Manchester Mayoral candidate Andy Burnham has praised local communal welfare charity The Fed as “a model of good practice and a template for others to follow”.

Mr Burnham and fellow Labour MP Ivan Lewis visited The Fed’s Heathlands Village this week, where they were shown around by senior staff and met service users.

He said he had “long called for major changes to the way we support older people, for more independent living and more person-centred care”.

The Fed’s provision was “based on the simple notion of inclusive and active ageing and allowing older people to live at the heart of a vibrant community. This is what we should want for everyone instead of the widespread isolation and loneliness which comes from a a broken care system based on 15-minute visits and poverty pay for staff.”

Mark Cunningham — who next month succeeds Karen Phillips as The Fed’s CEO — said that with social care a major news topic, the visit was “a great opportunity for us to share our achievements and discuss the current issues affecting the community.

“Andy seemed very impressed with our facilities, as well as the breadth of services we provide in the community.”