The 'Summat's Changing' programme brought life and motivational coaching to people living in the borough who were least likely to be able to afford it, with the aim of helping them back into work and contributing to the regeneration of the town as a whole.

A group of 42 people from the New Deal For Communities areas of Balby, Hexthorpe, Intake, Netherhall, Woodfield and Hyde Park, as well as Thorne and Moorends, have now completed the pilot series of seven week courses with an incredible success rate.

Tackling issues including low self-esteem and lack of motivation, and offering support and practical advice in areas such as building resilience, perseverance and goal setting, Bessacarr coach Karen Foy has helped them turn their lives around.

Kelly Broxholme from Balby, a recovering alcoholic, had been unemployed for nine years – but since completing the courses has started work for Doncaster Council as school kitchen assistant.

The 27-year-old said it had completely changed her life. "I had no confidence," she said, "I was really down, suffering with depression and anxiety. But now I'm focused on myself, forgetting about the past and focusing on the future."

She added that she was now working towards realising her dream of becoming a chef, and said: "I never would have thought I could do that before – I would have just given up."

Sam Cooke, aged 33, is also recovering after a seven-year problem with alcohol and has been dry for the past six months. She said the course had helped her work out where she wanted to go in life after coming out of the other side.

Sam, from Intake, said: "After detox I just wanted to find ways to change my life and move forward – I was left not knowing who I was or what I wanted."

She said the course had helped build her self-confidence and
assertiveness, with the result that she was now in the process of applying for a position of support worker at Doncaster Women's Centre.

Karen, who runs her own coaching business 'Break Free', based the programme around the 'Seven Rules of Success' – a best-selling book written by the country's top life coach Fiona Harrold.

Fiona joined Mayor Martin Winter and representatives from NDC and Doncaster Communities For Health, who funded the venture, for a presentation ceremony at the Mansion House.

Mr Winter said: "Days like these make my job as mayor easier – it is about celebrating something that is that little bit different and it's happening in the borough of Doncaster.

"It's something that makes a whole deal of difference to the whole of the town, because Doncaster's success relies on each and every one of us achieving our own success, whatever that success looks like."