Spreading the word about help that’s available for families is key for Barrow-based charity Women’s Community Matters.

That’s why they were at Cartmel Races this Bank Holiday weekend.

“We deliver everything we do with love, care and compassion and kindness,” says Rachael Hoggarth, one of the lead team members at Women’s Community Matters.

She says this has become the charity’s motto and it’s very much a mantra for life.

Established in 2013 in Barrow, the organisation helps in excess of 3,000 people a year, and that figure is growing.

In 2021 they expanded their services across the whole of the South Lakes, operating two days a week in Kendal too.

The people who use their services are women and their families – whether that’s relatively simple health and wellbeing, domestic violence or child poverty.

Rachael says it’s a three-way partnership between Women’s Community Matters, professional services like the NHS, social care agencies and police, and the clients themselves.

Women’s Community Matters offers a huge range of services, like access to advice about benefits or support with building confidence or learning new skills.

They also have trained staff who can help those in domestic abuse situations. They also work with clients who have had experience of the criminal justice system, helping in making long term , sustainable life changes and connecting with their local community.

Their caseload has increased dramatically due to the cost of living crisis and Rachael says: “The whole landscape has changed because of this. We are working with families we would never have seen before, from totally different socio-economic groups to those we worked with in the past.

“This is what we do. We keep evolving to meet the community’s needs. We are community focused and community led. It is their voice that is most important. That’s where positive changes are made as we look at how to best meet their needs long term.”

Cartmel Racecourse is a great supporter of a number of charities and welcomes them raising awareness and raising funds, something which Rachael says gives her team a huge boost.

“One of the nicest things for us is receiving financial support from local people supporting their local organisations. It’s absolutely priceless for us. They know that money is going to be spent here in Cumbria, benefiting people in real need, by an independent charity.

“But aside from the fundraising, we are getting the message out that we work right across the South Lakes.

“You also never know if some of those people who see us at events like this are actually in need of our help.

“We will be discreet and gentle with our publicity – people are at the races to have a good time – but we will have a bottle tombola and be handing out keyrings with our phone number to let people know we are there if they want us.”

Geraldine McKay, Director of Racing at Cartmel Racecourse, added: “Cartmel Racecourse has always been at the heart of the community as a place to meet, and reconnect, and share the craic. 

“If we can put local organisations like Women’s Community Matters in front of thousands of racegoers to raise awareness of the exceptional services they offer – and if that helps even just a handful of people who are going through hard times then that is a really great outcome. I hope Women’s Community Matters have a great day at Cartmel.”