Abuse victim says her cleaning firm helps women

Peggy Bareh, originally from Cameroon, said she experienced childhood and adult abuse

A woman has set up a cleaning firm to help women who have survived trauma and domestic abuse.

Peggy Bareh, originally from Cameroon, said she experienced childhood and adult abuse which greatly affected her self-confidence.

She left an emotionally abusive relationship in Nottingham in 2017 before settling with her three children in Stoke-on-Trent.

She has now re-built her life by founding Passionate Cleaners and employs women who have had similar experiences.

"The cleaning business was a product of my personal journey and my life as a survivor of domestic abuse," she said.

She said it was difficult to leave her old life as well as providing support and help to her children.

"I wasn't just fighting for my mental health, but I was fighting for maintaining my kids' mental health as well because they were going through a lot of trauma," Ms Bareh added.

Noella, Ms Bareh and Prisca said they want to empower more women

But realising there other woman with similar experiences, she decided to help them as she began her company.

"I do believe that with every pain that we go through there is a treasure and how can we use that treasure?," she explained.

"So, from there that is how the journey started and I helped myself over the trauma and out of it, I found a purpose and that purpose was to help other women like me to rebuild their lives after relationship abuse."

'Light at end of tunnel'

She started her company in 2023 and employee Prisca said her life has improved by being employed.

"She is the first woman that gave me a job," she said.

"I'm so excited and this job has helped me a lot to pay my bills and take care of myself and my baby so life now is better than ever."

Another employee Noella, said: "Peggy is full of life. She is full of positivity - a brighter future.

"One thing with Peggy, you can't meet her and your life will remain the same."

Ms Bareh said her company was "a tool to empower these women to know that there is always light at the end of the tunnel".