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Board member

The Organisation:

National Deaf Village Sports and Leisure Company (NDVSLC) has a trading arm, Inspire Fitness Centre, a sports and leisure facility based in the Deaf Village Ireland campus on the Ratoath Road/Navan Road in Cabra. Dublin 7. Open to both the national Deaf community and the local community in Cabra, the centre operates a full-length swimming pool and comprehensive gym facilities as well as two sports halls and a number of Astro pitches.

Although it is a holding company which includes a commercial entity, NDVSLC is wholly owned by Reach Deaf Services, a registered charity. With the profits generated by its activities, the NDVSLC mission is to be the commercial engine to a thriving Deaf Village Ireland campus facility in Cabra that energises the social, cultural and sporting life of the Deaf community in Ireland as well as the surrounding community of Dublin 7.

The Role:

NDVSLC is seeking to recruit a number of directors with backgrounds in sport and recreation management and administration, governance (including in the Charities sector), finance and accounting, and Deaf Community matters. 

The Board is particularly interested in individuals with recent and relevant experience in any or a number of the above areas. 

Candidates with financial expertise may also be asked to sit on the audit and finance committee.

Charities Regulator’s General Duties of a Charity Trustee

  • Comply with the charity’s governing document
  • Ensuring charity is complying with its charitable purpose for the public benefit
  • Acting in the best interest of the charity
  • Act with reasonable care and skill
  • Manage the assets of the charity

By being a board director of NDVSLC your responsibilities will include the following:

  • Playing an active role in  oversight of the centre’s operational and strategic objectives, including advising on, and assessing,  the implementation of a three-year strategic plan for 2024-2027. This plan  addresses  forward-looking commercial, business,  Deaf and community outreach and governance objectives
  • Providing leadership to the company within a framework of prudent and effective controls, which enable risk to be assessed and managed.
  • Participating in policy development and oversight of implementation as required
  • Ensuring compliance with all applicable statutory obligations and requirements.

Essential competences:

  • Commitment to highest levels of corporate governance 
  • Ability and willingness to challenge and probe
  • Financial literacy
  • Integrity and high ethical standards
  • Understanding of risk management

Desirable skills and experience (preferably at least one or two of these):

  • Knowledge of legal, taxation or compliance issues
  • Knowledge of income generation through commercial means
  • Experience or knowledge of accounting and auditing 
  • Knowledge and experience of the not-for-profit sector
  • Experience with sports and leisure business management
  • Knowledge of or engagement with the Deaf Community

Board Meetings:

There will be 8-10 board meetings and 4-6 audit and finance committee meetings during the year. Meetings are a mixture of virtual, blended or in-person at the Deaf Village Ireland campus in Cabra.

Candidates are invited to contact John Cradden, Board Chair, via phone or text at 086 8096320 should you like to discuss this role further and learn more about being involved with the National Deaf Sports and Leisure Company.