Alex

Alex is an artist and historian who has been enjoying rediscovering the challenges and rewards of creative writing since she started to work for INYBB in February 2018.  She strongly believes in the positive impact that creativity can have, and in the power of imagination. Alex has previously worked in the art department of a primary school, and she also ran art classes for children at the Greek Council for Refugees in Athens.  Currently she volunteers in the art room at The Connection, St Martin-in-the-Fields.  Alex’s historical research is focussed on the Zoroastrian communities of Iran and India, and she has taught various courses at SOAS, University of London.  She is now working on her first book, Zoroastrianism in India and Iran: Persians, Parsis and the Flowering of Political Identity.

Erika is a multi-disciplinary artist with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System, documenting her journey through incarceration in daily postcards; 'Postcards from Prison'. She now works freelance producing artwork both in the community and Criminal Justice Settings.  

She has worked and exhibited for many years with Koestler Arts and is also an elected member of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance Steering Group and participates in the Prisoners Education Trust Alumni Advisory Group. Erika is passionate about encouraging people to explore their artistic side, even those who feel they don’t have one! She believes that the process of creating images can be not only therapeutic, but can help with self-esteem, confidence and communication. 

 Fiona is a playwright and screenwriter. Her passion is to tell stories that have not been heard in voices that are not usually listened to. Her theatre plays have been written for a range of audiences and performed in a variety of venues. 

 She believes that everyone has a story to tell and a unique voice that needs to be heard. Working with INYBB gives her the opportunity to practise the mantra that ‘writing can happen anywhere’.  

JB is a musician and artist with a passion for graffiti-style art and different forms of lettering. He led on a INYBB booklet for Young Adults newly arrived at HMPYOI Feltham, based on his own experiences of being in that position. 

He has been working on a series of cards for use in secure settings, developed some inspirational mural art for our project for the Mayor of London in Newham as well as our ongoing probation projects and has been commissioned for some heritage artworks in our Lost Letters project. 

Nathan is an actor and writer who grew up consuming as much Caribbean food as his bank balance would allow. 

He is best known as an actor for his on screen role of Joey in Benidorm and Jamie in Some Girls. He has also appeared in BBC Comedy Ghosts. He is also an award-winning children's book author. His debut children's book, Look Up!, illustrated by Dapo Adeola, won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2020. 

Nathan has also published a follow-up book, Clean Up!, to great acclaim and has written for a number of children's TV shows including Rastamouse and Swashbuckle. Nathan is the co-creator and writer of Bloods on Sky TV.

Polly is an administrator and organiser, running her own virtual PA consultancy. Polly has always enjoyed working for creative clients and INYBB could not be a more perfect fit. Passionate about history and preserving our heritage, Polly loves to dive in to some of the archives on the Lost Letters project and has found it fascinating to see the world from the personal perspectives of so many local residents.  

Sarah is a visual artist & facilitator. She is passionate about creating spaces for connection through art. She has an MA in Inclusive Arts Practice which means she spent 2 years thinking a lot about the ways creative collaboration can help us encounter each other in new ways, connect as equals and create social change.

Sarah believes creativity can change the way we see the world and make every day a little bit richer, no matter what our situation is. She has previously taught at University of Brighton and often works with the Rocket Artists, a collective of neurodiverse artists. She is ONCA’s lead artist on a wellbeing project for NHS staff and runs Global Social Club, the UK's first Youth Club of Sanctuary.

Tom is a writer and historian who combines the two into documentary poems. When not creating his own work, Tom is an arts facilitator helping people express their creativity and have their voices heard how they want them to be. Tom has first-hand experience of some of the barriers that people may face when trying to find a way to express themselves and the massive positive effect on a person's wellbeing and mental health that creative activity can generate.

Tom has worked with It's Not Your Birthday But ... since 2016 on multiple projects working with a wide range of participants in care homes, hospitals and support groups. In 2014 Tom created Write-London CIC, an arts organisation which works with people with moderate to acute mental health needs to tell their stories. 

Wendy founded INYBB in 2015, initially because of her love of sending and receiving handwritten letters. The organisation has since grown into a creative collective of artists and writers who work in a range of settings to encourage creativity in all its forms and promote the power of community building through creativity.

She is passionate about everyone having access to creative opportunities and this influences the types of projects she leads and champions. She believes that creativity can be a powerful tool to help us lead more connected and healthier lives.