National spotlight on how Bury is supporting people to live well, age well and remain independent

Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock DBE CB has visited the newly opened Whitefield Live Well Centre to see first-hand how Bury is transforming Adult Social Care through a strengths-based, partnership-led approach that helps residents live well, remain independent and stay connected to their local communities.

During her visit, Baroness Casey met local residents, service users, community groups and partners to learn more about Bury's neighbourhood approach to delivering support closer to home and enabling people to live healthier, happier and more connected lives.

The visit provided an opportunity to showcase how Adult Social Care in Bury is increasingly focused on prevention, early intervention, independence and community strengths, in line with the principles of the Care Act. Partners shared examples of how the borough's Live Well model, Ageing in Place Programme and neighbourhood working approach are helping people access support earlier, maintain their wellbeing and remain active members of their communities for longer.

The visit also highlighted the vital contribution made by community, voluntary and faith organisations in supporting people to age well and reduce the need for more intensive health and care interventions.

Joining the visit were Councillor Eamonn O'Brien, Leader of Bury Council and Chair of the Local Government Association; Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Public Service Reform; Lynne Ridsdale, Bury Council Chief Executive and Place-based Lead for NHS Greater Manchester; Helen Tomlinson, Chief Executive of Bury VCFA; and colleagues from health, social care, the NHS, the voluntary, community and faith sector, and the Bury Older People's Network.

Throughout the visit, discussions focused on the future of Adult Social Care, including the challenges and opportunities facing the sector nationally and locally. Partners explored how prevention, early intervention, community capacity and strong neighbourhood networks can help people maintain their independence and wellbeing for longer, while reducing demand on statutory services.

Councillor Eamonn O'Brien, Leader of Bury Council and Chair of the Local Government Association, said:

"We were delighted to welcome Baroness Casey to Whitefield Live Well Centre and to share the progress being made in Bury through our Live Well approach. By bringing together residents, community organisations, health partners and the council, we are helping people stay independent, connected and active within their neighbourhoods.

"The challenges facing adult social care are significant, but Bury is demonstrating how prevention, early support and strong community relationships can make a real difference to people's lives. Our Ageing in Place Programme is helping residents remain part of the communities they know and love, while reducing reliance on more intensive services."

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Public Service Reform, said:

"Adult Social Care is undergoing significant transformation and in Bury we are proud to be leading an approach that puts people, strengths and communities at its heart.

"Our focus is on supporting people earlier, building on individual and community strengths, and working with partners across health, housing, the voluntary sector and local neighbourhoods to help residents maintain their independence and wellbeing. I am pleased we were able to discuss and showcase this to Baroness Casey on her visit.

"Whitefield Live Well Centre is a great example of how we are bringing services and communities together to provide support closer to home, preventing issues from escalating and helping people live the lives they want to lead."

Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock said:

“As part of the Big Conversation on Care, I’ve been travelling across the country to hear about what works, what doesn’t and what people want to see from a better adult social care system.

“It was inspiring to see the work taking place in Bury, to hear about the importance of local partnerships and to meet the volunteers and staff making a difference to peoples’ lives every day."

Bury's Live Well approach forms part of the borough's wider transformation of Adult Social Care, which is focused on promoting wellbeing, preventing or delaying the need for formal care and support, and helping people to remain independent and connected to their communities for as long as possible.

The visit comes at a time when Bury's approach to adult social care is receiving recognition both from regulators and residents. Earlier this year, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) awarded Bury Council's Adult Social Care services an overall ‘Good’ rating, highlighting strengths in leadership, safeguarding, partnership working and person-centred support. The inspection recognised the borough's commitment to helping people remain independent, connected and in control of their lives, reflecting the ambitions at the heart of Bury's Live Well and Ageing in Place programmes. Alongside this, recent resident feedback has shown satisfaction levels above national averages across most measures, demonstrating the positive impact of the council's work with NHS, voluntary, community and faith sector partners.

Whitefield Live Well Centre was officially opened on Sunday 16 August 2026. The centre forms part of a wider ambition to create a network of accessible Live Well spaces across Bury helping residents access support, opportunities and connections closer to home.

Live Well forms part of Greater Manchester's ambition to provide great everyday support in every neighbourhood, bringing public services, community organisations and residents together, focusing on prevention, early support and reducing inequalities.

Baroness Casey is the Chair of the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care.

The Commission has opened The Big Conversation on Care, giving everyone a chance to share their views on what a National Care Service could look like.

Have your say and make a difference: https://caseycommission.co.uk/bigconversation/

Notes for Editors

To find out more about Live Well in Bury, visit: https://buryvcfa.org.uk/live-well-greater-manchester

To find out more about Live Well in Greater Manchester, visit: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/live-well/