Thomas Kehoe, South Liverpool Housing

Thomas Kehoe, of Windfield Green, Garston, has found a new lease of life since building a new career via the Streets Ahead project.

He has become a Community Caretaker for South Liverpool Housing, helping elderly and disabled residents with their gardens and taking care of small maintenance jobs.

Thomas, aged 54, has been out of full-time work for much of the past 20 years due to a back injury he suffered while working as a builder.

When he saw a Streets Ahead open day advertised in his local ARCH centre, he decided to give it a go. He then attended a four-day "Focus Get Ready For Work" course, which helped build his confidence and his skills in applying for jobs and attending interviews. This proved useful when he passed the selection interview for the Caretaking job.

Says Thomas: "I'm really made up with the new job. It's the type of work I've always wanted. It's really nice to have a decent wage. I can now think about paying for a holiday and even saving a bit of money."