WORKERS on Barry's £80 million council house regeneration scheme downed tools to lend a helping hand at a children's charity centre.

Ten employees of construction firm Keepmoat volunteered to help out at the Action for Children Centre, on Cardiff Road, Barry as part of "Give and Gain Day 2014".

The group, who took up paint brushes to transform three respite rooms at the centre, called on suppliers and contacts to ensure the 25 young people who use the overnight rooms every month would have somewhere relaxing to stay.

Dylan Morgans, Residential Care Worker at Action for Children said: “This type of voluntary work is vital for us, we’re a resource that local people really depend on.

"What we do essentially, is keep families together who sometimes lean on us for a little help.

“Keepmoat has done a fantastic job of bringing the children’s ideas for the rooms to life, it’s been a tremendous boost to both the staff and the children.”

Housing and regeneration specialist Keepmoat is currently carrying out improvements to more than 3,000 council-owned properties on behalf of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Alison Davis, team leader and lead tenant liaison officer for Keepmoat, said: “I’m so grateful to the team for the hard work they put in, the new rooms look fantastic and I know the children will love it as they helped us design it,

"We’re all proud to work for an organisation which values and promotes volunteering; we’ll definitely get involved next year."