Val is a retired teacher in the secondary and FE sectors. She was a volunteer for Oxfam for many years and campaigned on development issues and Fair Trade. She joined Dolen Ffermio in 2006 when she set up and ran the gift catalogue until she moved away from Wales in 2016. She then carried on co-ordinating the catalogue activities at a distance.
Val served as secretary for Dolen Ffermio between 2008-2022.