Head of community services jobs

Head of Finance and Business Support
Are you an experienced finance leader looking for an opportunity to make a real impact? YMCA St Helens is seeking a strategic and values-driven Head of Finance and Business Support to join our Senior Leadership Team.

This pivotal role will provide leadership across finance, administration, HR, IT, governance, compliance and risk management, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of our organisation. Working closely with the CEO, Board and senior colleagues, you will lead financial planning, oversee corporate support services and act as the organisation's Data Protection Officer (DPO).

We're looking for someone with:

• Significant senior leadership experience in finance and corporate services.
• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or substantial equivalent experience.
• Proven experience of strategic financial planning and management.
• Strong knowledge of governance, compliance, risk management and data protection.
• Experience leading and developing teams.
• Excellent communication, analytical and influencing skills.

Why join YMCA St Helens?
This is an opportunity to play a key leadership role within a respected and ambitious charity that supports people and communities across St Helens. You'll help shape organisational strategy, drive continuous improvement and contribute to delivering lasting social impact.

Closing date: 19-09-2026

Location: Hybrid working - Part London office-based (E14) and part home working. The post holder will work a minimum of one day a week in the office. 

Salary: £58,300 per annum 

Hours:35 hours per week 

Interview date: as we are receiving applications and will be over video on Teams in the first instance

This is a permanent role. 

Who we are looking for 

Breakthrough T1D is the UK’s leading type 1 diabetes charity, dedicated to funding research, advocating for change, and supporting the T1D community. We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Head of Finance to help us ensure the finance function is fit for purpose so that we can deliver our ambitious 10-year strategy.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & IT, this is a hands-on leadership role with responsibility for the day–to–day management of the finance function, responsible for monthly financial reporting including quarterly reforecasts and co ordinating the annual budget as well as partnering with senior stakeholders across the organisation.You will also lead on the annual accounts and external audit. 

Managing a team of 3 (2.2 FTE), you will ensure the organisation continues to deliver robust financial control, insightful charity reporting and effective support to operational teams.  

Experience required 

You’ll be/have: 

• CCAB qualified financial professional (or finalist) 
• Experience working for a charity in a senior finance role with fundraised income of £1m or more 
• Strong business partnering skills and experience working closely with senior operational leaders. 
• Strong financial reporting, controls and systems confidence 
• Ability to work both strategically and hands–on 
• Familiar with the charity SORP 
• Strong people management and leadership skills with the ability to develop and motivate teams 
• Excellent accounting, analytical, and communication skills allied with a pragmatic and solution focused approach. 

About Breakthrough T1D 

Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia. 

You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1. 

Employee benefits 

As an employer we offer: 

• Hybrid working arrangements 
• Flexible working and will consider compressed hours 
• Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service 
• Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment 
• Season ticket and cycle loan 
• Pension scheme 
• Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates 
• Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development 

Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. 

Location: Amersham Hospital, Buckinghamshire, with a minimum of 50% on-site working and flexibility to work remotely.
Salary: Circa £60,000 FTE per annum
Contract: Permanent, Part-Time, 3-4 days per week

Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity is looking for an experienced and collaborative finance leader to become its new Head of Finance and Operations, helping shape the financial and organisational foundations of a newly merged charity.

Formed in April 2026 through the merger of Scannappeal and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Charitable Fund, Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity brings together two established organisations with a shared commitment to improving healthcare across Buckinghamshire. This is an exciting opportunity to join at a formative point in its development, with strong foundations already in place and significant scope to shape what comes next.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and working as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic financial leadership across the charity, supporting the Chief Executive, Trustees and senior colleagues with clear insight, advice and constructive challenge. You will lead financial strategy, planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting, alongside oversight of governance, risk, investments and organisational systems.

You will also play an important role in supporting and developing the existing finance team. Working closely with the Finance Manager, you will build strong relationships, provide direction and support, and create the right balance between senior accountability and genuine ownership within the team. You will work collaboratively across the charity, as well as with Trustees, auditors, investment managers and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with significant senior-level experience across strategic financial management, reporting, governance and risk. You will combine strong technical expertise with sound judgement, excellent communication skills and a collaborative leadership style. Experience of joining or inheriting an established team and developing people to take ownership of their work will be particularly important.

This is an opportunity to play a central role in building the financial and organisational strength of a new independent charity, helping Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity turn its ambitions into greater impact for patients, NHS staff and communities across Buckinghamshire.

Please download the Candidate Information Pack [PDF] for further information.

Closing Date: Tuesday, 15th September

Hours: 30–35 hours per week
Location: Home-based*
Reporting to: CEO

*This is a home-based role. However, the successful candidate will need to be based within reasonable travelling distance of London and our programme activity, with the ability to travel to meetings and visits within a day where required. We therefore anticipate that applicants based in Scotland, Ireland, West Wales or the far South West may find the role impractical.

This position is being re-advertised; previous candidates need not apply.

Be part of a mission that's transforming children's futures through food, farming and the countryside

For more than 45 years, The Country Trust has been connecting children from the UK's most disadvantaged communities with the land that sustains us all. Through inspiring farm visits, food education and countryside experiences, we've already reached more than 600,000 children, and we're just getting started.

We're entering an exciting new chapter as we develop our next organisational strategy, and we're looking for an experienced fundraising leader to help shape our future.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious and strategic fundraiser to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the next phase of our income growth, enabling even more children to benefit from our life-changing programmes.

About the role

As Head of Fundraising, you'll provide strategic leadership across all fundraising activity while remaining hands-on in securing major income and developing key relationships.

You'll lead a dedicated fundraising team, drive innovation, strengthen fundraising systems and processes, and develop a sustainable fundraising strategy that diversifies income across:

• Trusts and foundations
• Corporate partnerships
• Major donors
• Individual giving
• Legacies
• Gaming and Streaming for Good
• Emerging fundraising opportunities

Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, Digital and IT colleagues, you'll help embed new fundraising systems, champion data-driven decision making and ensure fundraising excellence across the organisation.

About you

We're looking for an inspiring fundraising leader who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery.

You'll bring:

• Significant senior-level fundraising leadership experience
• A proven track record of securing substantial income across multiple fundraising streams
• Experience developing and delivering fundraising strategies that drive sustainable growth
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing high-performing teams
• Excellent relationship-building, communication and influencing skills
• Financial and commercial awareness, including budgeting and forecasting
• Knowledge of fundraising regulation, GDPR and fundraising best practice
• A passion for improving opportunities for disadvantaged children

Experience developing new income streams, digital fundraising and CRM systems would be particularly valuable.

Why join us?

At The Country Trust, you'll be joining an ambitious charity where collaboration, learning and innovation are at the heart of everything we do.

We offer:

• Flexible working
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (FTE)
• Workplace pension
• Homeworking allowance
• Mileage and agreed travel expenses
• A supportive, values-led culture
• The opportunity to shape our future strategy and make a lasting difference to children's lives

We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Key dates
Closing date: 11:59pm, Sunday 13th September
Interviews from: Monday 21st September
 

The Country Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

About Reprieve

Reprieve is a leading international human rights organisation working to end the death penalty and abuses committed under the banner of national security. Founded in 1999, our mission remains critically relevant as governments worldwide increasingly adopt authoritarian tactics, expanding executive power at the expense of civil liberties.

You can best judge a society by how it treats prisoners, criminal defendants, and the far-flung targets of an ever-changing counter-terror policy. To us, the rule of law means little if we selectively apply it to people we agree with. It is for all of us. Liberty is always eroded at the margins.

Reprieve’s staff is made up of courageous and committed human rights defenders. We provide vital legal and investigative support to those facing execution and victims of rendition, torture, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killing, and citizenship stripping. Our work spans multiple jurisdictions, challenging states' most egregious human rights violations through strategic litigation, investigations, and advocacy.

We support cases in courts worldwide while building the legal and political momentum necessary to consign these practices to history.

Based in London with Fellows and partners globally, Reprieve operates at the intersection of law, policy, and human rights, working alongside governments, senior legal practitioners, and civil society to advance systemic change.

We collaborate closely with our independent partner organization Reprieve US.

About the Role

The Head of Operations will oversee the day-to-day running of the global operations of Reprieve UK, Reprieve US, and our work around the globe. They will have broad responsibility for HR operations, office and facilities management, IT and systems, compliance, data protection, security risk management and operational support across Reprieve’s international operations

This role is critical to supporting a high performing group of staff, fellows, consultants, and partner organisations working together to provide the highest possible standard of service to Reprieve clients, their families and communities. The successful postholder will be committed to Reprieve’s mission of ending the use of the death penalty and extreme human rights abuses carried out in the name of “national security”, as well as to building and maintaining happy and healthy teams.

The successful postholder will support the Senior Management Team (who hold delegated responsibility) to ensure the smooth running of the organisation, including maintaining compliance with key statutory and regulatory requirements at all times. The Head of Operations will have a central role in ensuring that good practice, wellbeing, and compliance work hand in hand with one another, and is embedded within the ethos of the organisation for the benefit of our clients and Reprieve’s mission.

The Head of Operations will supervise the work of the Operations Team and will report to a member of the Senior Management Team.

Terms

This is a full-time position on a permanent contract. The annual salary is £61,003 full-time per annum, less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance. 

This role is based in Reprieve’s London office. Reprieve operates a hybrid working model and we require staff to work 40% per week from the London office and the rest of the week from home. You will also be available outside of office hours in the event of an emergency and when required as part of the security risk management framework (for example to monitor extreme risk trips). Applicants must have current right to work in the UK, which will be checked prior to interview.

Reprieve is proud to have an open and transparent pay structure, governed by a 3:1 pay ratio between the highest-paid member of staff and the lowest-paid member of staff. We are a flexible employer and offer a range of non-financial benefits to employees. We welcome applications from a range of backgrounds

How to Apply

Please download the application form and job description from our website. Completed application forms should then be uploaded via the form on our website by the deadline of 23:59 BST on 20 September 2026.

Please note that cover letters, CVs and other documents cannot be considered for this role and should not be submitted.

Job Title: Recovery in Community Peer Support Worker
Accountable to: Head of Community
Reporting to: Recovery in Community Team Coordinator
Location: Hybrid including Inpatient psychiatric settings across Greater Manchester, community settings, home or office working (central Manchester), occasional travel outside of Greater Manchester
Salary: £14,945.40 pro rata (FTE £24,909)
Hours: 21 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

Role Context

Recovery in Community is a collaborative initiative delivered in partnership between Gaddum and Manchester Mind. The service supports people to leave inpatient mental health settings and return to their community with the support they need to recover and remain well.

As a team, we deliver psycho-social interventions, advocacy, housing and welfare rights advice, peer support to adults as well as tailored support to young people (those under the age of 25).All we do is underpinned by listening and ensuring people feel heard – because we know that when people are listened to, they recover. The team works with colleagues within the mental health, primary care, inpatient and community sectors.

 

Role Purpose

As a Peer Support Worker, you will have lived or living experience of receiving mental health care or treatment in hospital. Using your expertise gained through this experience, you will support peers in their mental health recovery who are ready to leave hospital or are already in the community. Receiving support from your colleagues, you’ll develop and manage your casework practice and hold a small case load. 

You will walk alongside people to set achievable goals to ensure they get the support that they need, ultimately feeling connected to their communities – the right services and support network.

This role will work with a small but intensive caseload (max 12 cases for a full-time peer support worker) to focus on: 

• Repatriate: when people are sent to an out of area placement (OAPs) advocate to get them back to Greater Manchester so they can recover in their community. 

• Discharge: Supporting people when they’re ready to be discharged from inpatient mental health services to get back to the community and recover. 

• Prevent re-admissions: Work with people, post-discharge, to ensure they continue to get the support they need to make informed choices, stay well and ultimately thrive.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

• To provide bespoke support to people that are ready to be discharged from inpatient psychiatric care to return to the community, building (with support) packages of care so they have a positive and sustained recovery. 

• To work alongside people post-discharge, in their community setting (e.g. home or supported accommodation) to ensure they get what they need to stay well. 

• To effectively manage a small caseload (about 7 people), being flexible to people’s needs and short-term changes in schedule. 

• To work in a person-centred, trauma informed, empowering and culturally appropriate way that enables people to feel listened to and heard.

• To help people engage with services and make sustainable links with their communities. 

• To use and develop your knowledge of community care, policies, legislation and services to get people the support they need to recover and stay well. 

• Identify when cases need escalation or onward referral and keep your line manager aware of case developments. 

• Independently visit people in inpatient and community settings in Manchester and across Greater Manchester, adhering to lone working and risk management procedures. 

• Occasionally visit people out of the Greater Manchester area who need to return to their community in Manchester (all travel expenses will be paid and non-commute travel time will be part of your working day). 

• Build relationships with colleagues within services (e.g. inpatient staff, social care, CMHTs etc) to enable improved collaborative working 

• Take part in multi-disciplinary meetings, representing the views of people, and their aspirations on returning to community settings. 

• Support the ongoing service development, drawing on your role as an ‘Expert by Experience’ and using what you hear from the people you support to contribute to the development of the services by reviewing and contributing to improvements. 

All staff are expected to work within all Gaddum policies and procedures. This role is subject to a enhanced DBS check.

We’re looking for an experienced fundraising leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and take the next step into a broad senior leadership role.

As Head of Income Generation and Communications, you will lead Cosmic’s fundraising, marketing and communications function, with responsibility for sustainable income growth, team leadership and strengthening our profile. You will oversee a varied portfolio spanning community and challenge fundraising, corporate partnerships, major donors, events, volunteering and supporter stewardship, while also setting the direction for our communications, brand and digital activity.

This is a role with real scope to shape our future. You will work closely with the CEO and Trustees, lead a small team and external communications support, and develop a three-to-five-year strategy that turns ambition into clear plans, targets and results.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in fundraising and income generation, experience of managing people and performance, and the confidence to oversee communications and volunteering strategically. You do not need to be a communications specialist, but you should understand how strong storytelling, supporter engagement and volunteer involvement can help drive income and impact.

Salary: £45,000–£50,000 | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid, primarily based near St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington

About the role

As Head of Research and Evaluation, you will be responsible for the development and delivery of our research and evaluation strategies. This work will help us to understand and provide insight into the challenges and difficulties faced by families with disabled children, the quality of services we provide and the difference our support makes for the families we serve.

You will ensure that the voice of families is at the centre of our research and evaluation approach to help shape existing and new programmes and services, and our policy and public affairs work.

If you join us, you’ll be:

• Leading the continued development and implementation of Family Fund’s research and evaluation strategies.
• Developing and overseeing our evaluation and service quality frameworks, including our Theory of Change outcomes measurement framework.
• Championing the ‘voice of families’, embedding their lived experience at the heart of our research.
• Managing and delivering high-quality research and evaluation projects/initiatives.
• Producing accessible, engaging, and impactful research outputs for a variety of audiences.
• Promoting the use of innovative and participatory research methodologies.
• Presenting and disseminating research findings internally and externally, including at events, conferences, and through publications.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders and representing Family Fund in strategic research partnerships, networks, and advisory forums.
• Commissioning external research and evaluation where appropriate, ensuring quality, value for money.
• Maintaining oversight of the team’s input to government/ funder reporting, ensuring timely and accurate submissions aligned to contractual and organisational requirements.
• Providing visible, hands-on leadership and line management to the Research and Evaluation Team.

About you

For this role you will need to have experience in developing and managing research and evaluation strategies, frameworks, activities and production of subsequent products. You will also need to have experience of working in partnership with other organisations, and of resource and budget management.

To be successful in this role, you will need excellent analytical skills as well as sound knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methodology and best practice through the research cycle. You will need to have good writing skills and an ability to communicate effectively with different audiences. You will also need to have the ability to interpret and present research in an accessible and engaging way.

You will be a self and team motivator with excellent communication skills, and the ability to develop and sustain positive relationships with a range of stakeholders. You will be pro-active and driven to succeed.  

About us

Family Fund is a great place to work for great people. We provide a challenging and rewarding working environment where every staff member can make their mark.

We are a values based organisation and we aim to show our values in all that we do. Read our staff stories here, and see how our staff display our values every day.

We commit to inclusion, equity and diversity and we welcome applications from all parts of the community. Family Fund is a Disability Confident Leader. We will invite to interview all disabled applicants who meet the requirements for the role. If you have a disability, and are happy to let us know, please highlight this in your covering letter. We have also signed the Armed Forces Covenant and we welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community.

How to apply

Please read and download the job description. 

When you’re ready to apply, complete the online application and submit a CV and a covering letter.  Your letter will need to explain what skills and qualities you would bring to the team. 

Please note that the successful candidate will be required to complete pre-employment checks that meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard.  This includes a right-to-work check, a basic check for unspent criminal convictions, and an employment history verification for the last three years.

The Services and Programmes Coordinator is a new fixed-term role, October 2026 to April 2027, created to support Theatres Trust through a period of organisational transition.

The Coordinator will play a central role in coordinating our grants, planning and advice services, ensuring enquiries, statutory consultations and other outward-facing work are managed efficiently and progress through our systems in a timely and accurate manner.

This is a practical, organised role for someone who enjoys bringing order to busy workflows, using systems effectively, and making sure colleagues and our users receive responsive, high-quality administrative support.

Head of Finance (12-Month FTC)

A well-established Housing Charity is seeking a Head of Finance on an initial 12-month fixed-term contract. Reporting directly to the Finance Director, this role offers a unique opportunity to operate as the number two in finance, playing a key role in both strategic leadership and operational delivery while supporting a period of transformation across the finance function and wider organisation.

The organisation is recognised for its commitment to delivering high-quality services and creating positive outcomes for the communities it supports.

This role is ideally suited to an experienced finance professional looking to step into a high-impact leadership position, driving improvements across people, processes and financial insight.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the finance function, providing stability and strong leadership during a period of organisational change.
• Drive the Finance Business Partnering function, improving budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and financial planning.
• Take ownership of the year-end audit, statutory accounts, month-end reporting, and strengthen financial controls and reconciliations.
• Lead finance transformation by improving processes, reducing manual ways of working and preparing the function for a future finance systems implementation.
• Produce high-quality management reporting and dashboards to support decision-making across the organisation.

 

Requirements

• Fully qualified accountant with experience in social housing, charity, or care and support.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to manage, motivate and develop finance teams.
• Experience operating at both a strategic and operational level, with a strong focus on business partnering.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent analytical, systems and communication skills.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a lasting impact within the finance function while supporting a wider organisational transformation. There is a genuine opportunity for the role to become permanent, making it an ideal position for someone seeking both an immediate challenge and long-term stability.

The organisation is looking to appoint quickly, so candidates available at short notice / immediately available are encouraged to apply.

About us

Community rail is a unique and growing grassroots movement made up of community rail partnerships, station volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives across Britain.

Together, these organisations and volunteers deliver a wide range of initiatives, from engaging young people and building confidence in rail travel, to improving accessibility, enhancing stations, supporting biodiversity projects and creating community spaces that bring people together.

Community Rail Network is the national membership and umbrella body for the community rail movement across England, Scotland and Wales. We empower, support and champion community-led partnerships and groups, helping them create social, environmental and economic value through their work.

Our team of 22 colleagues is based across Britain, working mainly from home while coming together regularly online and in person. We are a collaborative, values-led organisation, passionate about making a difference through community rail.

We believe in nurturing talent, supporting professional development and creating an environment where everyone can reach their potential while maintaining a healthy work–life balance.

About this role and your main responsibilities

We are looking for a compassionate, collaborative and creative leader to head up our work with members. Everyone on the team is here for our members, but you will lead the way in ensuring everything we do is driven by what members need, now and in the future, to help them develop, grow and thrive. You’ll also help ensure our members have a great experience whenever they are accessing our support and services.

As a member of the senior leadership team, you’ll actively contribute towards its collective work in driving organisational performance and success, including growing investment in our work so we can make an even bigger difference for our members and the communities they serve.

Please see the attached introduction from our Chief Executive and role profile for further information about the position, including its principal responsibilities and the experience, skills and attributes we are looking for.

Other information

The role will involve regular travel across England, Scotland and Wales to raise the organisation’s profile and engage with members, partners and key stakeholders.

There is flexibility on your location given the requirement to travel and that your office will be home-based. You will need to travel to in-person quarterly team meetings (usually in London or the north of England) and to Board meetings which alternate between online and London.

It is expected that travel will be by public transport and easy access to the rail network is therefore required to ensure journeys can be made sustainably. 

This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of three months. 

Successful applicants will need to provide proof that they have the right to work in the UK and provide two references.

Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.

Head of Housing and Support Are you an experienced housing leader with a passion for supporting people to achieve independence and positive outcomes? YMCA St Helens is seeking an ambitious and values-driven Head of Housing and Support to lead our housing services and play a key role in the organisation's future growth and development.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across housing services, ensuring high-quality, safe and compliant accommodation provision. You will lead service development, oversee housing compliance and safeguarding, manage high-performing teams, and build strong partnerships that help us meet the needs of local communities.

We're looking for someone with:

• Significant experience in housing management, supported housing or homelessness services.
• Proven experience of strategic leadership and service development.
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation, compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading teams and driving service improvement.
• Experience managing safeguarding within a supported housing environment.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication and decision-making skills.
• CIH Level 5 qualification.
• Willingness to participate in an on-call rota.

Why join YMCA St Helens? This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow housing services within a forward-thinking charity that is committed to transforming lives. You'll help drive innovation, influence strategic direction and lead services that make a real difference to people experiencing homelessness and housing need.

Closing date 20-09-2026

Head of Health and Wellbeing Programmes
Are you a strategic leader with a passion for improving health, wellbeing and life opportunities within local communities? YMCA St Helens is seeking an ambitious and innovative Head of Health and Wellbeing Programmes to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the development of a growing portfolio of community-based services.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead the design, development and delivery of programmes that respond to community need, including adult mental health services, healthy eating initiatives, social supermarket provision, and education and training opportunities for people aged 16+. Working closely with local communities, the NHS, VCSE partners and other stakeholders, you will drive innovation, impact and sustainable growth across our community programmes.

We're looking for someone with:

• Significant leadership experience within community, health, VCSE, education or related sectors.
• Experience designing and delivering community-based programmes, including mental health provision.
• Experience leading education, training or skills-based programmes.
• Strong understanding of health inequalities and community development.
• Experience building effective partnerships across the NHS, VCSE, education and public sectors.
• Experience of co-production and working alongside communities.
• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to think strategically while maintaining operational oversight.

Why join YMCA St Helens?
This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow innovative programmes that improve lives and strengthen communities. You'll join an ambitious leadership team committed to tackling inequalities, promoting wellbeing and creating opportunities for people to flourish.

Closing date 20-09-2026

About Hope for the Young

Hope for the Young removes the obstacles to young refugees and sanctuary-seekers’ education and wellbeing through mentoring, advocacy, and financial support.

The Mentoring Programme supports young refugees and sanctuary-seekers aged 16-25 by matching them with trained volunteer mentors who provide weekly one-to-one support tailored to the young people's needs. Mentors help with teaching English, enrolment advice, study skills, confidence and trust building, and provide emotional and practical support that helps young people access new services, adapt and settle into their communities.

The Grants and Advocacy Programme supports young people who, due to their immigration status, have no access to student finance or other financial support to enable them to go to college or university. We provide small grants to pay for tuition fees, living allowances and travel expenses, alongside tailored advocacy support to enable young refugees and sanctuary-seekers to access education in the UK.

About this role

Hope for the Young is looking for an experienced and proactive Head of Finance and Operations to lead the smooth running of our finance, systems, HR and office functions. This is a hands-on role at the heart of a small, ambitious charity, giving you the opportunity to shape how we operate as we grow our support for young refugees and sanctuary-seekers across London.

You will oversee financial management and reporting, ensuring accurate records, robust controls and clear budgeting and forecasting to support the charity's long-term sustainability. You will also lead on our Salesforce system and wider data practices, manage day-to-day office and operational matters, and take responsibility for HR across the organisation. You will also line-manage our Finance and Administration Officer.

This is a varied and rewarding role for someone who enjoys working across multiple areas of responsibility and thrives in a small team environment. Working closely with the CEO and Head of Programmes, you will play a central role in ensuring Hope for the Young has the systems, processes and people in place to deliver our mission effectively, efficiently and sustainably, helping us support more young people seeking safety to build safe, hopeful futures.

We offer a flexible and hybrid working environment, however you will be expected to come to our office in Brixton for a minimum of 1 day per week (on a Wednesday, which is our office team day).

Key responsibilities

Financial Management & Reporting

· Lead and oversee the charity's financial management, ensuring robust controls, effective processes and compliance with financial policies and procedures.

· Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and financial planning in collaboration with the CEO and Head of Programmes to support organisational sustainability.

· Oversee the delivery of day-to-day finance operations, including bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and financial record-keeping, delivered by the Finance and Administration Officer, providing guidance, training, and support as necessary.

· Monitor income, expenditure, reserves and restricted and unrestricted funds, ensuring accurate financial reporting and effective resource management.

· Prepare and present monthly management accounts, financial reports and analysis to support decision-making by the CEO and Board.

· Maintain and strengthen financial controls, delegated authority arrangements and audit processes to ensure strong financial governance.

Leadership, Governance and Organisational Management

· Lead organisational operational planning and risk management, ensuring systems, processes and resources align with and support delivery of the strategic plan

· Sit as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), contributing to organisational strategy, cross-team planning and key decision-making alongside the CEO and Head of Programmes.

· Maintain the organisational risk register, working with the CEO and Board to identify and mitigate strategic and operational risks.

· Own the organisation’s policy framework, maintaining the policy register and ensuring the timely revision, review and compliance of all policies.

IT and Office Management

· Lead the development, administration and optimisation of Salesforce, other fundraising platforms and related system integrations to support fundraising, donor engagement and programme delivery, liaising closely with the Salesforce consultant to implement system enhancements and resolve issues.

· Drive the continuous improvement of Salesforce systems, processes and data management practices, ensuring high standards of data quality, security and operational efficiency.

· Oversee the IT infrastructure, managing the procurement and ongoing maintenance of IT hardware, systems and software with support from the external IT provider.

· Provide training, guidance and user support on Salesforce, Sharepoint, and all related platforms to maximise staff capability and system adoption.

· Ensure a fully functioning office base which enables Hope for the Young to deliver its operational activities in the most efficient and effective manner.

Human Resource Management

· Lead and oversee HR operations, including the recruitment, onboarding and retention of staff and volunteers

· Oversee employee lifecycle processes, including inductions, appraisals, performance reviews and professional development planning

· Ensure compliance with employment legislation and organisational policies through effective management and administration of contracts, HR records, employee benefits and people processes

· Lead on team wellbeing, fostering a supportive, inclusive, and resilient working culture across the team

The job description as described will be reviewed on a regular basis to respond to any changing needs of the post.

Benefits

• 25 days' annual leave (pro rata), excluding bank holidays, plus additional time off over the Christmas period

• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential counselling/support helpline

• Regular development opportunities to support professional development

• Quarterly wellbeing afternoons – group outings or activities to relax and unwind

Further Information

• You must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this job.

• You must adhere to Hope for the Young’s Equal Opportunities Policy at all times.

• Your employment at Hope for the Young is subject to two satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.

• There is a 3-month probation period for this role.

To Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of forced migration. If you think you have the skills and experience to be our new Head of Finance and Operations, we would love to hear from you.

We understand that AI can be a helpful tool when writing job applications. However, our advice is to not over-rely on AI and ensure your application is a true reflection of you and your voice. We can often tell when AI has been over-relied on and, in many cases, this is not giving applicants the best chance of success.

To submit your application you will need to send your CV and supporting letter, outlining how you meet the person specification for this post and explaining why you would like to work for Hope for the Young.The deadline to apply is 9am Thursday 3rd September. Interviews will take place on 10th and 11th September. If successful, you will be invited to a second interview the following week.