BY her own admission, Sam Exley considered ending her life by travelling to a Swiss clinic.

She had suffered a nervous breakdown after being raped. With her life in tatters and there seemingly no way out, she did not want to go on living.

But now, after graduating from the Women's Community Matters course and finding a new confidence, she has a new lease of life.

The aim of the projects run by Women's Community Matters is to encourage women to move forward with their lives and achieve all they are capable of, healing, becoming more self-aware and realising their value.

Ms Exley, 50, of Cameron Street, Barrow, was at the heart of the group, offering support and help to the other girls and making huge strides on her own journey to recovery.

The group took inspiration from Ms Exley when they named the project Silver Linings as this was the name of the business she ran in the Furness peninsula before she was left traumatised by a violent sexual assault. 

Ms Exley said: "I had set up my own company providing private home care for vulnerable, elderly people who couldn't do everything for themselves. 

"I went in and helped out around the house, with shopping and gave them some much needed conversation and companionship. I loved my job and I was happy in myself.

"Then one day I was attacked and raped and my life fell apart. I had a nervous breakdown and was admitted to hospital for depression. 

"I even had an end of life file at one point because I just didn't want to go on living and I had planned a trip to Switzerland, where you can be voluntarily euthanised." 

Ms Exley was always a high achiever, believing she could do anything she wanted. She feels now with the love and support of Women's Community Matters that this may be possible again. 

At the time of her assault, Ms Exley was too mentally traumatised to report her attacker to the police. The hospital prioritised her mental health, as she was having a severe mental breakdown and she felt too ashamed to tell anybody at the time about the fact she had been raped. 

Ms Exley said: "I didn't report the rape to the police until a number of years later and although my attacker was arrested, he was never taken to court.

"If I could give any advice to women who may find themselves in such a harrowing situation, it would be to go to the police sooner, talk about what has happened and make sure you are believed because these men need to be brought to justice.

"I have struggled with many issues during my life and all of them have fuelled my desire for justice. I achieved my law GSCE, A-Level and then finally my law degree. I hope that I can use this to make a difference.

"Being a part of Women's Community Matters has saved me, the women there have become sisters to me. 

"I am still petrified if I see members of my attacker's family, but the women at the centre have given me the courage to go out and live my life again. 

"The women who work there and the women who have been on this journey with me have inspired me and I feel so lucky to have found them."