Elizabeth Balgobin (1964 or 1965 – 8 March 2024) was a British charity governance specialist, who held multiple senior roles in
voluntary sector
In relation to public services, the voluntary sector is the realm of social activity undertaken by non-governmental, not for profit organizations. This sector is also called the third sector (in contrast to the public sector and the private sec ...
organisations throughout her career. She was chief executive officer of
Blackliners, the UK's first organisation for Black people affected by
HIV and AIDS. Posthumously, she was named an honorary
trustee
Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, refers to anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the ...
of the
National Emergencies Trust to recognise her contributions to its success.
Career
Balgobin's career in the charity sector began inadvertently volunteering for
Amnesty International
Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says that it has more than ten million members a ...
.
Her first paid role was for the housing association
Clarion
Clarion may refer to:
Music
* Clarion (instrument), a type of trumpet used in the Middle Ages
* The Register (music), register of a clarinet that ranges from B4 to C6
* A Trumpet (organ stop), trumpet organ stop that usually plays an octave abov ...
.
For the last 20 years of her career she held a range of senior roles: she was chief executive officer of
Blackliners, the UK's first organisation for Black people affected by HIV and AIDS. In 2007, she was CEO of
London Voluntary Service Council.
She was the founding chairperson at
Voice4Change England and had worked as a grant officer at
BBC Children in Need.
She was a former Head of
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at the
Chartered Institute of Fundraising
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising is a registered charity founded in 1983, and is the professional membership body for UK fundraising. The Institute's mission is to support fundraisers through leadership and representation; best practice and ...
.
She was a trustee of
National Emergencies Trust, and was also a life coach. At the time of her death, she was CEO of the
Bowlby Centre, a mental health charity. She died on 8 March 2024. Posthumously, she was named an honorary trustee of the National Emergencies Trust to recognise her contributions to its success.
Personal life
Balgobin had experienced
homelessness
Homelessness, also known as houselessness or being unhoused or unsheltered, is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and functional housing. It includes living on the streets, moving between temporary accommodation with family or friends, liv ...
as child,
and was a survivor of a
teenage suicide
Youth suicide is when a young person, generally categorized as someone below the legal age of majority, deliberately ends their own life. Rates of youth suicide and attempted youth suicide in Western societies and elsewhere are high. Female yo ...
attempt.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Balgobin, Elizabeth
2024 deaths
1960s births
British charity and campaign group workers
Deputy lieutenants of Greater London