People at Little Green Pig

 Ella Burns, Director

Ella co-founded Little Green Pig as an after school club in 2008 and has developed it into a charity working with thousands of children and young people across the city and Sussex. With a background in teaching, arts education and writing, Ella has over 10 years experience of running creative workshops and projects and is passionate about giving young writers the confidence and opportunity to share their stories. Her favourite word is ‘soliloquy’.

Adam Webb, workshop leader

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, Adam is a photographer, poet and is currently 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’.

Laura Wilkinson, workshop leader

After time as a journalist and copywriter now Laura writes stories. She has published five novels for adults (two under a pseudonym) and numerous short stories. Her next novel is published in June 2017. Alongside writing, she works with young people in schools developing literacy skills and runs workshops on craft. Over the past six years she’s worked as a developmental editor and mentor, coaching students to competition shortlistings and publication. Her favourite word is ‘love’.

 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. He was the first of our Little Green Pig Patrons. 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 and 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 and 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 literature, literacy, translation and free speech. He has won the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award and been shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize, among others. Recent 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 has been translated into 37 languages.  He has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Brighton in recognition of his services to literature and the community, Peter 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 and he was 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 that exceed 2 million copies in the UK alone. Dorothy’s books are powerful, thought-provoking and compelling ‘emotional thrillers’ where moral dilemmas are central and where the complex emotions of family and friendships are explored. Her third book, My Best Friend’s Girl, was selected for the 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 he’s worked with writers including Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Kes Gray and Jeremy Strong, and most famously he’s the illustrator of Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s novels. The books on which they’ve collaborated have sold more than 40 million copies and Nick’s picture book sales exceed 9 million. His books have won many national and regional prizes and he was the official illustrator for World Book Day 2006. 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 and is currently part of the core writing team on EastEnders. He has 25 years experience of running creative workshops with all ages and 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, helping it through a period of significant change.  His favourite word is ‘story’.

 Christine Rigby, Vice Chair

Christine is a Senior Consultant in the Charity and Social Enterprise Department, Bates Wells & Braithwaite. She is Co-author of ‘The Fundraisers Guide to the Law’ and ‘Charities – the New Law 2006 – A practical guide to the Charities Acts’.  She sits on the Board for the Institute of Fundraising Standards Committee,  NCVO Charity Law Review Advisory Group, is pro-bono advisor to several East Sussex charities and volunteers for East Sussex Library Service.  Her favourite word is ‘chocolate’.

  Araminta Hall

Araminta Hall is a novelist who lives and works in Brighton with her husband and three children.  Her first novel, ‘Everything and Nothing’, was a Richard and Judy 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’.

 Jennifer Griffiths

Jennifer is an accountant who has have worked in retail, financial services and a variety of not-for-profit organisations, most recently as Director of Support Services for the Sussex based charity the Grace Eyre Foundation. Her favourite part of the job is finding out about the amazing ideas the team have for the next few years and offering support to make them happen, plus being part of the great work being undertaken by similar organisations across the world. Her favourite word is (also) ‘serendipity’.

David Pithie

David is a chartered management accountant who has spent the last four years as Head of Finance at the independent charity Crimestoppers Trust. Before that he worked for a range of organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors. David’s favourite part of the job is meeting people with a passion for what they do and  and learning about the difference creative writing and learning can make to young people’s lives.  His favourite word is ‘eclectic’.

Lucy Jefferies

Lucy studied film at Queen Mary University and started her career working for Encounters Short Film Festivals in Bristol.  Since then she has worked extensively for local authority arts teams in Brighton & Hove and London specialising in developing and producing participatory work and festivals.  She has also worked as an independent producer and curator for organisations across the UK including a yearlong secondment as Visual Arts Participation Producer for Southbank Centre.  Lucy is currently the Director of Quiet Down There CIC specialising in audience development and creative participation and works as an Artistic Assessor for Arts Council England. Her favourite word is ‘hinterland’.

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 returning to education after having her 2 children. One of her biggest achievements she feels was passing her Maths O Level first time at the age of 26. She came into teaching late after moving to Brighton with her family to attend Brighton University. Julie believes that creativity should be at the heart of the school curriculum and children’s talents encouraged and nurtured. Her favourite part of her job is hearing laughter and children enjoying their learning. Julie’s favourite word is ‘kindness’.