Popular Mitcham recycling charity The Vine Project held a touching ceremony to honour the volunteers from its Work Volunteer Train programme.

The charity, which recycles furniture, will no longer be able to help people with learning disabilities, social problems and mental health issues get back into work after funding dried up.

The organisation, along with it's children's support business Kid Stop, will continue to function however.

Programmes manager Rachel Parkes said: “The programme has helped so many people in the community, we wanted to acknowledge the people who have supported and volunteered. The awards ceremony was our way of doing that.”

Four permanent roles were made redundant once the three year grant finished on April 1.

Merton mayor Nick Draper said he felt honoured to present the awards to the volunteers and labelled their work “special and unique”.

He said: “The Vine Project helped people not just find work for themselves, but to work in other organisations and that is something truly special.”

Volunteer Raymond Sheridan, 50, from Morden, said he was “chuffed to bits” to receive his certificate for outstanding service to the community.

Fellow volunteer Neil Larkin, 49, of Carshalton, received two certificates for his work with the Vine Project over the last three years.

The programme worked with learning disabled, mentally ill and socially challenged people teaching them valuable work related skills, such as working in a team, following directions and being on time and well presented.

They also helped people gain accreditation through Open College Network Training, gain full time employment and even get into university.

In 2009 the programme helped furnish 1,073 homes and saved 116,000 tonnes from landfill.

The Vine Project was former Mayor Martin Whelton's chosen charity of the year for 2008-09.

To find out more or donate, visit thevineproject.org