A care company in Oldham has received a special honour from the British care industry - and brushed shoulders with celebrity, Rylan Clark.

Visiting Angels Manchester East, established in October 2022, delivers a dedicated service to people with care needs including disabilities, dementia and terminal illness across Oldham, Rochdale, Saddleworth and Tameside.

While it has 17 "very happy" members of staff, the company prides itself on client-centred care which includes allowing customers to interview and 'vet' their own carer.

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Visiting Angels also has a 'carer-centric approach' to its staff with employees at the company being the only ones in the sector to receive an annual pay rise, a free regular car service and a career path planned out for them.

These initiatives landed the company a place at the Great British Care Awards for the Innovation award, which was held at Birmingham International Conference Centre on Friday, March 22.

The team won their place in the final having captured the Innovation Category at the North West version of the awards.

The couple behind the company, Roxie Taj and Badar Usmani, received a nod at the awards and met the famous presenter Rylan Clark.

The pair attribute their "familial links" with their clients as behind the company's success which is best illustrated by what might be described as an "unlikely friendship" between 25-year-old carer, Ursulaan Yousaf, and 93-year-old George, who has Alzheimer's.

Over the course of a few months of caring, the bond has seen George pick up walking again around his peaceful haven, Hollingworth Lake and a return to his favourite game of pool at his local pub.

Before joining Visiting Angels, Ursulaan was a student diagnostic radiographer in NHS hospitals across the Midlands.

He said: “I was more nervous than George when we first met but decided to roll my sleeves up and help him.

 “We both had a common interest in football and are Manchester United supporters.

"I took George to the National Football Museum, where the pictures of the Munich Air Disaster really touched him.”

George's wife, Sheina, also praised the team and the impact 'Ursy' has had on their life.

She said: "Visiting Angels are truly angels indeed.

"They recognised what our needs were and without them, I would be in a very dark place indeed.

"I now have a zest for living and more energy, thanks to George’s sparkling little companion."

Also celebrating the connection, Roxie said: “It would be no exaggeration to say that George was following the cliched path of a person with dementia, losing contact with those around him and the world in general.

"Unfortunately, the pain of gradually losing someone and being on the wrong end of their behaviours can also mean significant relationship problems.

"When I heard George’s wife say she was in love with him again, I thought, 'That’s why we set up Visiting Angels, that is what we are all about'."

Reacting to their top Innovation Award, Badar added: “I hope that what we have achieved will serve as a benchmark for other providers and particularly as an example for those who fund them.

"This is a service, not a business.”

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