Putting Compassion
Into Practice.
Compassion is more than an emotion; it is an evidence-based approach that transforms how we lead, how we feel, and the systems in which we work.
Supporting Compassionate Leaders, Cultures & Systems
YCompassion supports people in the international development and social impact sector to integrate compassionate practices and create the environments needed for lasting, positive change.
Offering leadership training programmes and bespoke coaching services, YCompassion also curates and shares leading research with a growing community of practice.
Compassion In Action
In its simplest form, compassion is empathy plus action. It involves recognising another person's pain, expressing empathetic concern, connecting to the situation with perspective, and actively responding to support them.
However, compassion is more than just a feeling; it is a well-researched practice that is increasingly utilised in fields such as healthcare and education.
Compassionate practices can help us:
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Deliver feedback more effectively and develop nuanced conflict resolution skills.
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Identify our own values and apply them to daily decision-making processes.
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Recognise and remedy the signs of individual and collective burnout.
Why Compassion?
So why does compassion matter to the social impact and international development sector, and how can we use it to help ourselves, our organisations and the communities we serve?
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After surveying hundreds of specialists – from leaders to fieldworkers to project managers – a clear picture emerged:​
Motivation & Resilience
Research shows that aligning with our purpose reduces stress and nurtures resilience. Similarly, when our motivation wanes, and we approach burnout, practising self-compassion can protect our wellbeing.
Relationship Building
Our work is built on trust, with colleagues, partners, and communities. Compassion is essential for developing collaborative, productive relationships because people are more likely to engage when they feel cared for and understood.
Creative, Durable Impact
Compassionate approaches unlock creativity and foster shared learning – rather than traditional models of expertise transfer. When people feel secure enough to share ideas and take risks, we uncover more contextually relevant, culturally sensitive, and lasting solutions.
Our Services
YCompassion Programmes
We design and deliver experiential learning programmes for impact and development professionals who are interested in compassionate leadership practices.
YCompassion Coaching
We offer bespoke coaching to impact and development specialists who are interested in more tailored support.
YCompassion Community
We curate and share research with people who are interested in exploring compassionate practices and frameworks and want to connect with like-minded peers.
"Compassion is so much more than a feeling; it’s a practical, tangible approach that transforms the way we manage teams, partners, and projects. It deepens our personal resilience and revitalises outdated systems. Compassion shouldn’t just guide why we do what we do, but how we do it."
- Signe Jung Sørensen, YCompassion Founder
Our clients and learning partners include:
