After another intense hoarding and risk-reduction training with professionals from across the UK — hosted by the brilliant Clouds End CIC — one thing became clear: Basildon has the passion, but we’re still missing the joined-up structure. Working alongside Heather Macey, Director of Clouds End, and learning from leading figures like Sharon McLoughlin, has reaffirmed my commitment to building a local network that mirrors the best practice being delivered nationally. I’ll be continuing further training with Clouds End in the coming months, so we can bring that knowledge, structure, and trauma-informed expertise right here to Basildon. 💬 Every Person Is Different As Sharon reminded us, “Every person is different.” That truth sits at the heart of trauma-informed practice. Hoarding isn’t a cleaning issue — it’s a deeply personal, often trauma-linked mental health condition. Each home, each story, and each recovery journey is unique. Our role as professionals — whether we’re in housing, cleaning, mental health, fire safety, or community support — is to meet people where they are, not where we want them to be. 🏠 What’s Missing in Basildon While there are incredible professionals doing vital work across our town, we’re all still working in different corners of the same issue. Here’s what’s still missing: - Consistent collaboration between services - Clear referral pathways so no resident slips through the cracks - Aftercare and relapse prevention, not just one-off interventions - Peer-to-peer programmes led by people with lived experience - Joint training and shared language across sectors - Trauma-informed awareness at every level of intervention Without these, we risk short-term fixes instead of long-term change. 🌍 Learning from Clouds End CIC Clouds End’s national model is proof that true progress comes from partnership. Their multi-agency approach connects housing, health, fire, and community sectors under one trauma-informed framework. They provide:

Good morning ☕️💪 Lately I’ve had a lot of people reach out asking for advice on starting or running their own cleaning business — and honestly, I’m chuffed to bits about it! It’s mad to think how far things have come… from scrubbing every surface myself to now running a full team, managing contracts, Airbnb turnovers, hoarding support, the lot. If people are looking to me for guidance, then I must be doing something right — and that means everything. ❤️ I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, learned the hard way more than once, and still learning daily — but that’s all part of the journey. If you’re one of the ones thinking about starting up or want to grow what you’ve already got, keep going. It’s not easy — but it’s absolutely worth it. The best advice I can give? Start with heart, stay consistent, and remember — reputation is everything. 💬 If anyone here wants a bit of guidance or has questions about running a cleaning business — drop them below or DM me. Happy to share what’s worked (and what hasn’t!) to help you build something solid.

Turned up to an Airbnb clean this morning and found 12 of these big gas canisters left behind. TWELVE. They’re labelled as “drink infusers” but let’s be honest — they’re nitrous oxide, and people are using them to get high. It’s scary how normal this has become. As cleaners, we see the side of things that most people don’t. We walk into houses after parties, family breakdowns, hoarding, trauma — and now this is just another “normal” weekend find. It’s sad, it’s worrying, and it really makes you realise how many people are struggling or looking for escape. Not just the mess we clean up — the reasons behind it. Just another reminder why I say we’re not just cleaners. We’re the ones who see it all. 💔 #CleaningLife #RealTalk #TheCleanersThatCare #AirbnbCleaners #BehindTheScenes #GrotbagsCommunity

💬 Let’s talk about excuses. After 8 years running Grotbags Cleaning Services Ltd, I could fill a book with the things I’ve heard from new recruits. And believe me, some of them would make you laugh if they weren’t so ridiculous. Here are just a few of the “classics” we’ve collected over the years: - 🚩 “Got a puncture” (but no photo, no garage receipt). - 🚩 “My nan’s sick” (then tagged in the pub on Facebook). - 🚩 “My nan died” (again — funny how she’s managed it three times in six months). - 🚩 “Alarm didn’t go off” (every other day). - 🚩 “Child’s sick” (while posting happy school run photos). - 🚩 “Got norovirus” (yet was out last night looking perfectly fine). - 🚩 “Doctor’s calling me today” (apparently for 12 hours straight). - 🚩 “I hurt my back lifting shopping.” - 🚩 “Bus didn’t turn up” (yet Google says otherwise). - 🚩 “Didn’t get the rota.” - 🚩 “My phone broke.” - 🚩 “Family emergency” (never explained, always repeated). - 🚩 “Car wouldn’t start.” - 🚩 “I’m ill” (but tagged at the nail salon). - 🚩 “Locked out.” Now here’s the truth: When someone gives me one of these excuses before they’ve even finished their trial week, they’ve actually done me a favour. Because if you can’t show up on Day 1, you’re never going to show up for our clients. And our clients are the reason we exist. But it doesn’t stop there. We also get the “I need a minimum of 16 hours” line before they’ve even proven they can do one proper shift. Let’s be clear — we all have the work. The demand is endless. But no serious cleaning company is about to hand out hours to someone who hasn’t shown reliability, consistency, and care. Here’s how we do it at Grotbags: ✅ We check references. ✅ We require an up-to-date DBS. ✅ We take a copy of your driving licence and car registration. ✅ We train and shadow you for 3–4 weeks before giving you client hours. Not because we don’t have the work (trust me, we’re overflowing). But because we will not let our clients down with sloppy standards or red flags.

🌟 Why Basildon Needs Us – Part 3: Housing Disrepair & Awaab’s Law 🌟 In 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak tragically died after prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s social housing property. His death shocked the nation — and it changed the law. Awaab’s Law is now being introduced to force housing providers to act quickly on damp and mould complaints. It’s an important step forward. But here in Basildon, the reality is that hundreds of families are already living in unsafe homes, and they can’t wait for paperwork, inspections, or long repair queues. They need help now. And that’s why Basildon needs us. 🏚️ The Reality in Basildon Every week, Grotbags Cleaning Services Ltd is contacted by people struggling with housing conditions that are damaging their health and wellbeing: - Mould and damp spreading across walls and ceilings - Leaks and broken plumbing leaving bathrooms unusable - Unsafe electrics, falling plaster and damaged ceilings making homes hazardous - Endless repair delays leaving tenants to cope in unsafe environments For children, this often means worsening asthma and repeated trips to the GP. For adults, it can trigger depression, anxiety, and other health conditions. For vulnerable residents, it can mean living in fear of their own home. ⚖️ What Awaab’s Law Means Under Awaab’s Law, social housing providers will soon be legally required to: - Investigate damp and mould complaints within 14 days - Begin emergency repairs within 7 days if there’s a serious health risk - Be held accountable for failing to act This is progress — but legislation alone won’t clear black mould off the walls or stop leaks flooding a bathroom floor. That’s where services like ours step in. 💗 Where Grotbags Steps In – Real Stories from Basildon We’re not just dealing with buildings — we’re supporting people. Case Example 1 – A Young Family in Basildon A mum contacted us after her bathroom sink started leaking. Water was running under the tiles, causing mould that spread across the walls. Appointments with the landlord kept being cancelled, and the situation got worse.