A 21-YEAR-OLD who found himself living on the streets and without a job to support himself has turned his life around after being given a chance to prove himself in a North-East kitchen.

Jordan Franklin was homeless and had no income before landing an apprenticeship with a unique Middlesbrough restaurant, The Fork in the Road.

The eatery is run by experienced catering professionals who mentor trainees including ex-offenders, recovering addicts and the long-term unemployed.

Mr Franklin has held his position as an apprentice chef for seven months and his new colleagues have even helped him find a new home.

“With our help, Jordan is transforming his life and his future,” said Andy Preston, the driving force behind the charity-run restaurant on Linthorpe Road.

“It’s fantastic to see, but it’s all down to his own hard work, commitment and a passion for catering. He loves being part of our team and they love him.”

Mr Franklin got a taste for cooking whilst studying for an NVQ in Catering at Stockton Riverside College, but it is only since housing group Coast and Country introduced him to The Fork in the Road that his fortunes have changed.

Having lost his flat after failing to keep up rental payments, Mr Franklin was technically homeless.

He admitted: “I got into the wrong crowd, got into trouble and then lost my flat, so I’d made some bad mistakes.

“Sofa-surfing for six months was tough, but now the staff here have helped me find a new place to live and I’ve saved up and got myself a bike to come to work on.

“I love working at The Fork in the Road. The staff are so supportive of me and I know it’s opening up opportunities for me, so I can hopefully make a career for myself in catering.”

The unique restaurant also helps to fund Bar Zero, a dry bar situated upstairs that provides an important social facility for Teesside’s recovery community.

Head chef Chris Burton, said: “I’ve got a lot of time for Jordan. You can teach cooking skills but the difference is that he naturally has it in him to be a good chef.

“He’s had a really tough start in life but there’s definitely a career for him in catering if he continues to learn and show the same positive mentality."