Christian charity, Centrepoint, runs the centre every evening with the help of volunteers and provides free basic necessities such as food, clothing and toiletries to more than 20 homeless people each day. Visitors can also get help and advice.

Pastor David Marsh, who manages the centre, said: “The work that Sandwell Homes and its partners are planning will help us immensely to improve the service we provide to homeless people.

“At last, we will have proper kitchen facilities and visitors will have somewhere to take a shower, which is a luxury when you live on the street. We will also gain more space inside the building to increase the number of people we can help.

“I really can’t thank those involved in delivering the project enough and we look forward to opening our doors when the work is finished.”

Sandwell Homes is working with partners Thomas Vale, VINCI Facilities, Lovell Partnerships and Wates Living Space to deliver the borough’s Decent Homes programme, which aims to bring council housing stock up to a national Decent Homes standard.

Councillor Simon Hackett, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Homeless people are among the most vulnerable people in our society and the work of organisations like Centrepoint is often crucial to their health and survival.

“I am grateful to the partnership for undertaking this charitable project, which will without doubt be a considerable help to homeless people in West Bromwich.”

“This award demonstrates Sandwell Homes’ commitment to being a sustainable business and is testament to the efforts of employees and tenants in helping to achieve it.”

Cllr Simon Hackett, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Sandwell Homes has a great record when it comes to looking after the environment, which this award clearly demonstrates. The important thing is for them not to stop this important work and to continue looking at ways in which to be green.”

Comedian, actor and keen climate change campaigner Marcus Brigstocke presented this year’s awards, which were held at the Hilton Hotel, in London’s Park Lane on 21st October.

Tenants and residents can now access our services via their mobile phones using Looking Local’s ‘Report It’ app.

To get your hands on this completely FREE app simply scan the QR codes in the picture on the right using a code reader on your mobile phone, or alternatively search for ‘Looking Local’ in the Android Marketplace or Apple iTunes Store.

Looking Local enables Sandwell Homes customers to search and bid for properties, report repairs and anti-social behaviour, request forms, and get the latest news, via Sky or Virgin TV boxes and mobile phones with internet access.

Once you have the app simply look for Sandwell Homes in ‘Nearby Services’.