123: Crisis control: Burnout in the charity sector

Three years after the beginning of a global pandemic, and now months into a cost-of-living crisis that shows little signs of slowing, the 2020s have been a tumultuous time for the charity sector. As we leap from crisis to crisis, charities face a rise in demand for their services, concerns over their ability to fundraise, and rising costs themselves in order to keep the lights on. For those working in the charity sector, meeting these challenges over a long period of time can lead to burnout. Recent research revealed that one in four charities are worried about staff burnout, amid problems with employee recruitment and retention. This, in turn, has an impact on services, as half of those organisations with vacancies have been forced to pause them. In this podcast, Charity Digital’s Josie Sparling (Content Assistant, she/her) is joined by colleagues Alice Roche (Chief Operating Officer, she/her), Chiara Simmons-Wood (Event Marketing Executive, she/her), and Laura Stanley (Content Writer, she/her), as they discuss how stress is affecting the charity sector and what charities can do to prevent it in the future. Resources How to help your staff avoid burnout A guide to mental health awareness