Emma Williamson lived through a childhood witnessing domestic violence, chaos, and addiction. When the challenges came, they weren’t small ones — and it’s true to say, when it’s bad anywhere else, it’s extra bad in West Cumbria. The experience is amplified. When it’s dark here, it’s dark. When it’s light, it’s light.

For every ounce of darkness Emma endured, she’s channelled it back tenfold into light. From her own addiction struggles to that solitary moment where she chose radical change, she has turned pain into power. From not being able to put a full stop in a sentence, to earning a master’s degree, she’s taken bitter beginnings and transformed them into a force for good.

Now, she pours that resilience into making a difference for young people in the care system — living proof that no matter how dark it gets, light can return, and when it does, it shines brighter than ever.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Holliday – Firestarter, Problem-Solver, Community Builder

By 20, Rachel Holliday had crammed in more than most people manage in a lifetime – the rough, the raw, and the downright chaotic. Sofa-surfing. Addicted. Homeless. The kind of life that could have gone one way and stayed there.

But Rachel doesn’t do standing still. Motherhood lit the fuse. Family backed her all the way. She’s blasted out of that old life and now she’s pulling others with her – running Calderwood House in Egremont, turning rock bottoms into fresh starts.

She’s unstoppable, unmissable, impossible to ignore – a ball of charisma and drive, whirling through your Spotify feed with a story that’ll have you hooked from the first word.

https://www.ttcwestcumbria.org/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally from the North East, Christine Smeaton made West Cumbria her home at 21. But it wasn’t until her late 60s — facing homelessness and uncertainty — that her most extraordinary chapter began.

When Christine walked through the doors of Calderwood House in Egremont, she wasn’t just seeking shelter. She was choosing a new life.

Now in her late 70s, she’s a self-taught musician, playing multiple instruments, helping refugees, and serving as a trustee for a local charity. Her faith runs deep. Her presence is calm. And her story is a masterclass in courage, reinvention, and hope.

🎙️ This is a story of starting over, standing tall, and shining brightly — no matter what age you are.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.