The major Manchester welfare charity created by the imminent merger of The Fed and Heathlands Care Village is likely to have an annual budget of £10 million, considerably more than the current combined budgets of the two organisations.

Plans for Manchester’s first respite facility for disabled Jewish children and a new social housing strategy were due to be unveiled at last night’s AGM of The Fed at South Manchester Synagogue.

Although revenue has dropped, Fed boss Karen Phillips said the proportion was in line with the fall other charities were experiencing.

Speaking before the meeting, Ms Phillips said the death of Fed president Lord Steinberg last week had robbed the charity of a key visionary, as well as a generous financial supporter.

“I spoke to him the night before he died and he was so excited we were at the finishing line with the merger. He’s been outspoken in support for a centralised communal welfare strategy. He’s worked so hard for this and he won’t be here to see it.”

Lord Steinberg helped to bring in £1.2 million from the charity’s last fundraising dinner and had attracted guest speakers including Prince Philip, Michael Grade and William Hague.