Tackling burnout, sustaining energy, and reflecting on your role: new training session for NAVCA members

At NAVCA, we want to support members to manage their wellbeing at work. In this blog post, Maddy Desforges, CEO, reflects on the challenges faced by people working in local infrastructure organisations, and our upcoming session that aims to help members reflect and recharge in their roles.

‍

Working in the voluntary sector can be challenging. With pressures on funding, capacity and resources, amidst ongoing political change, we see the impact on staff and volunteer wellbeing every day. This can often be compounded by external tensions and challenges around community cohesion. Across the NAVCA network, infrastructure staff are stretched — supporting others to thrive by advising groups, brokering partnerships, and advocating for the sector, all while managing uncertainty and often carrying a significant emotional load.

‍

There can be a misconception that infrastructure organisations are somehow removed from the pressures facing the wider sector. In reality, most local infrastructure organisations are small charities themselves — over 60% of NAVCA members have an income under £1m — navigating the same challenges around financial sustainability, workforce capacity and rising demand. What makes their role distinctive is their reach: when infrastructure is under pressure, the ripple effects are felt across the whole local system, shaping the resilience and effectiveness of the VCSE sector over time.

‍

For people working in local infrastructure, the pressure is not just about workload, but the nature of the role. You are often holding or creating space for others’ challenges — listening to organisations in difficulty, supporting partners through complex decisions, and stepping in where systems feel fragmented. This can create a strong sense of responsibility and purpose, but also make it harder to step back, reflect or recharge.

‍

For some, there is a risk of quiet burnout: the gradual drain of energy and motivation that can come from ongoing pressure and challenges. It doesn’t always look dramatic — it can show up as reduced capacity, difficulty switching off, or a sense of just getting through the day. But it also sits alongside a deep commitment to the work and the communities you support.

‍

Despite these challenges, NAVCA members continue to make a huge difference in their local areas — strengthening organisations, connecting partners and enabling communities to take action on what matters to them.

‍

That’s why, this Small Charity Week, we’re hosting a session for NAVCA members focused on tackling burnout, recognising the unique role of infrastructure staff and exploring practical ways to pause, reflect and sustain yourself and your colleagues.

‍

This interactive, reflective session, facilitated by Kay Coombs from Peas in a Pod, offers space to recharge, reconnect with your purpose and build resilience. Blending practical tools with peer learning and reflection, it will support you to maintain energy and optimism in your role.

‍

The session will take place at 10am – 12:30pm on Tuesday 23rd June, with a limited number of early bird tickets now available. All NAVCA members are welcome to join us. Book your place via the NAVCA website here.