Working Well Without Burning Out

Training details

You tell yourself you'll switch off after the next task. Then the next one. You check your emails after hours because there may be something urgent.

A BBC Oxford article (July 2025), reporting on a roundtable discussion that included OCVA, found that staff in the third sector are facing burnout caused by a 'triple crisis' of rising demand for services, a challenging funding environment, and increasing costs. 

On your to-do list right now there’s probably one thing that’s quietly costing you the most - a regular meeting you dread attending, a commitment you said yes to before you'd had a chance to think it through, a habit of checking in when you should be switching off. 

Our time, energy and attention are among our most valuable assets, and learning to say no to that one thing is one of the most practical ways to protect more of them. 

But saying no can be hard, especially in purpose-driven work, where we tend to overcommit ourselves and where our emotional investment, sense of responsibility and identity are all bound up in how we work. 

Boundaries are often the first thing to slip, if they're there at all.

As a result, your energy starts to drain away quietly. You say to yourself that you’ll rest later. You’ll say no next time. In the meantime, your boundaries keep shifting.

That's not a sign you're not coping well enough. It's often a sign the boundaries you need are missing, unclear, or no longer working for you. 

And when your energy levels stay depleted for too long, burnout becomes far more likely. 

Setting boundaries is one practical way to manage your energy, so it can be protected, supported, and renewed, rather than quietly draining away. 

Who should attend?

This session is for you if you’re a:
•    Social purpose founder
•    Mission-led professional
•    Changemaker

Whether you're feeling close to burnout, stretched too thin, or simply ready to start protecting your energy more intentionally, this session will help you start to build a more sustainable approach to work

What will I learn?

By the end of the session, you will:

•    Understand why energy depletion is one of the symptoms of burnout, and why boundaries are an important and practical tool for addressing it
•    Become familiar with different types of boundaries, and the common beliefs and behaviours that often make them  hard to set and maintain
•    Know how to design a boundary that directly tackles a real energy drain you're currently experiencing
•    Feel less alone in navigating these challenges, having connected with others who share the same experience

Trainer

Louisa Daubney is a trained Life Coach and certified Burnout Coach who works with purpose-driven individuals who feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or stretched too thin from constantly putting work and others first.

After 18 years as a fundraiser at Mencap and Oxfam, and as a trustee for a local refugee charity, Louisa understands firsthand the emotional weight of mission-led work - and what it takes to sustain it.

Through her 1:1 coaching and group coaching workshops, she helps people uncover what's driving their overwork, build healthier boundaries, and create a more sustainable way of working, so they can keep making a difference without burning out.

Cost:

£40 per person for OCVA Members
£55 per person from a charitable organisation who are not OCVA members
£70 per person from a non-charitable organisation

Time:
9.30 am – 1 pm. There will be a short break halfway through the session. 

Course venue:
In-Person

Click on 'Book Now' at the bottom of this page to book your place. If the event is fully booked, please register to add your name to the waiting list. 

Please note, if you are booking on behalf of another/others, you must have their names and email addresses ready. If they do not have an email address, please contact us by emailing training@ocva.org.uk.