About the organisation
About HOPE Charity Project
HOPE Charity Project exists to provide early intervention and prevention support for young people and families, offering a safe, compassionate space to be heard, guided, and strengthened before difficulties reach crisis point.
Based in Findon, West Sussex, HOPE was created in response to the growing number of families struggling to access timely emotional wellbeing support. Long waiting lists, stretched schools, and high thresholds for statutory services can mean that help comes too late, or not at all. HOPE fills that gap by offering accessible, community based support at the point it is most needed.
Our work focuses on young people aged 10–21 and their families. We provide a range of in-person services from our Family Support Hub at Wild Heart Hill, including walk-in support sessions, 1:1 emotional wellbeing support, creative group sessions for young people, and support groups for parents and carers. Alongside this, we deliver outreach sessions and talks in schools, community settings, and businesses, focused on emotional wellbeing, prevention, and resilience.
What makes HOPE different is our early, relational approach. We do not rely on long referral pathways or rigid thresholds. Families can access support quickly, often within days, and are met with listening, consistency, and practical guidance. Our services are informal in feel, but well governed, rooted in lived experience, and shaped by what families tell us they need most.
In 2025, HOPE relaunched following the establishment of a new permanent home, allowing us to expand services in response to growing demand. We are currently delivering a nine-month pilot programme, Seed of HOPE, supporting a small cohort of young people through structured emotional wellbeing sessions, creative work, and family support. This pilot is being delivered in collaboration with local partners, including the Police & Crime Commissioner’s office and Worthing Council, and is supported by clear safeguarding, monitoring, and evaluation processes.
HOPE is led by an experienced leadership team with strong local roots and a clear commitment to good governance. We are at an important stage of development, moving from early growth into a more sustainable, strategic phase. Funding currently comes from a mix of grants, partnerships, and community support, and demand for our services continues to increase.
About the role
Finance Trustee / Treasurer – Role Overview
HOPE Charity Project is seeking a Finance Trustee to join our Board and provide ongoing, open-ended governance support during an important period of growth and consolidation.
This is a combined Finance Trustee and Treasurer role, involving both strategic oversight and hands-on financial input, particularly during the early growth phase. We are looking for someone who is comfortable being involved in the practical day-to-day aspects of charity finance, while also helping the Board think ahead, plan for sustainability, and feel confident in financial decision-making. This role will suit someone who is happy to roll up their sleeves as needed, while also holding the bigger picture in mind.
Key responsibilities
The Finance Trustee will play a lead role in both operational and strategic financial management, including:
Acting as Treasurer and supporting the Board’s responsibility for financial governance
Managing or overseeing day-to-day financial processes, including bookkeeping, reconciliations, and maintaining accurate records
Supporting budgeting, cashflow monitoring, and financial forecasting
Ensuring appropriate financial controls are in place and followed
Preparing or overseeing financial reports for quarterly Board meetings, plus any simple monthly updates needed
Supporting grant monitoring, restricted funds tracking, and funder reporting where financial information is required
Providing advice and guidance to trustees and senior staff on financial matters as they arise
Helping shape and improve financial systems and processes that will support future growth and sustainability
As the charity develops, there may be scope to move some operational tasks to external support, with the Finance Trustee retaining strategic oversight and assurance.
Time commitment and meetings
Board meetings: Quarterly, held in the evening
Finance involvement: Ongoing, including a monthly check in (call or email) and practical input as needed
Additional support: Occasional ad hoc guidance between meetings
Time commitment will vary slightly month to month, particularly around reporting, funding returns, or year end.
Our ideal candidate
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone who brings calm financial reassurance and a steady, collaborative approach. You will be confident handling both day-to-day charity finances and longer-term planning, and able to help build and embed practical systems that support sustainable growth.
Experience in finance, accounting, charity finance, or a Treasurer or Finance Trustee role is ideal, but we are open to applicants from a range of professional backgrounds who can bring the right level of skill, judgment, and reliability.
What’s in it for you
As Finance Trustee / Treasurer at HOPE Charity Project, you will have a direct and meaningful role in shaping a growing local charity at a pivotal stage in its development. Your financial skills will help ensure that early intervention support reaches young people and families at the point it is most needed, before difficulties escalate and opportunities are lost.
HOPE works with young people aged 10–21 and their families across West Sussex, providing accessible, community-based emotional wellbeing support. By helping to strengthen financial systems, plan for sustainability, and guide responsible growth, you will be enabling services that support real people in real time. Your contribution will help ensure that limited resources are used well, funding is stewarded responsibly, and the organisation remains stable, trusted, and available to those who need it most.
This role offers the opportunity to see the tangible impact of good financial governance. As a small but growing charity, decisions made at Board level have a clear and visible effect, from maintaining safe weekly support sessions, to enabling pilot programmes such as Seed of HOPE, which is currently supporting a small cohort of young people and families over a nine-month period. Your input will directly support the delivery and sustainability of this work.
You will also gain insight into the wider charity landscape, including grant-funded projects, restricted funding, partnership working with local authorities and community organisations, and the practical realities of running early intervention services. This can be particularly rewarding for finance professionals who want to apply their skills in a purposeful, people-focused environment.
As a Trustee, you will work alongside an experienced and committed Board and leadership team, with opportunities to build relationships with professionals from a range of backgrounds including safeguarding, education, public sector partners, and community organisations. There is scope to be involved in wider conversations about growth, strategy, and long-term impact, beyond purely financial matters.
While the role is voluntary, it offers meaningful professional development. You may deepen your experience in charity finance, governance, and Treasurer responsibilities, or broaden your understanding of early intervention work and community-based services. For those considering future non-executive, advisory, or portfolio roles, this experience provides strong, practical exposure.
Most importantly, this role offers the satisfaction of knowing that your time and expertise are helping to change the path for young people and families locally. You will be part of an organisation that values honesty, compassion, and good governance, and where your contribution will be recognised, relied upon, and genuinely valued.
Apply for the role
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