After 15+ years of dedicated and inspiring work, building People against Poverty into what it is today, Val Huxley is stepping down as Chief Executive, and taking up a new role as Mission Director to further develop our work with our partners and projects.
She is handing the baton of leadership over to the new Chief Executive Belinda Wadsworth. Belinda brings to People Against Poverty extensive third sector expertise gained through leadership roles in a variety of national and international charities over the last 25 years including Age UK and Arthritis Research UK, as well as global charities operating in the fields of disaster relief and recovery, refugee support and livelihood development. James Baker has been appointed as the charity’s new Director of Development, and will work alongside Belinda and Val to strategically grow the charity’s supporters and income streams, including further developing the Business Against Poverty philanthropic community.
Val has served as the charity’s CEO since taking over the organisation alongside husband Bill in 2007. Under her leadership a wide variety of life changing programmes have been developed. Through our educational programmes many young adults have been able to access further education training as teachers, nurses and other occupational roles. In Malawi the Vocational Skills for the Vulnerable programme has recently been introduced, enabling young adults with no educational background to train in tailoring, finishing with the opportunity to start their own business in their own communities. In India communities are now able to drink fresh clean running water rather than the contaminated water in their villages through our Borehole Well programme. In Romania, we have built a sustainable micro farm which now supports a large deprived community with fresh, home-grown food. In Haiti, Nepal and India, through our Child Sponsorship programme, children living in absolute poverty have the knowledge that each month they will receive food, clothing and medicines. In Tanzania, children have received customised digital hearing aids through our Audiology programme, giving them the gift of hearing. And here in the UK, many families facing crisis times, are receiving white goods through our Dignity Project.
As Val moves into her new role as Mission Director she says “I am delighted to be working alongside Belinda and James, who I know will bring further energy into what our charity is already actively delivering. They both have demonstrated great experience, commitment and passion for the needs of others, which can only benefit the people that we support in our countries of operation. As I prepare for semi-retirement, I feel totally confident in handing over the charity operations to Belinda and James, knowing that what’s been built up over the last 15 years is now in great hands to further develop and grow.”
In taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer, Belinda says “It is a tremendous privilege to be taking on the baton of leadership for People against Poverty for a new season, building on the amazing work and foundations that have already been developed. I greatly look forward to working with our small but dynamic team, and connecting with the growing movement of engaged, purpose-led businesses and individuals who see our charity as an effective way to invest in real social change. At this incredibly challenging time for those living in poverty both in the UK and overseas, there is so much we can achieve together.”
