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Our Trustee Board is made up of representatives from the local community organisations and supporters of VAL. They are normally elected or co-opted at our AGM in November each year and usually serve for three years:
If you would like to know more about ways you could support VAL or about becoming a Trustee please contact Everton Blake or E-mail: everton.blake@valuton.org.uk
Who We are:
Representing the Luton & Bedfordshire Youth Association
- Bashir Ul Hafeez - Vice Chairman
 In the past I served as a Mechanical Engineer and a Principal Officer for a local authority. I have been Chairman of a Citizens Advice Bureau, served as a councilor and chaired or vice chaired various committees.
I have been a Trustee of Voluntary Action for almost 10 years. I am also The Chairman of the Luton Community Housing Limited - I joined the board in 2002. Adding to that, I am the Vice Chairman of The Asian Welfare Association.
- Pauline Simpson - Treasurer
Representing the Butely Road Pre-School.
I was born in India and arrived in the UK in the mid 50’s. I have been working in various industrial fields including Atomic Power Constructions and Nuclear Measurements as head of the department of Quality Control and Inspectorate for several years.
In the last decade I have worked in the community sector working for Luton Health and Training centre in Bury Park as centre manager. I am the Chairperson for HEAD UK (Health and Education Development UK). I have been on the board of trustees for Voluntary Action Luton for four years. I represent Luton town BGOP (Better Government for Older People).
I have been a member of Luton Assembly and I am on the panel for the Health and Care Forum both based at VAL. I am on the sub committee of VAL building maintenance.
I try to serve my community with my humble capacity wherever I can.
I have been an employee and a volunteer within Luton’s voluntary sector for many years. In 2004 I joined the Luton Assembly and the board of trustees for Voluntary Action Luton. Two years later I became the Deputy chair of the Luton Forum, often chairing meetings in the absence of the chair. I have also chaired the Race Advisory Forum and the voluntary arm of The Children’s Workforce Development Network.
Since 2002 I’ve been involved with planning and delivering Luton’s Black History Month programme at African Caribbean Arena. I’ve planned youth projects, Leadership and management programme for black women, return to work project and a number of arts projects including literature events with artists such as Benjamin Zephaniah, Adisa, Valerie Bloom, Jean Breeze and Constance Briscoe. From the world of music I’ve worked with artists from Sir Wilard White to Roll Deep.
In 2008 I returned to my career as a teacher whilst trying to maintain some interest in Luton’s voluntary sector. I have recently set up my own organisation which works with Key stage 2 and 3 pupils who have been excluded from schools.
I bring a number of key skills to the board of trustees such as: Marketing, Project Management, Policy, Education, Youth Issues, Fund Raising and BME Communities. I’m very much looking forward to being part of the development within Voluntary Action Luton over the next 3 years.
 I am on the board of trustees as an individual, rather than representing an organisation, and have been a trustee in that capacity for nearly ten years. I currently work for the Skills Funding Agency as an account manager, with responsibility for local colleges of further education. I have a background in education, planning, learning and development – experience of which I aim to bring to my work as a trustee. I am married with two grown up daughters, who work in town planning and civil engineering. My wife works at a Luton secondary school. We are avid supporters of Luton Town Football Club.
I arrived in the UK in the 1950’s (I was born in Jamaica, West Indies) as a British Citizen with a British Passport. I have lived and worked in the Luton Community after a short spell in London. I have given much of my time over the years to voluntary work in Luton. I have served and still remain serving on several committees and organisations. I have been a Trustee Member of Voluntary Action for over 25 years. I have served as the secretary for Luton Community for Racial Harmony, for the last 35 years. I have served the Luton West Indian Community Association as Vice Chair and Chairman for the 50 plus group. In 1962 Mr. Alvin Spring (now deceased) and I helped to form the first Afro Caribbean Organisation in Luton. In the 1970s I contributed to the Swan Report on Black Minority Education in Britain. I have served as Chair and a member of the local Police Forum Committee. I have served as a volunteer member on the ITC Board for 4 years for the Anglia Region. I am also a Foundation Trust Member NHS (Luton and Dunstable Hospital) I currently run a Travel, Shipping & Insurance Agency, Worldwide service.
 I have been involved in Luton's voluntary, community, economic and employment and social life for over 40 years including: Past member of the Luton Assembly and Forum, Chair of LCRH, Written member of NHS Trusts and School, College and University Governors.
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