A BARROW woman who has survived rape, domestic violence and battled Class A substance abuse has overcome her demons in order to help and inspire other women.
Sarah Howitt, 35, from Ormsgill, Barrow, struggled with drug addiction for 17 years after a traumatic childhood and troubled youth left her backed in to a corner.
As an adult Ms Howitt was trapped in a mentally and physically abusive relationship and endured a trauma unimaginable to the majority of other women. She was followed home to the place she lived in Ulverston at the time and was raped by two men in her own home.
Now, after graduating from the Silver Linings course at Women's Community Matters, Ms Howitt has taken on a role as volunteer and mentor to women who are going through similar issues.
Ms Howitt said: "I was groomed as a 10-year-old child and abused but I tried to ignore what had happened and block it all out. I eventually ran away from home and I went to the police to report what had happened when I was 15.
"I couldn't get anybody to believe what had happened to me and after that I fell in with a bad crowd in my teens. I tried to run away from my problems, I was quite promiscuous and I took heroin for four years.
Ms Howitt was inducted in to the Unity Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service in Barrow, where she was put on a plan of methadone. Ms Howitt was addicted to the drug for 13 years, during which time she felt "numb". Joining Women's Community Matters gave her the strength to stop taking methadone and get clean for the first time in 17 years.
"I was originally sent to Women's Community Matters for housing by the council but since I came here my hope and faith in life was renewed, I met women who have become like my family. I had suffered so much in my life but I feel now that something good can come of that. My experiences can help other women.
"I came here to improve my own life but since then I have seen how I can help others and that is why I became a volunteer. I see parts of myself in so many of the women who come in here and I want to bring a little light in to their lives."
Sarah's first serious relationship began when she was 15 and it was very violent. She said: "He taught me that being loved meant being hit and so I didn't see a problem with it. The courses here like My Safety & Me and My Relationships & Me have helped to teach me that I shouldn't have to put up with violence from men. Now I would never try to work through violent issues and 'fix' a man, I don't let anybody speak to me in a demeaning way and I won't stand for any physical or mental abuse."
To Ms Howitt and many of the other members at Women's Community Matters, the harrowing events of their past will never be erased and they may never get over what has happened to them, but together, they learn to cope with life again and gather the strength to find happiness.
Ms Howitt said: "If I could give women out there any advice it would simply be not to lose hope and to come forward and ask for help, it's not a weakness to ask."
"You come to recognise that the bad stuff in your life has a purpose, once you can accept what has happened to you, you can move past it and then perhaps work on helping others to get through hard times too.
"Women help women, this place is phenomenal. The staff and volunteers here are so compassionate, it's a safe place and a sanctuary."
READ MORE: Barrow women turn their lives around with help from pioneering project
'The women here have become like my family, it's like having lots of sisters to help you out'
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