People At Little Green Pig

Nicky has 25 years of experience of working with children & young people through the arts and is passionate about the importance of creativity. She developed the SPINE festival for Apples and Snakes, and worked as a consultant for organisations like the RSC, The Story Museum and Creative Partnerships. She loves yoga and her favourite word is ‘elbow’.

For two decades, Nikki has produced playful participatory arts projects to inspire creativity in all ages. Collaborations include Southbank Centre, Tate and festivals, specialising in inclusivity and multi-sensory cultural events. She once spent a week leading school workshops in a skip, dressed up as a monster. Her favourite word? ‘Oodles’.

Since 2017 Sally has been involved with Little Green Pig in different ways. She has been a regular Story Mentor, zines workshop leader, podcast producer, Mini Mentors trainer, and creative designer for our BrightStar schools residency. Sally has benefitted from all the wonderful opportunities volunteering can bring, from learning new skills, making friends, improved wellbeing and greater confidence. Her favourite word is ‘lux’.

Laura has been managing and delivering creative community and education projects for over 20 years and has worked with organisations including Trestle, Little Angel Theatre, Bureau Of Silly ideas and Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival. When not organising and running arts projects, she might be found tinkering with puppets or hanging about by the sea. Laura’s favourite word (at the moment) is ‘glow’. 

Jo has worked with arts organisations throughout her career, most recently as General Manager of the JMK Trust, a charity which supports young and emerging theatre directors. Jo is passionate about broadening access to the arts and is on the committee of Worthing Theatre Trail. She loves walking, reading and living near the sea. Her favourite word is ‘meander’.

Hannah is a freelance fundraiser for charities that support the arts and children and young people. She has raised much needed funds for all kinds of organisations - big and small - including the National Centre for Circus Arts, Voices Foundation and Ministry of Stories. Her favourite word is ‘Thingamajig’.

Roy is a Poet and former Youth & Community Worker from Birmingham, now residing in Brighton. He’s held the role of Birmingham Poet Laureate and Starbucks Poet in Residence. His debut collection, Beginning With Your Last Breath, was followed by the critically acclaimed The Healing Next Time. His favorite word is ‘omnipotent’

Natalie England has been involved with Little Green Pig since 2014 and has a Masters degree in Creative Writing. She is a qualified advanced scuba diver (and was once attacked by a clownfish!) She loves to read, and has interests in art, fashion and literature. Her favourite word is ‘serendipity’.

Bex is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator, with 18 years experience with children & young people. Passionate about play, performance, nature, and mindfulness. Bex completed their first full length play with Soho Theatre's Writers Lab in 2021, and was even in a touring Drag Troupe! Their favourite word is ‘Pompadour’.

Georgina is a poet, writer and creative practitioner. She has assisted and facilitated workshops for adults and children on barges and art galleries, as well as running participatory groups in Colombia and India. She loves animals, walking on the Downs and being in nature, using her botanist hand lens to look at plants up close. Her favourite word is ‘Glockenspiel’ 

Rayna is a short story writer who aspires to have an entourage of writerly cats. Her fiction is published in, among others, Reflex Fiction, Litro, Strands and Bath Flash Fiction. She feels lucky to have facilitated various creative writing, storytelling and drama workshops for children - the best storytellers of all. Her favourite word is ‘petirrojo’, the Spanish for robin.

Laura has published six novels for adults and many short stories. Alongside writing, she works as a developmental editor and mentor and runs writing workshops for children and adults. Her favourite word is ‘love’.

Julia is a passionate lover of language and stories. She’s been a teacher in lots of different types of schools for years, alongside leading expeditions around the world, and being a stand-up comedian. She’s got a labradoodle dog and her favourite word is ‘serendipity’.

Kate lives in West Sussex in a houseful of boys. She is the author of A Book of Secrets. When she’s not got pen to paper she’s probably walking the downs or drinking herbal tea. Her favourite word is ‘emblazoned’ because it sounds like a golden trumpet being played.

Anita is a writer, teacher, creative therapist, vocal coach and mindfulness wellbeing consultant. She is the author of four children's books and a toolkit for schools, 'Being With Our Feelings - a mindful, embodied approach to wellbeing (Routledge 2022.) Her favourite word is ‘earth’.

Luke is a playwright and artistic director of award-winning Unmasked Theatre. A part of the Little Green Pig Team since 2020, Luke has worked across England and Italy as a workshop leader and facilitator. He has written some plays that at least he finds funny. His favourite word is ‘nostalgia’.

Adam has worked with young people from different backgrounds for over 25 years. He is also a coach for leaders across multiple sectors. Adam enjoys writing poetry and photography. His vision is to combine all his skills to boost creative confidence in everyone he meets. His favourite word is: ‘synecdoche’.

Bara’a is a poet who worked with Little Green Pig on the Through the Tunnels of Moulsecoomb project in 2019 and shared her poetry live on the BBC radio! She loves literature and science, and has a passion for volunteering in the community. Her favourite word is: ‘Serendipity.’

Dylan has been a part of the LGP family longer than most, participating in Monday Club from the age of 10. His strong suits are engineering, visual design, and has a passion for music, especially electro-jazz! His favourite word is ‘pseudonym.’

Esmee is known for her infectious enthusiasm and creativity. She is passionate about the performing arts, and loves nothing more than going to the theatre. She is a youth mentor for the Club Amplified Project. Her favourite word is ‘Independence.’ 

Mia is a student. Fascinated by biomedical sciences; she participates in essay competitions, and enjoys reading scientific literature. She loves fiction too, and can be found re-reading ‘Perfume’. Mia is also passionate about sustainability in fashion, preferring to alter second-hand clothes instead of buying new. Her favourite word is ‘sparkle’.

Orla is a passionate writer and an avid reader interested in all types of art and history. She loves to visit new places and explore different types of expression through literature, theatre and more. She loves going to gigs and her favourite word is ‘ludicrous’. 

Zac has a keen interest in film, animation and storytelling, and is currently studying for his GCSEs including Drama, Media Studies and Photography. Zac is vegetarian and loves spending time with his two cats and dog. His favourite word is ‘courage’. 

My name is Emi and I lived in Switzerland for most of my life before moving to England a few years back. Originally, I'm Polish, meaning I can speak many different languages, including German, Polish and English.

Currently, I'm learning French and Japanese to add to my list of languages I can speak as I want to visit these two countries in the future. Alongside learning new languages, I'm also passionate about cooking & baking, as well as poetry and prose. I love taking part in writing competitions to exceed my writing skills. My favourite word is ‘Euphoria’, due to its mystical sound.  

See Board listing below for biography.

See Board listing below for biography.

Biba is currently starting her GCSE study, and is interested in English literature, history and creative writing. In her spare time, she also sings, plays guitar and takes part in musical theatre shows and concerts, in and out of school. She loves to learn new skills and socialise with new people. She joined the LGP team because she wanted to help encourage children and young people to participate in and enjoy creative writing. Her favourite word is ‘ambition’. 

Pete is a screenwriter and playwright and part of the core team on EastEnders. He has 25 years’ experience of running creative workshops and sitting on the boards of young people’s charities, including Brook and Leap Confronting Conflict, for whom he was the inaugural Chair. His favourite word is ‘story’.

Suhayla writes for stage and screen. Her plays have been performed at The National Theatre, The Royal Court and The Unicorn Theatre, among others. She often writes for Young Adult audiences, including the TV shows Hollyoaks and Ackley Bridge. Her favourite word is ‘nebulous’.

Sam O'Mahoney is part of the Senior Leadership Team at My University Hospitals Sussex - the charity that supports patients and NHS staff in seven hospitals across Sussex. Sam's also worked previously with a number of NHS charities in assurance and governance roles. Sam lives in East Brighton and enjoys travel writing. Her favourite word is 'Celtic.'

Chris works as a book designer but is happier volunteering as a Little Green Pig story mentor, which he has done since 2015. Previously he set up Grow Your Neighbours Own, a project matching garden-owners with food growers, and a homeless project with Brighton’s Streets Cafe. (Current) favourite word: exquisite.

Ed is Digital Content Editor at Modern Poetry in Translation. He has previously worked for New Writing South, the British Council Literature Team and National Centre for Writing. He's also a writer, with short stories selected for the Desperate Literature Prize, Best Small Fictions, the London Short Story Prize, 3:AM, Structo, and more. His favourite word is 'passersby', due to its oddly interior plural 's'.

Emily is Head of Production at Storythings, a content and strategy production company. She spent over 15 years in the charity sector mainly in senior communications roles, at organisations such as PEN International and Artangel. Her favourite word is ‘skew-whiff’.

I’m Joss Perring, Drummer, Poet, DJ and Songwriter.  

I am Orpheus college alumni, and I currently attend Northbrook college studying Music and Performance.  

I was voted Northbrook Star of the Year 2024 for my achievements. 

I also did a TED Talk in 2020, talking about belonging in various different contexts. 

Lizzie is headteacher of Brackenbury Primary. Passionate about the life-changing power of great literacy skills, she knows how clubs, such as those run by Little Green Pig, make lasting memories and future opportunities for children. Lizzie will be found sea swimming in all seasons and her favourite word is ‘onomatopoeia’.

Matilda studies Creative Writing at Sussex University and loves to write in a variety of different mediums, including short stories, screenwriting and stand up comedy.

Her first involvement with LGP was in 2021 (Amplified) and since then she has become a youth board mentor and received screenwriting and marketing mentoring from LGP trustees Suhayla El Bushra and Ed Cottrel.

Her other interests include public speaking and advocating for the disabled community, particularly in education. Her favourite noun is ‘Fenweh’ (it’s German and means the opposite of nostalgia: To yearn for something you have never experienced.).

After qualifying as a solicitor, Tim left to work in a charity where he had volunteered for several years, but later returned to being a solicitor. Now retired, he advises local charities and community groups as a volunteer through Brighton & Hove Community Works. A fanatical reader, his favourite word is ‘kindness’.

Tanya Byrne was born in London where she spent forty years before moving to Brighton with her dog Frida. After eight years at BBC Radio, she left to write her debut novel, HEART-SHAPED BRUISE, which was published in May 2012. Since then, she has written four novels and has contributed to several short story anthologies. Her next novel is IN THE SHALLOWS. Tanya’s favourite word is ‘frolic’.

Juno Dawson is a best selling novelist, screenwriter, journalist and columnist. She makes regular media appearances discussing issues facing young people including sexuality, identity, literature and education. Juno’s books include the bestsellers, THIS BOOK IS GAY and CLEAN. She won the 2020 YA Book Prize for MEAT MARKET. Her favourite word is ‘Poop’.

Daniel Hahn is an multi-award winning writer, editor and translator of over 80 books with a specialism in Portuguese, Spanish and French authors. A former chair of the society of authors, he works with organisations that promote literacy and free speech. His favourite word is ‘Halcyon’.

Peter James is an award winning crime writer who has published over 35 novels, translated into 37 languages and selling over 20 million copies worldwide. Best known for his DS Roy Grace series, he’s reached Sunday Times top best seller over 18 consecutive years. His favourite word is ‘scary’.

Dorothy Koomson is a bestselling author whose novels include That Girl From Nowhere, The Ice Cream Girls, and My Best Friend’s Girl; selected for Richard & Judy Summer Reads of 2006. Her books have been translated into 30 languages, with sales exceeding 2 million in the UK. Her favourite word is ‘exciting’.

Nick Sharratt has been an illustrator and author of children’s books since the late 1980s with picture book sales exceeding 9 million. He has worked with writers including Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen and most famously as the illustrator of Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracey Beaker novels. His favourite word is ‘pumpkin’.

Patrice Lawrence is a Brighton-born writer. She has won many awards including the Bookseller YA Prize, the Waterstones Prize for Older Children’s Fiction, the Bristol Crimefest YA Prize, the Woman and Home Teen Drama Award, the Jhalak Children's Award and the Little Rebels Award for Radical Children's Fiction. She has been awarded an MBE for Literature and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Patrice’s favourite word is ‘mango’.

Photo - Portrayed Photography.