat’s ability to help had changed my life. Epically. She doesn’t say “you must do this!” She will explain what she suggests could be better, but you have the end say. Also, in dealing with a cluttered space, Kat helps you to see things differently. The work is at the pace you can cope with. And, if you’re getting to the end, you’re able to say so. The support given will change your life in more ways that a tidy, clutter free home. The relationship between my dad and I has grown. Partly due to the clutter going but also through Kat’s explanation of how to see things differently. I used to use all my energy and then be stuck with a mess. Or be unable to spot a job and do it. This led to issues with Dad and I. Dad and I have also bonded really well. I’ve also for the first time in my whole life spotted we needed to get ready (for an appointment- H struggles with time and knowing how much time has passed or when to get ready for something). We’d not be like this without Kat and her ideas about spoons of energy work as well. I am now beginning to see and do for myself and monitor my energy much better. If you’ve already tried and got a half working solution, Kat will help you to make it successful. Kat re-enables you to be able to do things better for yourself. I use a wheelchair and thought it would hamper my ability to get things done. It hasn’t. We started in my bedroom and I can sit and work. Kat’s worked out a great way for us to work as an efficient team. A very key point to note. When we spoke about where to start, my dad and I weren’t sure, but thought “hit the worst”. Kat suggested the bedroom might be better as it’s a more manageable job that won’t get on top of me and will make an instant visual difference (serving as a source of motivation). It’ll give me a clear space to see progress and have space to live. This worked immensely well. I’ve been able to do some tasks alone. I’m organising boxes. My autism has decided that it hates to see an untidy box next to tidy box. So please, if you feel you’re unsure of which way to go. Take the advice and trust the process. I did and it’s worked wonders. Not only for my clutter but the relationship with my dad and my mental well-being.
My daughter is autistic and for various reasons her home has become cluttered with all manner of items. Every room is chock full of 'stuff' and there is also a lock up of 'stuff' off site. She sought help via her contacts on a fibromyalgia group and was put in touch with Kat Band. A preliminary meeting was held with Kat, my daughter and I at my daughter's house where the problems/issues were fully discussed and a way forward proposed. What I was most impressed by was Kat's approach. It was apparent that she wanted to understand the rationale for how H (my daughter) had got into the situation she was in, how it was affecting her and her relationship with me (and vice versa). One of the key features was an open and frank discussion with realistic solutions suggested and I felt that H had not been put under any pressure. Kat also quickly picked up and empathised with H's multiple health issues and clearly took these very much into account when suggesting, for example, the length of time the early sessions might last, sensing quite correctly that H can run out of steam or, perversely keep going too long. There was also a lengthy discussion about the process of decluttering and I have to say, after this first meeting, I was most impressed at Kat's ability to quickly grasp the nitty gritty, get down to business whilst also remaining empathetic. From the very first session, I was astonished at the progress made, including my daughter's acceptance that 'stuff' had to go (sell/donate/rubbish bin) and logical approach. It is clear to me that Kat's overall approach to the work is very professional, allied to a warm and friendly demeanour. She and my daughter have quickly built up a rapport and in my view this is critical to getting the work done. My daughter tells me she feels empowered and is most definitely enthused. We all know there is a long way to go but for my part, I'm confident that with Kat's help we can make massive improvements to my daughters way of life, mental wellbeing (crucial) and our father/daughter relationship.
From the first interaction, Kat has been professional, trustworthy and reliable. Kat took the time to understand the needs of everyone in the family and how the spaces in the house are used. During the sessions she helped to develop strategies to decide where items are kept, manage items coming into the home and create a process for deciding what to keep and what not to keep. Her energy and enthusiasm helps motivate me and make the sessions really productive. Her techniques make an overwhelming task feel manageable. Kat has complete understanding and empathy in regard to the embarrassment that can come with excessive clutter. She is sensitive to anything that could be triggering and respects private spaces. I would recommend her to anyone that is struggling with clutter or hoarding as I feel she is highly likely to have a positive and long-lasting impact.