Tributes to Tracey Allen, ‘champion of the voluntary sector’ in Brighton and Hove

Tributes have poured in for Tracey, 50, who was known as a ‘champion’ of the voluntary sector in Brighton and Hove.

In 2012, she set up SEA PR, with an aim of helping organisations communicate about how they deliver social change. Tracey also launched Giving Times, an online platform to help charities get their voices heard.

Tracey was also an ambassador for the Sussex Community Foundation, a co-director of local community radio station RadioReverb, sat on the board of Brighton Fringe in its early years, worked on the campaign to save Saltdean Lido and was a director of arts charity Same Sky.

In her career, Tracey worked as head of social action within the Capital Radio Group and was the regional director of Help a Local Child across the South East, raising more than £1m in eight years for disadvantaged local children. After working to bring Brighton Marathon to the city in 2010, she went on to become a communications manager at the London 2012 Olympics

In her spare time, Tracey was a keen sailor and was a qualified RYA Day Skipper.

A statement from RadioReverb said: “The team at RadioReverb is shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Tracey Allen. For many years Tracey was a volunteer Director of RadioReverb and after her departure continued to support the station in many ways.

“Tracey was an active champion of the Brighton & Hove voluntary sector and established ‘Giving Times’ to highlight its work. Our thoughts go out to her family and those closest to her at this very sad time.”

Kevin Richmond, chief executive of Sussex Community Foundation, said: “Like many others, we are deeply saddened at the news that our dear friend and Ambassador of Sussex Community Foundation, Tracey Allen, died suddenly last week. We worked closely with Tracey over many years and she was a great supporter and advocate for our work.

"Among much positive work on our behalf – and therefore on behalf of charities and community groups across Sussex – she hosted the first Sussex Charities Fair last year at Goodwood House and worked hard to help us promote the launch of our Sussex Uncovered report via Giving Times and across social media, less than a fortnight ago.

“A fund has been set up here at the Foundation by her friend Steve Allen and her brother Kenton Allen that will raise funds to make grants to the small charities and community groups that Tracey was so passionate about.

“Along with many across Brighton and Sussex, we will miss Tracey a great deal and send our love and heartfelt sympathy to all her family and friends.”

The Tracey Allen Memorial Fund will make grants to small, impactful, community organisations she most cared about, year after year.

To donate to the Tracey Allen Fund, visit: www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/traceyallenfund