Trustee: Communications

BOARD MEMBER: COMMUNICATIONS
Dublin Waldorf School background
Dublin Waldorf School was founded by parents seeking an educational alternative.

An independent school based in the historic inner‑city Liberties neighbourhood, our kindergarten was first established in 2009. In response to community demand, we enrolled the first children into our primary school in 2017.

Since then, that demand has continued to grow. With enrolments for our kindergarten outstripping the number of available places, we now teach children across eight grades in our primary school, with student numbers growing.

We are a community‑funded non‑profit organisation. Through the energy of staff and volunteers, we have established a vibrant school with a committed community, in a sustainable business model. Our challenge now is to continue this growth in a sustainable way and reach our full potential as a model Waldorf school in the centre of Dublin, showing that an alternative approach to education is possible.

The board of trustees is the governing body of the school, with responsibility for the oversight of Dublin Waldorf School as a charitable organisation. The board’s primary role is to act in the best interests of the school and to safeguard the school’s purpose, which is to deliver Waldorf education to children. Trustees are unpaid and work on a voluntary basis.

You can read more about Waldorf education here and more about our school at dublinwaldorf.com.

Role background
We have identified a capacity gap on our board for a trustee with skills and experience in communications. The broad context is the need to ensure that as the school continues to grow, our purpose, overall strategy, and any relevant initiatives are shared with stakeholders both internally and externally. There is also a connection to an immediate initiative as the school develops a fundraising strategy to secure and extend our growth; this role will have a part to play in the communication, implementation and (timeline permitting) development of that strategy.

Role summary
The specific aim of this role is to empower the growth of the school by supporting relevant and timely communication in line with our strategic goals. This will involve existing stakeholders alongside outreach to new partners and other relevant parties.

This role has a specific brief to:

Help shape our communications strategy to share our school’s purpose, strategic direction and relevant initiatives with all involved stakeholders

Support staff in the implementation of this strategy where required, and lead implementation where that is more appropriate

Develop outreach to potential new partners and other stakeholders towards fundraising objectives. This might be either in an advisory capacity or as a point of contact.

Input into grant applications and other outgoing communications as required

As part of the board, each trustee has a responsibility to:

Set overall strategy, with the aim of continuing the growth of the school and guarding against risk

Support school management and staff in fulfilling the school’s charitable purpose

Ensure that the school complies with all relevant legislation

Ensure that the financial assets of the charity are managed responsibly and guarded against undue risk

Act in the best interests of the school at all times, while exercising independent judgement

More information on the role and legal responsibilities of a charity trustee can be found here.

Board meetings
The Dublin Waldorf School Board of Trustees meets monthly, currently on the second Thursday of each month and typically with a break in July. Meetings are currently held in person at the school premises on Meath Street.

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