Wellbeing hub set to support sector resilience

Funding from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation will help The Xfactor Collective Foundation’s digital hub provide immediate support and long-term advocacy around the wellbeing issues that have been compounded by the deep impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Building the Social Sector Wellbeing and Resilience Hub will start next month and resources will roll out from April next year.

The Hub’s goal is to become the go-to resource for building resilient social sector workplaces. It will contain information on organisational and individual mental health and leadership.

The Hub will curate, aggregate and develop content, provided by subject matter specialists and leading mental health organisations. Those working in the social sector will be able to access tailored resources, such as self-paced learning and trainings, webinars, consultations, and downloadable resources. The Hub will also provide the sector with data, tools, and case studies for increased advocacy

Sarah Davies AM, Chair of The Xfactor Collective Foundation, explained that in being so focused on the beneficiaries, the sector has lagged in responding to its own resilience and mental wellbeing, and this initiative set out to change that.

“It’s become increasingly expected that not-for-profit groups and social sector organisations do more with less – yet the demand on them is increasing, and more and more people are feeling the effects of burnout,’’ she said. “There is much we can do to improve mental health wellbeing, and in turn, improve social and community outcomes.

“Thanks to the support of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, we can start to do something about it. The Social Sector Wellbeing and Resilience Hub will be an important resource to ensure the sustainability of the social sector and will become a long-term resource for future challenges.’’ Sarah said.

Evidence for the Hub emerged during the RESET 2020 National Impact + Need Research Study, in which 80 per cent of respondents revealed that pre-pandemic ways of working were leading to widespread burnout. The research, undertaken early in the pandemic, found that 45 per cent of respondents were feeling stressed or anxious, always, or often. It is widely acknowledged within the sector that the situation has become more challenging since then.

Dr Catherine Brown OAM, CEO, Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, said the Hub was a project that had long been needed in the sector.

“The leaders and staff of charities and not-for-profit groups have carried heavy loads and we have been aware of the need for mental health support,’’ she said. “We hope that the Social Sector Wellbeing and Resilience Hub will be a lasting legacy that continues to support the charitable sector into the future, whatever challenges we face.”

To stay in touch with the Wellbeing Hub, please subscribe at the Foundation website here. 

The Xfactor Collective Foundation would also welcome interest from anyone else in the sector who would like to support the project. Inquiries can be directed to Julia Keady at [email protected].