“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
These are the words Sarah Hulme, 54, lives by, and the message at the heart of a Bolton-born empowerment movement that is now giving dozens of women a national platform.
Sarah, from Lostock, is the founder of COVEM, a women-only networking circle rooted in Bolton and built around confidence, connection and community.
This March, she is launching The Empowerment Effect: Series Two, a collaborative book sharing the stories of 24 women who have overcome trauma, illness and adversity to rebuild their lives and businesses.
Sarah said: “It’s about not settling. So many women stay where they are because it feels safe, but growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone.”
A network shaped by lived experience
COVEM – which stands for Celebrate who we are, Open your heart, Voice your opinion, Empower everyone and Move with purpose – was founded three years ago after Sarah reached what she described as a “crossroads” in her own life.
She said: “I felt deflated, menopausal, and I remember thinking, ‘I’ve got so much more to give – surely this can’t be it?’”
Having been self-employed since the age of 19, Sarah had run beauty businesses in Bolton, but her journey has not been straightforward.
She has previously spoken openly about going through divorce and losing her business when her marriage ended.
She said: “When the marriage broke down, the business went with it.
“It was devastating, but it taught me lessons I still use today.”
Rather than stepping back, Sarah used those experiences to build a safe, women-only space.
She said: “Women network very differently to men. We build relationships first. We need to feel safe.
"That’s why COVEM is for women, because it works.”
Empowerment that’s accessible
Unlike traditional networking groups that can be costly, COVEM sessions cost just £5.
“When you’re thinking about starting a business or even just a side income, you don’t have spare money,” Sarah said.
“I wanted something accessible. Five pounds. Two hours. No pressure.”
What started as a single Bolton group now runs up to 20 sessions a month across the North West, with 14 franchise leaders – many of whom were once attendees themselves.
Some women attend weekly, others monthly, but all are welcomed regardless of whether they already run a business or are simply thinking about taking a first step.
“I’ve seen women walk through the door with no confidence at all,” Sarah said.
“Three years later, they’re running businesses, speaking up, and believing in themselves. That’s the real success.”
From local networking to national recognition
It was through these grassroots sessions that the idea for The Empowerment Effect book was born.
Sarah said: “I’d always wanted to write a book.
“But I didn’t want it to just be about me.
"The women in our groups had stories that deserved to be heard.”
The first book, featuring 24 contributors, went on to become an Amazon bestseller in four categories and was selected by Waterstones – an achievement Sarah describes as “surreal”.
“These were women who came to a £5 networking group thinking they had nothing special to say,” she said.
“Suddenly, they were bestselling authors.”
Many contributors had never written before but Sarah said the process was broken down over months.
She described the whole process as "emotional, healing, and incredibly empowering".
Two women from the first book have since even gone on to write bestselling books of their own.
Stories of resilience and hope
The second book, launching on Friday, March 6, again features 24 women, most from Bolton and nearby areas, with stories spanning cancer journeys, bereavement, domestic abuse, menopause and career burnout.
Sarah said: “It’s not just about business.
"For many women, what they’ve lived through is what led them to where they are now.
"I don’t believe our hardest experiences define us, but they can redirect us.”
A public book signing will take place on Sunday, March 22, from 1pm to 3pm at Regent Park Golf Club on Chorley New Road.
“Don’t settle”
For Sarah, the message at the heart of the book – and the network – is simple.
She said: “We all fail.
“But we fail forward. Every setback teaches you something.”
And above all: “Your potential is endless. You only get one life. Don’t settle.”
As work begins on a third and final book in the trilogy, Sarah hopes the project will continue to shine a light on women who deserve to be heard.
Share