Val Griffiths RIP

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Val Griffiths. For many years she was a Kent County Council detached youth and community worker.

Val and her colleague Yvonne Powell came to Rusthall often in the 1990s, particularly when the Rusthall Community and Youth Project was having difficulties before its re-launch in 1997.

Val and Yvonne had the skill to get alongside young people wandering the streets in  Rusthall.  At that time some people felt intimidated by the young people.  The presence of Val and Yvonne calmed matters down and many of the young people welcomed the opportunity to talk to adults who would actually listen to them, rather than hector or lecture.

Always unassuming, never slow to speak her mind and willing always to give people the benefit of her wealth of experience, Val did a massive amount of good for young people and the wider community.