Michelle Swann | www.identities.org.uk

"We give people encouragement and support to shine like only they can do"

I am the founder of Identities CIC, a social enterprise that breaks down barriers for individuals facing challenges to personal fulfilment in all aspects of their lives. Our organisation was created on the core belief that everyone has a right to their individuality regardless of their cultural, class or economic status.

As an organisation we wanted to provide a resource of affordable and relevant personal progression activities for women whatever position they hold in society. We make a difference to the people who use our services by giving them encouragement and support to shine like only they can do. We are really clear about the needs of our members and support them through a personal journey plan to develop innate skills and support them to discover their unique pathways to an improved sense of self, personal achievement and increased effectiveness in all aspects of life.

We are currently developing a resource to support men who have faced life challenges.

Each member of the Identities team has a very personal reason for being here. They have all faced individual adversity and are testament to the fact that with a little help and support we can all be who we want to be.

Many of our trainers started out by joining our confidence building programmes and after going through our Presenter Training Programme are now delivering their own programmes and supporting others.

Valuable Networks

Our members are varied, which makes up a fabulously supportive diverse network, where everyone learns from each other. We like to make links with infrastructure organisations that support voluntary and community groups. Equally we are making links with Employment Agencies, the NHS and Local Authorities where we can deliver our programmes through contract opportunities. We have recently started doing some work in prisons with young offenders that are due for release. The feedback has been excellent and is an exciting move forward for our work.

What other female social innovator would you particularly recommend our readers to look at/be inspired from?

I have to say without a shadow of a doubt that it’s Servane Mouazan. Servane was the catalyst for me creating Identities and was there at the embryonic idea stage when I needed pushing out of my comfort zone. She dared me to be the person she knew I could be and reach for my stars, which is what I do for other women now.