It is with great sadness Voice4change England marks the passing of its former Chair and Trustee, Elizabeth Balgobin.
Elizabeth was an amazing advocate for the charity sector with an encyclopaedic knowledge of governance.
Working with her as CEO there was never a dull moment. Her published commentaries on all aspects of the sector were often insightful and sprinkled with humour. In more recent years during the Covid emergency she was fired by a strong desire to get support and funds out to community groups in need. It came as no surprise therefore to see her join the board of the National Emergency Trust, post Covid.
My abiding memory of her will be of our 2014 AGM. Her last public event as our Trustee. She was presented by MP Hilary Benn with a signed copy of the book ‘Coolie Woman’ by Gaiutra Bahadurs had been personally requested by her. It featured the repressed history of some quarter of a million female coolies. Disparaged as fallen, many were runaways, widows or outcasts, and many migrated alone. From Calcutta to the Caribbean, the story of indentured labour, also spoke to her own family historical background.
Elizabeth was true original whose intellect, wit and commitment to equalities made an indelible mark on the third sector.
Our condolences go out to her family.
Kunle Olulode
Director at Voice4change England