A TEAM of York construction firms have pulled together to benefit a local charity with their skills.

Several firms have joined forces to refurbish Carecent, a York charity that helps homeless and disadvantaged people.

The Carecent breakfast centre opens Monday to Saturday in the York Central Methodist Church on St Saviourgate.

The volunteer-run charity provides food, clothing, toiletries and friendship and is dependent on funding from churches and the local community.

The funding for this project came from donations, but fundraising is ongoing to equip and furnish the refurbished spaces.

The work will see a new kitchen and food preparation area created alongside a much-improved dining area, a shower room and a substantial food and clothing store.

City-based development company S Harrison is working to modernise the existing space, meaning that Carecent will be able to offer an enhanced range of services.

The company has also enlisted the support of several other York firms, including CSP Architects, mechanical and electrical design consultants Martin Design Associates, construction consultants LHL Group and Lincoln-based consulting engineers Ward Cole, all of whom have agreed to work for free.

Carecent's Nicky Gladstone said: "Our existing space has served us well for more than 30 years,

during which we've served thousands of breakfasts and offered many hours of respite to York's vulnerable, homeless and socially excluded community.

"We're extremely grateful that so many local business have joined forces to help us embark on this project."

Until the refurbishment is completed later this month, Carecent will operate from Trinity Methodist Church on Monkgate.

Chris Hale, from S Harrison, said: "Carecent is a well-known charity that has been doing a fantastic job for York's homeless and disadvantaged residents for several decades.

"It's great to be able to lend them our expertise and pull together a team of like-minded construction professionals to ensure that the charity can maximise and make the best use of the space that it has available."