The Rydon construction workers will be trained by Canning Town charity Anchor House

Canning Town homelessness charity Anchor House is helping to train a group of unemployed people to get back into work.

The wannabe construction workers will help to refurbish a housing estate near to the Oval cricket ground in south London once they have been equipped to do so.

A taster day was held at the site last week to give the 10 trainees a sense of the activities that will be covered during the 12-week Live Train programme.

Most of their time will be spent at Anchor House headquarters in Barking Road.

The charity has the facilities to provide the skills needed as well as the construction certificate needed for anyone seeking work on a building site.

The remaining weeks are based on a Rydon site, before the graduates are given advice on where to go for the right job.

Steve Blake, from Rydon, said: “What Live Train does is to give people the opportunity to learn trade skills, get formally qualified and gain exposure to a national contractor and its supply chain.

“This is a scheme that will make a long-term difference to people’s lives and we are excited to have the trainees on board as part of our work on the Ashmore Estate.”

At the end of the scheme, the trainees will have helped upgrade 350 properties with new kitchens, bathrooms, double glazed windows and a new district heating system. The project will be completed within five years.