A man who spent three years living on the streets has turned his life around and is now working to improve other people's homes.

Peter, 32, who currently lives in a resettlement hostel run by the homeless charity Threshold, is being taught the building trade by the charity’s regular maintenance man, Graeme Brooker.

The budding builder, who used to sleep in parks and near the bus station, is now learning carpentry, decorating, plastering and fitting kitchens.

Peter said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for me to learn many skills of the building trade, which will, hopefully, allow me to eventually stand on my own two feet.”

The trainee, who has previously spent time in Booth House and Swindon Night Shelter started helping Graeme, who works for GMB Home Improvements, after volunteering to help hang an advertising banner for Threshold’s The Big Sleep Out at Swindon’s fire station.

“It took all day, and despite the fact that it was raining and I’m scared of heights, we got it done,” Peter said. “Graeme said he could do with an extra pair of hands when work comes in, and it went from there.

“I’ve been learning lots of new skills, particularly carpentry skills which is not as easy as it looks. Plastering was also a new one for me.”

Peter also accompanies Graeme on jobs outside Swindon. “He’s patient, he’ll show me something, I’ll have a go, and if I make a mistake he’ll sort it out.”

Graeme said: “Peter’s doing fantastic, we’ve already been working on several different aspects of the building trade, such as plastering and fitting kitchens and his determination is shining through”.

The trainee became homeless after family problems. “I was a bit naughty, I did stupid things and I was a lot younger. It was my own actions.It was unexpected. You don’t think it will happen to you and then it does completely change everything.

“Being homeless is horrible. That first night was absolutely horrible. But you do gradually get used to it. Trying to find somewhere secluded and out of the way, that is safe - safety is the top thing.”

“Not knowing where you’re going to sleep each night is tough. I’ve had nights where I’ve woken up thinking where am I? I’ve known people who have been stabbed, beaten up.

“You’re always looking for somewhere safe,” he said. “I’d go to one place, and there would be other people there doing drugs and alcohol. I’m not judging how people want to handle the situation, but I didn’t want to get involved in that. “To this day I still find it hard to sleep at night-time. It does have a knock-on effect,” Peter said.

One of his favourite parts of his new job is meeting new people. “It’s the social interaction, Often homeless people don’t get to speak to many people. Your mood gets really low. But I’ve met some lovely people through this.”

Peter is hopeful his employment will lead to him being nominated for a council flat. “I want to be able to stand on own feet without relying on other people for independence.”

Threshold’s chief development officer, Michael Keenan said: “Peter himself has grabbed this opportunity with both hands and is keen to inspire others who have found themselves in a similar predicament of becoming homeless and experiencing difficulty rebuilding a career.”