Trustee with CJS - Financial BR

What will you be doing?

Our Board of Trustees is a committed and values-driven group with experience across recovery services, safeguarding, and lived experience of addiction. As a small charity with growing demand for our services, we are now looking to strengthen our board with additional expertise in either finance or the criminal justice system to support our next phase of development.

ADAPT is at an important stage in its growth. We are working to expand our supported housing provision, strengthen our long-term financial sustainability, and deepen partnerships with referral agencies, including those within the criminal justice system. As demand for recovery services continues to rise, strong governance and informed strategic decision-making are more important than ever.

We are seeking a trustee who can actively contribute their professional insight to board discussions and decision-making. A trustee with a financial background would support budgeting, financial oversight, and long-term planning, potentially contributing to a finance subcommittee. A trustee with experience in the criminal justice system would help strengthen our understanding of pathways into recovery for individuals leaving custody, build strategic partnerships, and ensure our services are aligned with sector needs.

All trustees share responsibility for governance, safeguarding oversight, and ensuring the charity delivers on its mission. Trustees attend regular board meetings, contribute to strategic planning, and act as ambassadors for ADAPT.

This role offers a meaningful opportunity to directly influence the growth and impact of a charity that provides a vital bridge between addiction recovery and independent living. Your expertise will help shape services that reduce relapse, prevent homelessness, and support individuals to rebuild their lives—making a tangible difference not only to individuals, but to families and communities. 

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a committed and values-driven individual who is passionate about supporting people in recovery from addiction and rebuilding lives. Our ideal trustee will bring professional experience in either finance (such as accounting, financial management, or strategic planning) or the criminal justice system (such as probation, policing, prisons, or rehabilitation services).

Key skills include the ability to think strategically, contribute to effective decision-making, and provide constructive challenge and oversight. For those with a financial background, experience in budgeting, financial governance, or sustainability planning will be particularly valuable. For those with criminal justice experience, insight into rehabilitation pathways, reducing reoffending, and partnership working will be key.

We are also interested in individuals with lived experience of addiction or recovery, or those who have worked closely with affected communities, as this brings valuable perspective to our work.

Above all, we are seeking someone who is collaborative, committed, and motivated to use their skills to make a meaningful difference.

What difference will you make?

This trustee role will play a critical part in strengthening ADAPT Charity’s ability to deliver sustainable, high-quality recovery support to those who need it most. By bringing specialist expertise in finance or the criminal justice system, the trustee will directly influence how effectively we grow, adapt, and respond to increasing demand for our services.

A trustee with a financial background will help ensure robust financial oversight, improve long-term sustainability, and support strategic investment in our services—enabling us to expand our supported housing and reach more individuals in recovery. A trustee with experience in the criminal justice system will help us better understand and support individuals leaving custody, strengthen referral pathways, and build partnerships that create more opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration.

At a strategic level, this role will contribute to stronger governance, better-informed decision-making, and increased organisational resilience. Ultimately, this means more people can access safe housing, maintain recovery, and rebuild their lives.

The impact of this role goes beyond the organisation itself. By helping ADAPT grow and operate effectively, the trustee will contribute to reducing relapse, preventing homelessness, and supporting individuals to break cycles of addiction and reoffending—creating lasting, positive change for individuals, families, and the wider community.

Additional information

You can download the following documents:

Before you apply

We welcome applications via the Reach platform, including a CV and a short message outlining your interest in the role and how your skills and experience align with ADAPT’s work. We are particularly interested in understanding your motivation for becoming a trustee and any relevant experience in finance or the criminal justice system.

Suitable candidates will be invited to an informal interview with members of the board. This will be an opportunity to learn more about ADAPT, discuss your experience, and explore how you could contribute to our strategic direction.

We aim to review applications on a rolling basis and will be in touch with shortlisted candidates within a few weeks of receiving their application. Our recruitment process is designed to be straightforward, inclusive, and supportive, ensuring a good mutual fit for both the trustee and the organisation.