Compassion In Action

What Compassion In Action does

Compassion In Action is a registered charity (Charity Number 1135920) founded in 2006 by Pam Gilligan, operating from three sites across the Wigan Borough in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom: Patrick House headquarters in Leigh, a distribution centre in Atherton, and the Lowton Community Outlet. The organization delivers a whole-person care model across four pillars — Practical, Physical, Social, and Mental — providing furniture and clothing packages, specialized accommodation for adults with learning difficulties (Duva Mews and Patrick House apartments totalling 19 units), therapeutic wellbeing centres (Haven House and Oasis House with 7 short-stay bedrooms), a Community Cadets youth programme, veterans' brunch, and annual Christmas and Easter appeals. A distinctive non-clinical mental health service operates an open-ended access model with no client discharges, accepting GP referrals through Leigh Primary Care Network to reduce crisis presentations to NHS primary and emergency care.

The charity's core operational technology is its referral-based distribution infrastructure: a five-day furniture and white goods delivery service from the Atherton distribution centre, fed by referrals from Life Centres, Wigan Council, NHS partners, and Greater Manchester Police. Mental health support is delivered through one-to-one appointments, therapeutic workshops, and short-term residential interventions. The charity does not employ a digital platform or app; service delivery is people-led and location-based, with the website (compassioninaction.info) and a Twitter/X account (@Compassion_uk) serving as the primary digital touchpoints.

Revenue is derived from three streams: donations and grants from individuals, local businesses, and statutory bodies (notably Wigan Council); small donation revenue from the Lowton Community Outlet; and facility hire of Patrick House's community café, function room, board room and office suite. All services are provided free of charge to referred clients. The organization has 15 employees and a 19-year operating history, and is governed by a Board of Trustees with the founding CEO retaining operational leadership. The charity has received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (2014), recognition in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and multiple regional business and sector awards through 2024–2025.

Name

Compassion In Action

Legal name

Compassion in Action

Website

https://compassioninaction.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Compassion In Action is a UK registered charity operating in Wigan Borough, providing furniture, clothing, mental health support, specialized accommodation, and youth programmes to vulnerable individuals and families through referral-based services and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Welfare and Crisis Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGACAC

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAM

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Community crisis support
• Charity welfare services
• Furniture clothing donation
• Supported living accommodation
• Non-clinical mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Leigh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a registered charity (Number 1135920), Compassion in Action relies on donations from individuals, local businesses, and partner organizations, as well as grants from government bodies including Wigan Council.
2. Small Donation Revenue: Community Outlet in Lowton offers clothing, household items, and furniture for small donations from vulnerable families, providing an alternative to traditional charity shops.
3. Hire of Facilities: Community café, function room, board room and office suite at Patrick House available for private hire for events, meetings and training throughout the year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Compassion in Action is a registered charity that provides whole-person community support across four pillars — Practical, Physical, Social, and Mental. It delivers referral-based furniture and clothing packages, specialised supported-living apartments for adults with learning disabilities, non-clinical therapeutic wellbeing residences, a low-cost Community Outlet, a Community Café and venue hire, youth and veteran programmes, seasonal toy and food appeals, and mental health crisis-prevention services to vulnerable individuals and families across Wigan Borough.

Product overview

Compassion in Action is a charitable organization offering a portfolio of community support services organized around a whole-person care approach delivered across four key pillars: Practical, Physical, Social, and Mental. The core service portfolio includes a Distribution Centre in Atherton providing furniture and clothing; Patrick House headquarters in Leigh housing a community café and venue hire facilities; Duva Mews and Patrick House apartments for adults with learning disabilities; Haven House and Oasis House therapeutic wellbeing centres providing non-clinical mental health support; Lowton Community Outlet and Outreach offering affordable retail and cost of living support; a Book Swap literacy service; Heat Retreat spaces; Veterans' Brunch; and a Community Cadets Programme for youth. Annual seasonal initiatives include Christmas and Easter appeals distributing toys and food to vulnerable families. The organization operates from three main locations: Leigh (Patrick House), Atherton (Distribution Centre), and Lowton (Community Outlet and Outreach).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Furniture and Clothing Distribution Service Referral-based provision of free furniture, clothing and household items to vulnerable individuals and families in crisis across Wigan Borough, delivered through a five-day distribution operation from the Atherton centre.
• Patrick House Community Venue & HQ Headquarters site in Leigh offering a community café, function room, board room and office suite available for private hire, meetings, training and events, and serving as the operational centre for the charity.
• Duva Mews Supported Living Apartments Nineteen adapted apartments for adults with learning difficulties or disabilities, combining independent living with on-site personalised care delivered by Cherish UK and supported by Wigan Council Adult Social Care.
• Haven House Therapeutic Wellbeing Centre Recovery-focused non-clinical wellbeing centre for adults experiencing depression, anxiety, emotional distress and isolation, offering therapeutic support as part of Compassion in Action's non-clinical mental health services.
• Oasis House Short-Term Therapeutic Residence Therapeutic short-term residential service with seven bedrooms centred around shared communal space, delivering five-night, six-day non-clinical rehabilitation stays with 24-hour support for adults in mental health distress.
• Lowton Community Outlet Affordable retail outlet in Lowton offering low-cost clothing, household items, bric-a-brac, small furniture and a Book Swap service, open to vulnerable families for small donations.
• Book Swap Literacy Service Community literacy service enabling residents to borrow up to two books per visit free of charge at the Lowton Community Outlet.
• Heat Retreat Cost-of-Living Support Warm-space initiative operating from Patrick House Community Café and Lowton Community Outreach that provides adults with a warm place, free snacks and cost-of-living advice.
• Veterans' Brunch Weekly Thursday social brunch held 10am–1pm at the Patrick House Community Café for ex-armed forces and Royal British Legion members, offering home-cooked food, friendship and access to advice and support.
• Community Cadets Programme Fully funded 12-month youth programme for Year 6 pupils aged 10–11 transitioning to high school, meeting weekly on Tuesday evenings to develop skills, confidence and friendships through purposeful activities built on the 'Love Where You Live' ethos.
• Non-Clinical Mental Health Services Non-clinical prevention and intervention mental health support accessed via GP referrals (notably through Leigh Primary Care Network), delivered through one-to-one appointments, therapeutic workshops and Oasis House residential stays on an open-ended basis to reduce GP and A&E crisis presentations.
• Christmas Project Appeal Annual Christmas appeal distributing brand new toys and Christmas lunches to vulnerable families referred through local agencies, supported by Leigh Leopards, Leigh Centurions, SuperLeigh and local businesses.
• Easter Appeal Annual Easter appeal distributing Easter eggs to vulnerable families referred through local agencies, supported by Leigh Centurions, SuperLeigh and corporate donors.
• Community Café Community café at Patrick House serving as a community hub, veterans' brunch venue, Heat Retreat location, and a venue available for private hire and events.
• Lowton Community Outreach (No.9) Satellite community service in Lowton providing a welcoming space for friendship and support, small furniture items for a small donation, and a Heat Retreat location.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,497 brand new toys distributed to vulnerable families in 2025 Christmas Project (18th year)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wigan Metropolitan Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey strategic partner providing support, seconding staff (including Paula Richmond to Community Cadets), and working alongside Compassion in Action across multiple programs including Adult Social Care collaboration.
• Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing patron and supporter who has championed the charity from its early days when CIA founder Pam Gilligan asked him for help securing first premises. Visited Patrick House to commend Community Cadets programme.
• Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS mental health trust partner supporting Compassion in Action's non-clinical mental health service model and collaborative pathways.
• Greater Manchester PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner supporting Community Cadets programme since 2013 pilot with Leigh East Neighbourhood Policing Team. Police officers participate in cadet activities and visits.
• Leigh Primary Care NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative programme initiated in 2023 to develop mental health pathways. General practice refers residents with mental health difficulties to Compassion in Action's non-clinical services.
• Leigh LeopardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community partner actively supporting Christmas Toy Appeal and other initiatives. Club owner Derek Beaumont has been described as 'community rock'. Players visit headquarters to deliver presents.
• Cherish UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCare provider delivering personalised care on site at Duva Mews apartments for adults with learning difficulties.
• Wigan Council Adult Social Care TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on volunteer gift-wrapping efforts and provides ongoing support for adult social care initiatives.
• Leigh Centurions RLFCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRugby league club partner supporting Easter Egg Appeals and Christmas projects. Partner since 2009 (13th year of Easter Appeal).
• SuperLeighcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization calling upon 'Leythers' to support charitable causes. Active supporter of Christmas Toy Appeal alongside Leigh Leopards.
• Spinning Gate Shopping CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNominated Compassion in Action for Charity of the Year award. Supports Community Cadets visits and community activities. Manager Karen Cox actively promotes charity initiatives.
• Jo Platt MPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMP for Leigh and patron of Compassion in Action. Championed the charity's mental health model in House of Commons, presenting it to Secretary of State Wes Streeting.
• Wigan Council Adult Social CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides support for care provision at Duva Mews alongside partner Cherish UK.
• Royal British LegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports veterans' brunch programme at Patrick House. Keith Stott represents the RBL at Compassion in Action events and Cadets activities.
• Greenmount ProjectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company providing volunteers for Christmas gift-wrapping efforts.
• PGL PipelinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued partner supporting the charity's work.
• AsdaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting charitable initiatives.
• HovisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner providing support to the charity.
• Nationwide Building SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Easter Egg Appeal 2022 with donations for Leigh community.
• Costa CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Easter Egg Appeal 2022 with donations for Leigh community.
• NatWestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Easter Egg Appeal 2022 with donations for Leigh community.
• Life CentrescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partners directing individuals and families in need of furniture or clothing support to Compassion in Action.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mind: England and Wales's largest mental health charity, providing advice, advocacy, community support and non-clinical services. Comparable in non-clinical mental health support, though Mind operates as a national federation rather than a localized multi-service provider.
• Barnardo's: UK's largest children's charity, running services including mental health support, disability support and youth programs. Comparable in youth-focused support and learning-disability services, though at national scale with statutory contracts.
• Crisis UK: National charity for people experiencing homelessness, offering housing, mental health support, education and employment services. Overlaps substantially with Compassion in Action's whole-person crisis-support model, though operating at national scale.
• Centrepoint: National UK charity providing accommodation, mental health support and skills training for homeless young people. Comparable in the combination of housing plus non-clinical mental health and skills services, but at significantly larger national scale.

Direct peers

• The Together Trust: North-West based charity providing residential care, supported living, mental health and learning disability services. Directly comparable in specialized accommodation for adults with learning difficulties and integrated therapeutic support.
• Mustard Tree: Manchester-based charity providing furniture, clothing, food, training and supported housing for people in crisis and poverty. Highly comparable multi-service community model in the same Greater Manchester region, with similar referral pathways from local authorities.
• Wood Street Mission: Manchester children's charity providing clothing, bedding, baby equipment, books and toys to families in need. Directly comparable in its furniture/clothing-distribution model and annual Christmas appeal serving vulnerable families.
• The Bread and Butter Thing: North-West based charity tackling food poverty through subsidized food clubs with wraparound support. Comparable in its community-led, referral-friendly model serving vulnerable families in the North of England.

Regional players

• The Beacon Centre (Wigan): Wigan-based charity providing food parcels, household goods and emergency support to families in crisis in the Wigan Borough. Directly comparable in mission and geography, with similar furniture/clothing/food distribution model.
• Salford Foundation (Purple Manaan): Greater Manchester-based charity supporting disadvantaged young people through mentoring, family support and community programs. Comparable in youth-cadet-style and community-development programming in the same region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Compassion_uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compassion-in-action

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Compassion In Action