Identities is a supportive personal development network, where everyone who joins has the opportunity to enhance their lives and help others to do the same.

Over the past three years, the organisation has seen a real growth in members and now offers confidence building and life progression programmes for men and women; affordable advertising opportunities for small businesses; business resilience workshops for women new to business and leadership and training opportunities, as we help to create positive role models and leaders.

Owner Michelle Swann started receiving support through Business Doncaster in 2009 with the Business Buddy programme. She had some excellent support from Lynda Swinden, who supported her whilst the organisation grew from being totally community project focused and grant reliant, to one that was more business focused.

Identities has grown from an unincorporated organisation with a turnover of £8k to a Community Interest Company with a turnover of £55k.

Michelle said: “We are facing the challenges that all businesses are facing at the moment, but again Business Doncaster is one of the organisation’s that is supporting me when I need it most, through the Women in Business support at Doncaster CVS.

“The financial support is proving invaluable and through Doncaster CVS I have also been allocated a D100 mentor, which I’m really excited about.”

A new venture for Identities is Id Magazine, our new health, wellbeing and personal development publication. The launch edition in July 2011 was very well received and already organisations and individuals from outside the borough are requesting it.

It is Identities aim to support everyone with confidence and self esteem issues; however the organisation was also seeing a gap for new women run start-up businesses, who need affordable marketing opportunities.

Identities business memberships are for all businesses and provide affordable advertising in Id Magazine and online.

The organisation is now tendering for small contracts, something Michelle says she never dreamed the organisation would be in a position to do.

It is growing from strength to strength and the next milestone and measure of success will be a small staff team in place to support the development into other areas of South Yorkshire.

For more information on Identities, visit www.identitiesforwomen.org.uk