Between them Helen Gaskin, 23, and Amanda Allison, 39, are two of the latest success storis of Reed in Partnership, an agency that helps single parents into employment.

Campsall mum Helen overcame soaring debts and loan refusals to open her own beauty salon with Reed's help.

"I knew I had to do something to get myself out of the situation I was in – I wanted a better life for me and my son," said the mum of three-year-old Thomas.

"I also wanted to be self-sufficient but I wasn't sure how to go about it.

"The problem was that because of my financial difficulties the bank wouldn't give me a loan so I was having problems even getting off the starting blocks."

Registering with Reed in Partnership, a personal advisor helped Helen to get her beauty business off the ground.

Through funding opportunities from North Doncaster Development Trust and the Prince's Trust, in just a matter of months she was self-employed and this month began renting a room in a tanning salon.

Helen, of Beech Road, said: "Reed in Partnership was a lifeline for me.
I don't know what I would have done without them as I didn't really know what to do. I had no confidence and was quite nervous about it all, but they guided me through everything."

Helen now runs two salons called Rapid Tan in Printing Office Street and East View, in Campsall.

She added: "The business is growing and I'm earning my own money. I'm living proof that it can be done!"

Also taking steps back into work is Amanda mum to Bradley, 13, and five-year-old Kieran.

Working from her Tait Avenue, Edlington, home, she has turned her dream of running a signs and graphics shop into a reality.

"I was really keen to go back to work after bringing up my kids, but I wanted something with hours that would fit around my children and that
is not always easy to find," she said.

"I'd always been passionate about being self-employed and knew that this would be perfect for me if I could just get the funding to get me started."

After being registered to the Job Centre Plus three months ago, she was referred to Reed in Partnership who helped with funding and provided help and advice.

Despite only having run AJ Signs and Graphics for a few weeks, Amanda is optimistic about the future, adding: "Things are going well and I'm
feeling really positive about the business."