A MUM of three is inviting working women to join her “tribe”.

Natalie Ellis from Derwenthorpe has set up a York branch of the national female networking group Girl Tribe Gang.

She said she hopes the organisation will tackle the loneliness some women experience when leave the office environment.

The 36-year-old, who runs her own interior design company, said: “When you are working by yourself you don’t have a network of people. You have a life in the office - you have people to turn to if you need help. The group was set up for that reason.

“A lot of women can become lonely. We can be each other’s cheerleaders.

“It’s for ladies who are starting a business or just getting the ball rolling, or for those established businesswomen who have been doing it for a number of years and might be earning millions of pounds.”

Natalie said the group includes women working in a wide range of careers, from public relations and marketing to photography and wedding planning. She added that members share expertise to help boost each other’s skills.

She said: “The support makes you want to push yourself even further. I’m looking forward to finding like minded women in my community, women who are working from their kitchen table or home office doing work that works for them and their family.”

Founder of the Girl Tribe Gang network Catherine Asta Labbett, from Ilkley, said women who run small businesses are a “hidden workforce” but that many need to forge connections with other people working in their field.

She said the collective offers an alternative to corporate social events.

Anyone interested in finding out more is invited to the York branch’s first meeting on March 7 at Revolution bar from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.