Tributes have been paid to the voluntary sector leader Elizabeth Balgobin, who has died at the age of 58.
Balgobin, who worked in a range of senior roles in UK charities during a career of more than three decades, died last week after receiving a cancer diagnosis in January.
She had a long spell as a charity consultant and took senior interim roles in organisations including the Small Charities Coalition, the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, the infrastructure charity London Plus and the women’s support charity Advance.
She was chair of Voice4Change England, which advocates for the black and minoritised voluntary and community sector, and spent a year as chief executive of the mental health charity the Bowlby Centre until the end of 2023.
A statement from the National Emergencies Trust said Balgobin, who was one of its trustees, had been “a force to be reckoned with in the UK’s voluntary and community sector for more than 30 years”.
The NET statement said: “We are privileged that Elizabeth chose to be part of the National Emergencies Trust’s journey for the last four years – formerly as a co-optee to the allocations committee, and latterly as a trustee.”
The trust said Balgobin was “a passionate advocate for social justice, striving for nothing short of excellence when it comes to equity”.
A spokesperson for the Chartered Institute of Fundraising said Balgobin was a “shining light within our organisation, generous with her time, support and wisdom”.
The spokesperson said: “Her life and career were dedicated to making the world a better place. Anyone who came across Elizabeth will know she did just that. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.”
Kevin Curley, former chief executive of the local infrastructure body Navca, said on X, formerly Twitter, that Balgobin was a “generous, warm hearted person, full of laughter, a great advocate for voluntary action and a good friend to so many”.
He said: “I’m pleased I knew her and was able to enjoy her company so many times. One of the best.”
Vijay Jassal, director of development and external relations at the British Science Association, said on LinkedIn: “Elizabeth was an inspiration to be around, and I know she supported countless colleagues and people who needed help.
“She was warm and compassionate while challenging you to be the best version of yourself, and she had more integrity than most people I’ve ever met.”
“I remember Elizabeth taking me under her wing at a charity event in Westminster and working the room with a genuine interest in everyone’s stories.
“She thrived on bringing people together – I remember thinking that night: I wish I could be like that.”
Benaifer Bhandari, chief executive of the Hopscotch Women’s Centre, said: “The team and board at Hopscotch Women’s Centre are deeply saddened at the passing of Elizabeth Balgobin.
“She was the interim director who co-ordinated my recruitment as CEO in 2018 and I’ll never forget the work she put into helping that previous board to see my qualities.
“She was unique and left a lasting impact on our charity.”
Sarah Vibert, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: “Elizabeth was a huge source of wisdom and kindness to me over the last few years. My thoughts are with her family. Such a big loss for the voluntary sector.”
Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of the Royal Voluntary Service, said Balgobin was “a constant in a sector that constantly changes and her wisdom and kindness will be missed by all who knew her”.
Sarah Atkinson, chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, said she was “unfailingly kind and generous, she always wanted to connect people and share her knowledge”.
Andy Hillier, former editor of Third Sector, said Balgobin, who wrote a monthly column for Third Sector, was a “brilliant advocate for social justice” and was “ahead of her time in many ways”.
Alex Whinnom, former chief executive of the charity infrastructure body GMCVO, said she was “kind, generous, warm” and “extremely clever and politically astute”.