Richard Owens CEO Compassion Acts
Compassion Acts is a charity dedicated to the reduction and prevention of poverty, focusing on the well-being of the whole person. The organization recognizes that vulnerability extends beyond simple food insecurity to encompass loneliness and other complex life challenges. Compassion Acts is the successor to the Southport Food Bank, which began in 2013, modelled on the Trussell Trust.
The shift to Compassion Acts was driven by the realization that while providing emergency food is vital, a food parcel is often exhausted within days, leaving the underlying issues unresolved. The charity needed to do more than just hand out provisions; it needed to understand the root causes of crisis, implement earlier intervention, and conduct fundamental work to improve financial security and independence. This new direction led to the creation of Compassion Acts, superseding the former Southport Churches Debt Centre Limited, which had already been running essential services like debt counselling and Community Money Advice, often with significant Methodist involvement.
Compassion Acts offers services designed to create sustainable pathways out of poverty. A key development is the Food Pantry, which differs fundamentally from a crisis food bank. While Trussell provides the national model for food banks, the pantry operates as an independent, club-like atmosphere and a longer-term intervention. Members contribute a small fee and enjoy a dignity-preserving “shopping experience,” choosing their own items, including fresh, chilled, and frozen food.
To join the pantry, individuals apply for membership based on their disposable income after monthly expenses. This criterion encompasses more people than one might initially think, and every case is assessed on its own merits without publicizing specific income figures to avoid misunderstandings. In contrast, the food bank remains available for immediate crises—such as having no money to last until payday—when you can self-refer.
This approach—combining the pantry with services like benefits advice, warm spaces, and intergenerational family spaces—allows Compassion Acts to build genuine relationships. This relational approach helps them to analyse complex situations, provide temporary interventions, and ultimately give people the tools necessary to work their way out of poverty, preventing them from perpetually returning to crisis.
The organisation’s significant growth is exemplified by the journey of its manager, Richard, who joined Compassion Acts after a diverse career spanning the public, private, and voluntary sectors. His early career included PR and communications roles for major entities like Lancashire County Council, T Mobile, and Greater Manchester Police. He transitioned to the charity world by managing a lay mission sending organisation, which involved interviewing professionals (nurses, doctors, teachers) for skills-based Christian missions overseas. Later, he served as a fundraising officer for a large anti-trafficking charity and continues to consult for other non-profits to aid their development. Richard initially worked alongside other commitments, but as the charity expanded—with its turnover surging from£60,000 to over £500,000—he became full-time. Richard’s personal drive is rooted in his faith, developed at the university in Liverpool, where he was involved in the Catholic and Methodist chaplaincy. He describes himself as a keen ecumenist, advocating for the idealism that Christian traditions can journey together, focusing on their extensive common ground, which is typically rooted in the historic Nicene Creed.
Compassion Acts is committed to serving any client or service user in the Southport and Formby area. The charity recognises that poverty in this locale is often private and hidden, driven by pride. To reach those in need, the organisation works hard through communication and partnerships, especially with churches, to stress that their services are for everyone, as difficult times can affect anyone. They simplify the process by encouraging self-referral via their website or a phone call.
The success and growth of the charity required a permanent base. While services are largely operated from existing church premises (and one school), the organization stayed operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which boosted community confidence. After a period of temporary locations, Compassion Acts secured a lease for the Victoria Methodist Church on Sussex Road through a partnership with the Methodist circuit. While this change was bitter-sweet for the remaining congregation, they have been immensely supportive of the charity’s mission in the space.
The organization recently navigated a year of financial adjustment (2025) following the conclusion of a three-year funding arrangement with the national Trussell funder. They implemented efficiency savings and a small restructure to remain cautious, ensuring that core services were completely unaffected. The successful delivery of these services relies heavily on their volunteers, supported by a small staff team. Compassion Acts is now actively focusing on new fundraising initiatives and strengthening partnerships, including with the Methodist circuit, to secure its financial future and continue growing its preventative work.
Interviewed by Martin Maynard
Interim Admin Support
NB. Ainsdale Methodist Church hosts a food bank which is a ‘Churches Together in Ainsdale’ partnership with Compassion Acts and Liverpool Road Methodist Church hosts a Food Pantry. This year The circuit approved a £15,000 grant to Compassion Acts.