A DORCHESTER young mum has boosted her fledgling business thanks to a South West/UK Enterprise Fund grant from Dorset Community Foundation.

Cailin Lambrechts, 30, sank her savings into setting up Serene and Solace, then called Poundbury Housekeepers, two years ago after fleeing with her baby daughter from an abusive relationship. Despite working every spare hour on trying to win new customers she needed help to stand out from the competition.

"Leaving the relationship was the hardest thing I've ever done but I needed to start again and I didn't want to rely on Universal Credit, I wanted to be independent from everyone financially," said Cailin, who was born in South Africa but moved to Dorset with her family in 2013.

"I used to be a personal trainer and I would have loved to have gone back to it but it just wasn't a feasible option with having a little one and being a single parent because the hours are so unsociable.

"I remember going out with my daughter's pram posting leaflets to get more business, but it was hard. I needed better marketing material and branding to stand out because I didn't feel professional enough."

She was referred to a business coach who suggested she apply to the SWEF Enterprise Fund, which awards grants to young people aged 18 to 30 of up to £500 to start-up businesses or up to £2,000 for businesses that have been running for less than two years.

"I really enjoyed the application process because I found it quite reflective and therapeutic," she said. "It made me think about my goals and envision what is possible, rather than trying to just keep the business going. It gave me a moment to sit back and think about where I wanted it to go and what I wanted it to look like."

After a video interview with the grant panel she received an email saying she had been awarded £1,4950. "I bawled my eyes out," she said. "I was visiting a friend when I opened the email and we were jumping up and down in her kitchen screaming.

"It was such a humbling experience because I had had the business idea but I don't know if I fully believed in myself. My self-confidence was extremely low at the time but having the yes from the panel made me realise people actually believed in me and it really has driven me so much.

"Having that yes was more invaluable than the money that I received, it was such a confidence boost."

She spent the grant on a rebranding and photographic package to add some professional polish to her marketing and social media. She is also developing a website. "It just makes everything look a little bit more high end and professional," she said.

As a result she has more than doubled her client list and has a team of four cleaners working for the business, while still cleaning full-time herself. She is set to recruit a fifth staff member in the New Year.

"My ambition was to be independent from Universal Credit and I did that in May. From here I would really like to be in a place where I can step away from doing the hands on cleaning myself and just focus on running and growing the business," she said.

"My little girl turns three in December and I'd like to be able to be in a position where I don't have to take time off for the school holidays and be flexible and available for her. To be there I'd need to have at least four full-time staff.

"Without this grant I don't think the business would have grown in the way and at the speed it has. I don't think I would have been very confident in it and perhaps I might have got into employment at some stage."

She is proud to be a role model for anyone trapped in an abusive relationship looking for the courage to escape. "I hope my story is a little beacon for someone to show it can be done," she said.

Find out more about the SWEF Enterprise Fund at dorsetcommunityfoundation.org and about Serene and Solace on Facebook and Instagram.