People at Little Green Pig

Meet the Little Green Pig team!

Nicky Crabb, Director

Nicky has over twenty years of experience working with children and young people through the arts and is passionate about giving those who are often unheard a voice. Whilst at Apples and Snakes she developed the SPINE Festival, working to bring the arts to new audiences through libraries in London.  She has worked as an evaluator and consultant for Culture Shift, The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Story Museum and was a Creative Agent for Creative Partnerships in Sussex and Surrey. Nicky started out as an English teacher and sits on the board of Lewes Live Literature. She loves yoga and her favourite word is elbow. Image credit: Moose Azim

Abigail Allt, Development and Partnerships Manager

Abigail has worked in the cultural sector for over thirty years, initially in the music industry promoting and producing events at many venues, agencies and festivals including the Jazz Café, Serious and the San Francisco Jazz Festival.  She has worked for a broad range of organisations including Essex County Council, National Youth Jazz Orchestra and South East Dance, planning and delivering development and communication strategies that empower communities to access the arts.  She is crazy about cooking, particularly with unusual ingredients discovered on her travels. Her favourite word is ‘discombobulated’. 

Adam Webb, Learning Manager

Adam has worked with children for over 15 years. He has set up after-school programmes in America, supported vulnerable young people in children’s homes and taught English across secondary schools in Brighton and Sussex. In his spare time, he is a photographer, poet and writer. Adam’s current project involves writing vignettes about people’s lives across the city. His vision is to bring all these things together to powerfully impact the creative confidence in young people of Brighton & Hove. His favourite word is ‘innocuous’.

Mai Hindawi, Audience Development Intern

Mai is a UK-based Egyptian poet and philosophy student with a passion for languages and digital art. After completing her BA in Philosophy at Royal Holloway she took a year off to develop her writing and build an online community of like-minded people who believe in the power of art to create social change. In 2020, she published a digital poetry collection titled Unbecoming which explores the intersections of language, loss, and the absurdities of logic. Since then she has started running an online book club specialising in intersectional political education and discussion called The Readers Resistance, which has a community of readers in four continents, across 5 countries. She is currently pursuing an MA in Philosophy and Literature in Sussex. Her favourite word is “hullabaloo”. 

Laura Wilkinson, workshop leader

After time as a journalist and copywriter, Laura now writes stories. She has published five novels for adults (two under a pseudonym), on top of numerous short stories. As well as writing, Laura also works with young people in schools developing literacy skills. Over the past six years she has also worked as a developmental editor and mentor. Her favourite word is ‘love’.

Sarah Ann Juckes, workshop leader

Sarah Ann Juckes is an author for young people and workshop leader for budding writers. Her debut Young Adult novel ‘Outside’ was published by Penguin in 2019 to critical acclaim. She is a Content Creator for Jericho Writers and is on the board for writing charity, Creative Future. She leads writing and publishing workshops for both adults and children. Her favourite word is ‘fracture’.

Luke Ofield, workshop leader

Luke is a playwright and artistic director of the award-winning Unmasked Theatre. His debut play, The Writers’ Bloc was performed in 2017 to great acclaim and went on to be read at The Wyndham’s Theatre on the West End. As a facilitator and youth director, Luke has worked with many companies, including New Writing South, The Young Actors Group and The Creative Learning Department at The Churchill Theatre. His favourite word ‘dastardly’.

Julia Gillick, workshop leader

Julia has worked with children and young people for twenty years; as an English teacher, workshop facilitator and expedition leader. As a student at Cambridge University, Julia was a founding member of her college’s creative writing magazine ‘Eliot’s Face’. Currently, Julia works for a charity delivering life skills workshops for teenagers, as well as running her own wilderness therapy business. Julia loves reading and enjoys writing poetry and short stories. She believes passionately in the power of literature and fresh air to support well-being. Her favourite word is ‘mellifluous’.

Patrons

Damian Barr

‘Damian Barr is an award-winning writer, columnist and salonnière. Maggie & Me, his memoir about coming of age and coming out in Thatcher’s Britain, was a Radio 4 Book of the Week.  Literary Editor of Soho House magazine, Damian writes columns for the Big Issue and the SundayTimes and often pops up on Radio 4.  Starting at Shoreditch House in 2008 and now based at The Savoy Hotel in London, his sold-out Literary Salon premieres new work from emerging and established writers and guests include David Nicholls, Caitlin Moran and Bret Easton Ellis.  He’s currently writing his first novel and continuing his quest for the perfect Martini. Damian was the first of our Little Green Pig Patrons and his favourite word is ‘mighty’.

Juno Dawson

Queen of Teen 2014 Juno Dawson is the multi award-winning author of six novels for young adults. In 2016, she authored the best-selling World Book Day title: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE. Her next novel is the beautiful and emotive MARGOT & ME which will be followed by her adult debut, the memoir THE GENDER GAMES. Juno also wrote the bestselling non-fiction guide to life for young LGBT people, THIS BOOK IS GAY. Juno is a regular contributor to Attitude Magazine, Glamour Magazine and The Guardian. She has contributed to news items on national television and radio concerning sexuality, identity, literature and education. Her favourite word is ‘poop’.

Elizabeth Enfield

Elizabeth Enfield combines novel writing with work as a freelance journalist, alongside teaching journalism and creative writing. She has published three novels: Living With It  (Myriad Editions 2014 – a Mail on Sunday Book of the Week and featured on Woman’s Hour), Uncoupled (Headline 2012) and What You Don’t Know (Headline 2011). Ivy and Abe, a love story inspired by quantum physics will be published by Michael Joseph in Spring 2017. Her short stories have been broadcast on Radio 4, as well as being published in various magazines and anthologies. Her favourite word is ‘paraphernalia ’.

Daniel Hahn

Daniel Hahn is a writer, editor and translator, with some fifty books to his name. His translations (from Portuguese, Spanish and French) include fiction from Europe, Africa and the Americas, and non-fiction by writers ranging from Portuguese Nobel laureate José Saramago to Brazilian footballer Pelé. A former chair of the Society of Authors, he works closely with a number of organisations that promote literacy and free speech. He has won the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award, as well as being shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize. His reecent books include The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature and the translation of an Angolan novel. His favourite word is ‘halcyon’.

Peter James

Peter James is one of the UK’s most treasured crime and thriller novelists. His Roy Grace detective novels have sold over 18 million copies worldwide in total and have been translated into 37 languages. The University of Brighton awarded Peter an an Honorary Doctorate to honour his services to literature and the community,. He has been two-times Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association and has won many literary awards, including the publicly voted ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards People’s Bestseller Dagger. Peter has also been shortlisted for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize. Last year, 2015, he was voted by WH Smith readers as The Best Crime Author Of All Time. His favourite word is ‘scary’.

Dorothy Koomson

Dorothy Koomson is a global bestselling author whose novels include That Girl From Nowhere, The Ice Cream Girls, The Woman He Loved Before and My Best Friend’s Girl. Her books have been translated into 30 languages, with sales exceeding 2 million in the UK alone. Readers say that Dorothy’s books are powerful, thought-provoking and compelling ‘emotional thrillers’ where moral dilemmas are central. Her third book, My Best Friend’s Girl, was selected for Richard & Judy Summer Reads of 2006. Her favourite word is ‘exciting’.

Nick Sharratt

Nick Sharratt has been an illustrator and author of children’s books since the late 1980s. As well as producing his own books, Nick has worked with writers including Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Kes Gray and Jeremy Strong. Most famously, people know him as the illustrator of Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s novels. The books on which they’ve collaborated have sold more than 40 million copies. Alone, Nick’s picture book sales exceed 9 million. His books have won many national and regional prizes. He also has a gold Blue Peter badge! His favourite word is ‘pumpkin’.

Our Trustees

Pete Lawson, Chair

Pete is an established screenwriter and playwright. He is currently part of the core writing team on EastEnders. He has 25 years experience of running creative workshops with all ages. Above all, Pete believes passionately in the ability of the arts to develop self-confidence, build communities, and enable people to make their voices heard. For eight years Pete has been a Board member of Brook, the national young people’s sexual health charity.  His favourite word is ‘story’.

Sunetta Kiarie, Vice Chair

Sunetta is leading the Events and Partnerships at PLATF9RM—a co working and business community in Brighton and Hove. Previously she was Charity Manager for local grant-giving trust, The Goodall Foundation. She holds a degree in English and American Literature with Creative Writing from the University of Kent. Sunetta is an avid reader, with a passion for literature and the arts. She deeply enjoys working on projects that allow young people to explore their creativity in order to realise their own potential. Meanwhile, Sunetta is working on her first novel. Her favourite word is ‘Optimism’.

James Sweeney, Treasurer

James is an Executive Director at Transive, a business performance agency. He is an expert in financial & operational direction and management for online and offline businesses. James has a wealth of experience outside his role at Transive. He is the current Chief Financial and Operating Officer for a business intelligence agency, financial advisor for a variety of tech start-ups, a change management consultant for SMEs, as a guest speaker at the University of Arts. Previously James held various financial roles at blue chip companies such as Wolters Kluwer Financial Services and RBS Insurance. James is a Chartered Accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and also has a Bachelor of Science (BSc. Hons) in Mathematical Studies from the University of Leeds. His favourite word is ‘rigmarole’.

 Araminta Hall

Araminta Hall is a novelist who lives and works in Brighton with her husband and three children.  Richard and Judy chose Araminta’s first novel, ‘Everything and Nothing’ as a Book Club read in autumn 2011. She also works as an editor for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and runs writing workshops for adults.  In a previous life she was a journalist, working for Emap and the Mirror, amongst many others. Her favourite word is ‘serendipity’.

Julie Aldous

Julie is a headteacher of a city centre primary school and nursery in Brighton. Before becoming a teacher Julie was a full time mum. One of her biggest achievements she feels was passing her Maths O Level first time at the age of 26. She joined teaching later in life after moving to Brighton with her family to attend Brighton University. Julie believes that creativity should be at the heart of the school curriculum. Most importantly, Julie wants children’s talents to be encouraged and nurtured. Her favourite part of her job is hearing laughter and seeing children enjoying their learning. Julie’s favourite word is ‘kindness’.

Tim Smith

After qualifying as a solicitor, Tim left to be the manager of a charity where he had volunteered in most of his spare time for several years.  Then after 10 years in the charity sector, he moved to Brighton and returned to being a solicitor specialising in corporate law, intellectual property and charity law.  For smaller local charities and community groups he provided free advice and in 2014 Brighton & Hove Community Works awarded him its inaugural ‘Sector Star’ award for greatest contribution to the community by a business.  Tim joined Little Green Pig as a trustee shortly before retiring as a solicitor, and he is now continuing his advice for local charities and community groups as a volunteer through Community Works.  A fanatical reader, his favourite word is smidgeon.

Suhayla El-Bushra

Suhayla El-Bushra is a Shoreham based playwright and screenwriter. She has written for TV shows Hollyoaks and Ackley Bridge and is now developing her own projects with CBBC and Lime Pictures. Suhayla recently wrote two short films, Bush (Film4) and Gone (LAMDA). Suhayla was writer in residence at the National Theatre Studio from 2015-16, during which time her adaptation of Nikolai Erdman’s The Suicide was staged in the Lyttelton Theatre. Her other stage work includes Pigeons (Royal Court 2013 and schools tour) Cuckoo (Unicorn Theatre, 2014) The Kilburn Passion (Tricycle, 2014) and Arabian Nights (Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, 2017). She is currently under commission from Out Of Joint, English Touring Theatre, The National Theatre and The Bridge Theatre. Her favourite word is ‘nebulous’.

Rich Ford

Rich is Associate Director at Brighton-based design agency Sherlock Studio, responsible for marketing, PR and new business. He’s always had a love of writing so gave up his career as a city lawyer to become a journalist on a national magazine for 6 years, writing about food & drink. As well as this, Rich dabbles (on an amateur level) in writing poetry, songwriting and writing children’s picture books as he enjoys exploring different genres of writing.  His favourite word is ‘hedgepig’.

Lauren Welch

Lauren is fairly new to the city, having moved to Brighton from London in late 2016. Previously working in PR for Brighton based agency Fugu, Lauren now leads admissions for The Escape School, helping hundreds of people make exciting career changes and take their first steps into entrepreneurship. Prior to this Lauren worked in the publishing industry, helping authors develop their brands and reach new readers. In her spare time, Lauren is also an amateur in sewing. Her favourite word is ‘gumption’.