Our Work
‘Meeting the needs of people in crisis and giving hope to the most vulnerable in our society’
Our whole person care approach is delivered across four key pillars – Practical, Physical, Social and Mental – as follows:
Practical
Compassion in Action has, since its inception in 2006, found community solutions to community challenges. From our distribution centre in Atherton, furniture and clothing are provided free of charge to individuals and families in need who have been officially referred to the charity by our partner agencies.
Low-cost household items, bric-a-brac, clothing and small items of furniture are available for a small donation from our community outlet in Lowton – offering families who are struggling financially an alternative to traditional charity shops. A Book Swap service and Heat Retreat are also located on site.
The community café (which also serves as a Heat Retreat), function room, board room and office suite at Patrick House are all available for private hire throughout the year. Guests can be fully catered for on site when booking our outstanding purpose-built accommodation for events, meetings and training. Frequent visitors include our valued veterans, who we are proud to serve as holders of a Bronze Certificate presented by The Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme.
Physical
Compassion in Action has a proud tradition of offering catering and administration apprenticeships to local people – helping them to gain official accreditations and learn skills for life. In many cases, this has led to offers of employment at our headquarters, Patrick House, which is rated ‘Excellent’ under Environmental Health’s Food Hygiene Scheme.
As a charity, we are proud to advocate for the rights of adults with learning disabilities; individuals and families in crisis or need; and other marginalised community members who may experience inequalities of health, income or opportunity. Alongside Wigan Council and our valued partners, we look for innovative ways to help people progress from being in need and total dependency, as well as to break generational cycles of poverty.
Social
Adults with learning disabilities are empowered to live with more choice and independence in purpose-built accommodation comprising our Community Village of Inclusion – located on the doorstep of Leigh town centre. Personalised care is delivered on site by our partners Cherish UK, with support from Wigan Council Adult Social Care.
We are proud to create opportunities for people who are experiencing social isolation to form friendships, as well as to forge community bonds through volunteering.
Mental
Our whole person care approach moves away from the traditional ‘clinical’ model.
Prevention & Intervention
Our service is designed to deliver flexible, easy access for individuals to engage.
There are no discharges. Our service is an open ended service that clients can engage with when needed for intervention and support. Reducing risk of mental health decline and crisis. Also reducing presentations to GP’s, A&E and wider health services.
We offer access to one to one appointments which are tailored to individual need, small therapeutic workshops and further support is also available to access:
Job Opportunities
Volunteer Roles
Skills Training
Apprenticeships
Social Groups & Activities
Empowerment and stability heads to positive change and improvement in peoples lives and wellbeing.
Leigh Primary Care Network
‘In 2023, general practice within Leigh Primary Care Network (PCN) initiated collaborative programme with Compassion in Action to develop a new pathway supporting residents with mental health difficulties. The programme is grounded in whole-person, preventative care delivered in a non-clinical community setting. It uses strengths-based approach that focuses on individuals’ capabilities and addresses the wider social determinants of mental health, rather than solely presenting symptoms.
The service has made a tangible difference to peoples’ lives and enabled more effective use of scarce NHS resources. It has also helped residents to remain independent and resilient in their community, offering support that complements rather than duplicates clinical care.
The work has been recognised, with Leigh PCN receiving the Clinical Improvement Award: Mental Health at the General Practice Awards in London on 5 December 2025.’
Dr Gen Wong
Clinical Director
Leigh Primary Care Network
What our clients say…
“I was given a task to create my own crisis plan and felt like this really put me in control – something I feel has been missing for a long time. I got to decide what I think would help, and things I felt were important with managing my mental health. This is something I still work on to this day and I feel this plan was my turning point. It really made me sit with myself and think about my life, my emotions and feelings, and my future.”
“I spent several sessions at Oasis House updating my CV, and creating profiles on job sites. I don’t have a laptop or computer at home, so was given my own space twice a week and could go in and use the laptop to job search and apply. I am now back in work! My support team helped me to research interview skills and we even did interview practice runs alongside my sessions, which I found so helpful. I am currently part time, but have been offered full time if I pass my probation.”
