Hi, my name is Jo Jacob and I am the founder of Benella Home Organisation, a business I have run for more than 21 years helping people create calmer, more organised homes and lives.
I specialise in decluttering, downsizing, home moves, paperwork organisation, photograph organisation and helping people navigate some of life's biggest transitions. Over the past two decades I have worked with hundreds of clients across the UK, supporting everyone from busy professionals and overwhelmed homeowners to older adults moving into retirement communities and families dealing with bereavement.
My journey into professional organising began after training in interior design and later studying with television experts Ann Maurice (House Doctor) and Dawna Walters (Life Laundry). What started as a business that fitted around raising my two children has grown into my absolute passion and a recognised brand.
One of the things that sets me apart is that I don't just talk about organising. I spend my days inside people's homes, helping them make real decisions about their possessions, their memories and their future plans. I see first hand the challenges people face when they are trying to declutter, downsize or move home, and I bring those real life experiences into everything I teach. Always with understanding, empathy and humour where I can.
Alongside my client work, I have built an online community of more than 135,000 followers across social media, where I share practical organising advice, moving tips, decluttering strategies and honest insights into everyday life. My content focuses on realistic solutions rather than perfection, which resonates strongly with people who feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start.
I am a regular contributor to national media and have been featured in publications including Good Housekeeping and The Telegraph. Journalists frequently contact me for expert commentary on decluttering, downsizing, sentimental belongings, household organisation and photograph management.
In 2025 I was honoured to be named Content Creator of the Year at your show! I have also previously spoken on stage at both the Home, Life & You Show and the Ideal Home Show. Speaking is something I genuinely love because it allows me to connect directly with audiences and share practical advice that people can immediately apply to their own lives.
I also speak at retirement development events - paid by the developer sales team to support their sales days with presentations on moving and sentimental items and also providing social media collaborations for them.
For this year's event I would love to speak about either or both of the following topics:
Moving Home: More Space or Better Systems?
Moving home is often listed as one of life's most stressful experiences, yet many people approach it without a clear plan. Having helped countless clients move home, downsize and relocate, I can share practical strategies that make the entire process smoother and less overwhelming. From deciding what to keep and what to let go of, to planning ahead, avoiding common mistakes and reducing stress on moving day itself, attendees will leave with actionable tips they can use immediately. Being part of a panel would be great fun.
I taught my first live home moving and downsizing course this year and am currently launching an evergreen version that will go on sale Summer 2026. I am known in the industry as one of the top UK's home moving experts.
I am also suggesting a talk on - Letting Go Without Losing the Memories: Managing Sentimental Items
One of the biggest obstacles people face when decluttering is not the practical side but the emotional side. Through my work, I have helped people sort everything from family heirlooms and childhood keepsakes to inherited belongings after the loss of a loved one. This session would explores why we become attached to possessions, how to make decisions without guilt and ways to preserve memories without keeping everything. Also unique ideas to display items. It is a topic that resonates deeply with audiences because almost everyone has possessions they struggle to part with.
I recently experienced my own downsizing journey, moving from a large family home to a cottage in Hampshire and a beach home in West Sussex (living my dream life with my husband as empty nesters). That personal experience has given me an even greater understanding of the emotions involved when letting go, starting again and creating a new chapter. I also lost both my parents several years ago and had to deal with selling my childhood family home alongside a pandemic and a difficult sibling relationship.
My talks combine practical advice, warmth, humour and real life stories gathered from more than twenty one years of working in people's homes. My goal is always the same: to leave audiences feeling inspired, empowered and confident that they can take the next step, whether that is decluttering a cupboard, letting go of a sentimental item or planning a major home move.
I would love to be part of the show again this year speaking about what I truly am passionate about.
