Volunteers have been rolling up their sleeves to brighten up a run-down Docklands housing estate in London’s deprived East End as part of a ‘business in the community’ day.

East London Advertiser: Volunteers spruce up the East End's run-down Glamis housing estate in Shadwell [photos: Rehan Jamil]Volunteers spruce up the East End's run-down Glamis housing estate in Shadwell [photos: Rehan Jamil] (Image: � Rehan Jamil)

Staff from Associated British Ports who are normally busy running many of the country’s ports took time off to drop in on Shadwell’s Glamis Estate.

The 22 volunteers arrived to give a lick of paint and plant shrubs and flowers in open spaces on the estate as part of national ‘Give and Gain’ Day—and the tenants were delighted.

“We enjoyed giving something back to the community,” the Port company’s project manager Alys Mitchell said. “It was great helping improve the open areas on the estate.”

The volunteers were invited by East End Homes housing association, which manages the former council estate along The Highway.

East London Advertiser: Volunteers spruce up the East End's run-down Glamis housing estate in Shadwell [photos: Rehan Jamil]Volunteers spruce up the East End's run-down Glamis housing estate in Shadwell [photos: Rehan Jamil] (Image: � Rehan Jamil)

They did gardening and painting fences on the open spaces while getting some of the pensioners on the estate involved.

The volunteering day was arranged by Business in the Community, an organisation in Shoreditch bringing firms up and down the country together in programmes to help disadvantaged people get jobs and support the growth of start-up enterprises.

The volunteering day, now in its seventh year, had 15,000 people from hundreds of companies like Associated British Ports helping out in nearby communities.

Paul Wilson from East End Homes said: “The volunteers have been fantastic helping improve our open spaces which has made a positive impact.”

East London Advertiser: Volunteers spruce up the East End's run-down Glamis housing estate in Shadwell [photos: Rehan Jamil]Volunteers spruce up the East End's run-down Glamis housing estate in Shadwell [photos: Rehan Jamil] (Image: � Rehan Jamil)

East End Homes has played host to 5,000 volunteers from many Canary Wharf and City companies over the years.

It is currently looking for volunteers to help create more biodiversity in its community gardens and making open spaces more attractive for families.