Creative Team

JJ Bola

JJ is a writer and poet. His debut novel, No Place to Call Home, was first published in the UK in 2017. He was one of Spread the Word’s Flight Associates 2017, and a Kit de Waal Scholar for the Birkbeck University MA in Creative Writing.

JJ has been leading workshops with the Creative Writing Group to produce an exciting series of writing for New Dreams.

Becca Hirst

Becca is a caseworker for Mind in Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster. She has been a volunteer at Migrants Organise since January 2020 as facilitator of the Creative Writing Group.

Becca has supported the Creative Writing Group to deliver their pieces as well as coordinated the New Dreams project alongside the Gate.

Tyrell Williams

Tyrell is a writer/director and Gate Alumni Artist. He co-created, co-wrote and directed the viral web series #HoodDocumentary. Following its online acclaim, #HoodDocumentary went on to be commissioned as a web series for BBC Three which Tyrell directed and co-wrote.

Tyrell has been leading filmmaking workshops with members of Migrants Organise who are currently navigating the refugee/asylum system.

Rachel Hackler

Rachel Hackler has been working with Migrants Organise since January 2020, and has been their Activities Coordinator since October.

She has been working with the women's group to create a series of paintings and podcasts for New Dreams.

Nanou Thassinda

Nanou has been volunteering with Migrants Organise for 20 months as a facilitator for the Women's Group.

She has supported the women through a series of workshops to deliver their paintings and podcasts for New Dreams.

Aisling (Ash) Wattons

Ash has been working with Migrants Organise and facilitating the Women's Group since January 2021.

She has supported the women's group to create a series of paintings and podcasts for New Dreams.

Yasmin Hafesji

Yasmin is a director/dramaturg and has been Associate Director at the Gate since April 2020.

She is the project co-lead of New Dreams.

Francesca Valerio

Francesca is Community Programme Director at Migrants Organise and project co-lead of New Dreams.

Maymuna Osman

Maymuna is an Organiser at Migrants Organise.

She has been supporting filmmaking workshops with a group of members who are navigating the refugee/asylum system.

Gergana G Popova

Gergana G Popova is a cinematographer working across different projects - from experimental short films and commercials to documentaries. She was selected for BFI Network x BAFTA crew 2021

Gergana worked with Tyrell Williams on the film made for New Dreams.

Tish Kester

Tish is an artist who has worked with a number of charities and NGOs to use art as a tool to create a shared language and bring people together.

She has been leading a series of workshops with the women's group to support them to explore their journey through 'lockdown' using art.