IVAN Lewis is hoping to recruit "an army of volunteers" to help at-risk young and elderly people across the region.

The Bury South MP, who is running to become the first elected mayor of Greater Manchester, has announced he is to set up a new charitable foundation and is encouraging people to sign up to become mentors for people in need of support.

He plans to launch the foundation next year and says it will be one of his "top personal priorities in the years ahead", whether he is elected mayor or not.

Mr Lewis said: "My Mayoral campaign has focused from day one on the need to fight inequality. The recent Brexit vote, with seven out of ten districts voting to leave the EU, illustrated the fact that many people across Greater Manchester feel left behind and don't feel politics at any level works for them.

"A shocking 28 per cent of children are living in poverty in Greater Manchester with the majority likely to leave school without the necessary qualifications and skills to get a decent job.

"Many do not have an adult in their life who can support them with their education and some do not have a positive role model to help them aim high for a better future. Shockingly, care leavers are frequently left to fend themselves when they reach the age of 18.

"At the other end of the age spectrum many people are living longer but that doesn't necessarily mean they are having a good quality of life.

"Many older people do not have a family member or friend nearby and will not use social services.

"Savage Government imposed cuts to social care budgets means responding to loneliness is not a priority for hard pressed services. Tragically, loneliness can be a premature killer for some older people.

"In light of these challenges which I have identified as priorities during my Mayoral campaign I have decided to set up a new charitable foundation to recruit an army of volunteer mentors and befrienders across Greater Manchester."

The MP set up the Contact Community Care charity in Bury when he was just 19, and is hoping this new foundation will have a similar impact for people across Greater Manchester.

He added: "The foundation, working with existing third sector organisations, will recruit and match people willing to offer some of their time with young and older people identified as being in need of support.

"Whether elected Mayor or not, this will be one of my top personal priorities in the years ahead. I hope businesses and individual donors across Greater Manchester will support the foundation which I will launch in 2017.

"At the age of 19, I set up a charity in Bury supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. That changed the course of my life and taught me the importance of supporting people to fulfil their potential and have a better quality of life.

"I now want to do the same again for the generation who will shape our future and the generation which made so many sacrifices for their families and our country."