TV chef to provide cooking lessons to homeless

Matt Healy previously finished second on MasterChef: The Professionals

A former MasterChef finalist has joined forces with a charity to provide cooking lessons for people affected by homelessness.

Matt Healy, the 2016 runner-up on MasterChef: The Professionals, will deliver the lessons on behalf of Homeless Street Angels at the charity's new permanent base in Leeds.

Mr Healy, who is from Leeds and runs a restaurant in the city, said he would be willing to provide employment opportunities for anyone who impressed with their culinary skills.

"I think we should just be nicer as a society and this is a small step towards that," he said.

The 41-year-old, who is preparing to open his second restaurant in Ilkley, added: "Everybody deserves a second, third, fourth or fifth chance, it's really difficult in this day and age that people are still homeless - it's pretty gross."

Mr Healy, from Horsforth, said it had long been his ambition to teach others how to cook and said this might the "first step into something bigger going forward".

"If it helps somebody, I'm happy with that."

Established in 2016, Homeless Street Angels supports about 80 people currently living on the streets in Leeds and a further 700 families in supported accommodation.

"They are great people and it's great work that they do," said Mr Healy, who featured on Gordan Ramsay's The F Word earlier in his career.

Becky (left) and Shelley Joyce provide help to the homeless in Leeds

The charity's co-founder, Becky Joyce, said Mr Healy's help would be "massive".

"[Homeless people] get a bad name and looked down on, he is not judging them and treating them like a human being".

The organisation's new day centre, which has been paid for with money raised since 2016, will help people "rebuild their lives", said Ms Joyce.

"We want to teach them life skills."

As well as cooking lessons, the centre in Sheepscar will also be used to provide support services including help with housing and a foodbank.

Art, exercise and creative writing classes will also take place at Abi House, which is named after the late sister of Ms Joyce and the charity's co-founder, Shelley.

"We couldn't save Abi, but this place will save so many lives," said Ms Joyce.

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