A homeless man who was awarded the highest civilian award for bravery after jumping into the Thames to save a woman has found a new job.

Adan Abobaker, 44, dove into the river in November 2010 to help the woman, contracting hypothermia and losing his warm clothes and possessions to thieves.

But now he has found part-time work as a coffee cart barista in Borough Market, and he said he is “just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel”, as reported by the Evening Standard.

"[…] the job gives me a purpose, I don’t feel like I am in survival mode all the time and I am hopeful that this will lead to full-time work later on," he told the newspaper.

"I trained as a chef so it would be great to get back there at some point."

His job has been sourced through Change Please, which operates 15 coffee carts around the capital.

Change Please offers a London Living Wage as well as support to find housing, open a bank account and access to therapy.

The carts' coffee beans come from Peckham’s Old Spike roastery, which also employs former homeless people.

The causes of homelessness Show all 7 1 /7 The causes of homelessness The causes of homelessness Family Breakdown Relationship breakdown, usually between young people and their parents or step-parents, is a major cause of youth homelessness. Around six in ten young people who come to Centrepoint say they had to leave home because of arguments, relationship breakdown or being told to leave. Many have experienced long-term problems at home, often involving violence, leaving them without the family support networks that most of us take for granted The causes of homelessness Complex needs Young people who come to Centrepoint face a range of different and complex problems. More than a third have a mental health issue, such as depression and anxiety, another third need to tackle issues with substance misuse. A similar proportion also need to improve their physical health. These problems often overlap, making it more difficult for young people to access help and increasing the chances of them becoming homeless Getty/iStock The causes of homelessness Deprivation Young people's chances of having to leave home are higher in areas of high deprivation and poor prospects for employment and education. Many of those who experience long spells of poverty can get into problem debt, which makes it harder for them to access housing Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Gang Crime Homeless young people are often affected by gang-related problems. In some cases, it becomes too dangerous to stay in their local area meaning they can end up homeless. One in six young people at Centrepoint have been involved in or affected by gang crime Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Exclusion From School Not being in education can make it much more difficult for young people to access help with problems at home or health problems. Missing out on formal education can also make it more difficult for them to move into work Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Leaving Care Almost a quarter of young people at Centrepoint have been in care. They often have little choice but to deal with the challenges and responsibilities of living independently at a young age. Traumas faced in their early lives make care leavers some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities, with higher chances of poor outcomes in education, employment and housing. Their additional needs mean they require a higher level of support to maintain their accommodation Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Refugees Around 13 per cent of young people at Centrepoint are refugees or have leave to remain, meaning it isn't safe to return home. This includes young people who come to the UK as unaccompanied minors, fleeing violence or persecution in their own country. After being granted asylum, young people sometimes find themselves with nowhere to go and can end up homeless Getty Images/iStockphoto

Mr Abobaker said he has not met the woman he helped since 2010, as he “wanted her to move on”, but said he would be happy to meet.

He described life on the streets since 2001 as “difficult” and "hard", adding that people tried to urinate on him and light matches on him.

He currently lives in a hostel.

He said: "Everyone is just one paycheck away from being on the streets in London."