Neurodivergence
I have completed extensive reading around neurodivergence and have completed Sarah Bickers’ (Free you Space ADHD Services) ADHD for Organisers training course in December 2024. I’ve worked with many clients with ADHD and Autism and have helped them to develop coping strategies for themselves and the management of their homes. I was diagnosed with ADHD myself in October 2023 and this has helped and motivated me to learn more about how it affects my everyday life and that of others who I support. Alongside my organising work I work part-time in the University of Bristol library, helping students with various support needs, including ADHD and Autism, among others.
Dementia
I was a Support Worker for ten years, with seven of these being with people with dementia and their carers as part of the Dementia Wellbeing Service in Bristol, a partnership between the NHS and the Alzheimer’s Society. This work involved me visiting people with dementia in their homes to help them to live with their condition and develop coping strategies to help them stay in their homes, if this is what they wanted. During this work I learnt a huge amount about dementia and how people live within their homes and how their belongings can affect their experience of their homes. This work inspired me to start Gentle Sorting to provide more practical hands-on support for people within their homes.
Sustainability
I have a PhD in Sustainable Development, during which time I learnt a lot about sustainable lifestyles. I was then a researcher in the same area for many years, looking at natural materials in buildings, energy performance and post occupancy evaluation. I have taken part in Bristol Green Doors as a householder, a volunteer and an event manager. I try to live my life in a way that reduces my environmental impact on the planet (from the consumer choices I make to the way I travel and heat my home) and can share this with others through my Sustainable Living Consultant work.
Artist, Redland
“Katharine provides a patient, kind and compassionate service. Gentle – but effective – she is able to motivate one to make changes without pushing too hard. Even though they can be challenging for me, I really enjoy our sessions”.
Support Worker, North Bristol
“I met with Katharine to kick start my commitment to sort a mountain of long overdue life admin that was screaming for attention. I was impressed by Katherine’s practical support for getting me started and by her lack of judgement regarding my situation. If you need some help with getting things sorted/organised or cleared, call her for help. This stuff is so much easier with help. Thank you Katharine!”
Health Care Professional, Bristol
“Despite my best intentions I am a rather chaotic person, partly due to my personality and partly due to life circumstances. I had reached a point where my clutter and mess was making me feel miserable and stuck, and I just didn’t know where to start. I just ignored it but it did not go away by itself. Katharine helped me to sort out various things, most notably my paperwork. She was kind and supportive and I never felt judged, even though some of my most important paperwork was unearthed at the bottom of a bag of wool. She helped me sort out systems to make it work for me in future, and patiently went through all my mess with me , so that it was almost fun. A few weeks later I happily found that instead of taking a few hours, getting the paperwork for my tax return took me a few minutes as it was all in the file marked ‘finances’ instead being all over the floor and in mystery bags in a heap.”
Mossy Margins 