Valerie joined the Trust for Developing Communities in 2003, after setting up and chairing a project for underprivileged young people (Fiveways Youth Project) through the Millennium Awards and support from the Drugs and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT). She is the Trust's Board member with Child Protection responsibilities and one of the signatories for the Trust's bank accounts. She belongs to a single parent information network (SPIN) and is involved with the Soup Run, having worked over the past 20 years with young people or with adults with mental health difficulties within the community, either as a volunteer, project leader or counsellor. She is a language teacher.