Caravan living brings time to help people

Andrew Mellody moved into a caravan to devote more time to helping people and he has picked up an anti-poverty award for his work.

The 30-year-old Melbourne man launched non-profit organisation Co-Ground to rebuild a school in Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam devastated the islands in March.

Mr Mellody moved out of his rental home to live in a caravan in Northcote, so he could save money and devote more time to running Co-Ground.

"The caravan's allowed me to reduce my hours at work," he told AAP.

"(It's) given me something that a lot of people don't often have, which is time to do what I love."

He travelled to Vanuatu to help get a school going again under the leadership of the local community.

"(We were) getting the school back on track, getting the basics back on track - doors, windows, finishing the construction, repairing some of the damage," he said.

Next he wants Co-Ground to help community businesses in Vanuatu find their feet.

Mr Mellody has been rewarded with Connection UnitingCare's 2015 National Anti-Poverty Award.

Connections chief executive Angela Forbes said the awards acknowledged the work of many young people who often went unnoticed.

Mr Mellody was awarded $4000 and also got a video camera for winning the people's choice award.