Disadvantaged people in Lewisham are being given the chance help shape the future of the borough.

A scheme from the Big Issue in partnership with the Mayor of London is designed to renovate empty buildings into good quality affordable homes to rent or part buy.

It will give work opportunities to people with a history of long-term unemployment or homelessness as well as training in construction.

South London charity, Phases, is one of the many charities benefiting from the fund, and is currently working on a project at Brockley Road, building affordable homes for Brockley residents.

Phases provides training and work experience to marginalised groups such as the homeless, ex-offenders, those with health problems and the long-term unemployed.

Bhakta Dhenga, an ex-Ghurka, was living in a hostel in Lewisham and searching for work as a labourer before he was offered an opportunity by Phases to work on the site and train in construction.

Mr Dhenga said: "Since I started training with Phases I have learnt so many things.

"I felt proud to be offered a full-time job in construction.

"People believed in me and gave me a chance to go ahead on a good path.

"I had the chance to move out of the hostel and finally get my own place.

"I am slowly building myself back up again, but I know that if I need help, there are people I can turn to so I'm not alone."

As the trainees progress, they are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning, develop confidence and problem solving skills.

They are also encouraged to learn from each other and develop skills such as ordering and budgeting of materials, all of which helps them prepare for the real workplace.

Big Issue Invest provides investments from £50,000 to £1.7 million and develops financial plans to help organisations tackle poverty and create opportunities.

Speaking about the fund, Big Issue Group's Chair, Nigel Kershaw, said: "This is really exciting, the Fund helps to extend The Big Issue's mission of preventing and dismantling poverty and creating opportunity.

"That we are offering homes and employment opportunities to vulnerable people makes this so important to us, as it's all about preventing people ending up on the streets."