A Scotland player has hopes of turning around the lives of former criminals in his home town of Dundee.
Former Liverpool and Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam has backed a project that teaches trades to people who have served their time.
The project gives them the opportunity to transform some run-down houses and even to live in them in an effort to give them a second chance in life.
Adam is involved in the project in Blackpool, where he now lives, but says he would like to bring the project to Dundee when he hangs up his boots.
He said: “I’d love to see the project happen in Scotland. If there are opportunities, we’d love to expand there.
“There are people I grew up with, people in Dundee, who have gone down the wrong path. It’s not just Dundee, it’s any town in the UK.
“I have played against many guys who have had more ability than me who got sucked into the wrong things.
“These guys have been through a tough time and it’s important they get help.
“We give them the chance to become joiners, plumbers and electricians. I really enjoy going to see them work.
“They have big smiles on their faces and there’s a buzz about the place,” he added.
The police-backed project is run by police officer Steve Hodgkins and community firm Jobs, Friends and Houses do the refurbishment work.
Once completed, the properties are rented back to others in recovery or put back on the market to make a profit for social enterprise.
Adam plays for Stoke City but earlier this year fulfilled a lifelong dream to pull on the dark blue shirt of Dundee FC in Julian Speroni’s testimonial at Crystal Palace.
He said: “In my past two years my interest in property has really kicked off. You need to think about what’s after football and keep all avenues open for you when you finish.
“But Jobs, Friends and Houses isn’t about making money. It’s helping people who have nothing because of previous mistakes but are on the right road now.
“Seeing just one person become a qualified plumber or joiner because of it makes it all worth it.
“In the future they might be able to get an opportunity elsewhere which they otherwise might not have got.
“It has moved so quickly since the beginning of the year.”
“I’ve been lucky enough to improve my life through football. I live in Blackpool with my family and have been here for almost eight years.”
Adam has proudly posted pictures of some of the houses he has helped do up on Instagram.