Pushing a resident in a wheelchair around the grounds of The Fed’s Heathlands Village in Manchester, Benji Borson stops to share a joke with other residents.

It’s a typical scenario for a charity volunteer. But Benji is not a typical volunteer. Benji is five.

He visits Heathlands regularly to spend time with great-grandma Muriel Cobb but engages with all the residents.

“He loves coming here and the residents adore him,” said his grandma Ruth Goodman. “He often asks his mum whether he can go to Heathlands and when he’s here he joins in with whatever he can to help out.”

Benji says he likes to keep busy. “I join in at the activity centre with different activities and I get the residents cups of water if they need them. I know how to use the water machine!”

The youngest of three generations of his family who visit Heathlands — the others are parents Marc and Georgie and grandma Ruth — Benji knows his way around the site almost perfectly.

“When I come to visit, I know where the lift is and I always press the button for the right floor. If we’re going to the garden or the café, I lead the way.”

His school, King David Primary, organises visits to the Prestwich care home throughout the academic year and Benji will be joining the next group in June.

What would he most like to organise for residents? “A Heathlands disco with me as the DJ.”