Changemaker Engagement Programmes

We’re burning out

Following a number of years dedicated to the public sector, we experienced disillusion and burnout; Benedicta quit without a job lined up and Dionne left knowing that she has a family of four to feed. But we both knew that something had to change in the system and that we needed to take care of ourselves… 

The data backs this up: 85% of small non-profit leaders said their experience has negatively impacted their mental health (Breaking Point 2025),  75% of charity sector workers (Third Sector 2024 article) have experienced or witnessed burnout. And we’ve felt this personally in our work over the years with changemakers who tell us this firsthand. This is the story of so many ‘in the system’, people trying to do good work, but with little to no support to do the work well or to look after our wellbeing. People in the public and third sectors are underpaid and underappreciated. 

We need a thriving, healthy sector of caring professionals to build the world we deserve.

What do people actually want?

When we asked changemakers what would make a difference, their answers were simple yet profound:

To belong. To be cared for. To slow down.

Not another workshop on productivity. Not more tools to do more with less. But connection, restoration, and permission to be human while doing this essential work.


Our Approach: Community as Infrastructure

We're building a movement where changemakers, who we recognise as public and third-sector workers, social entrepreneurs, and those ready to disrupt the status quo, remember they're not alone in the pursuit of justice.

We create gatherings that prioritise what the sector has long deemed "luxuries" but are actually necessities:

  • Peace in nature; grounding ourselves with the more than human world

  • Joy through creativity; reconnecting with what makes us whole

  • Time to simply be; releasing the pressure to constantly produce

These aren't indulgences. They're the foundation for sustainable change work. Through retreats and community dinners, we're proving that restoration isn't separate from revolution, it's essential to it.


The impact we’re creating and how you can get involved

“We are truly grateful to Golden Sankofa for the energy, care, and intention you brought to the retreat. Your presence helped create a space where our community could feel seen, heard, and uplifted. It was inspiring to witness the exchange of wisdom across generations, and your ability to hold that space with such sensitivity made all the difference.” - Founder and Director of Coffee Afrik CIC

Our gatherings are where changemakers:

  • Find the community they've been searching for

  • Dream together about what's possible

  • Learn from each other's wisdom and struggles

  • Return to their work with renewed energy and clarity

We're not just preventing burnout, we're modelling a new paradigm where caring for changemakers is recognised as caring for change itself.

Join Us

We welcome partners and guests who align with our Gentle Justice Manifesto, those who understand that sustainable change requires sustainable changemakers.

Opportunities to engage:

  • Attend or co-facilitate a community gathering

  • Commission a retreat for your team or network

  • Sponsor gatherings to make them accessible to those who need them most

Contact our Creative Practice Director, Benedicta on benedicta@goldensankofa.com to explore partnership.