A catering trainee scheme run by a charity that helps drug addicts and rough sleepers into jobs in London’s deprived East End has been awarded ‘runner up’ prize at this year’s London Homeless awards.

The cash prize is being used by the Providence Row charity for the homeless to expand the programme at its Dellow Centre in Whitechapel to help more people into work.

The scheme started in 2010 is unique in helping the homeless and rough sleepers, including drug addicts and those with mental health issues.

Its success has had 34 of the 56 who signed up completing the training, with 12 getting jobs out of it.

Trainees receive specialist one-to-one and group attention to reduce their substance misuse, improve their mental health and move them towards employment while completing their training in the kitchens at the centre in Wentworth Street.

The scheme can be a turning point, Providence Row points out, for many homeless people who finally get the support they need to get back into society through education, training and employment.