Our Team

Carlie Goldsmith - Research Fellow University of Sussex and Crew Club team member

Carlie grew up in Whitehawk and was the first person in her family to go to university. She is the campaign’s chief spokesperson. Carlie was awarded her PhD in 2011 and was a senior lecturer in criminology before becoming an independent researcher and scholar. Carlie now works at The Crew Club and University of Sussex. All of her work is focused on how to challenge social inequalities and injustices. She also coaches the Crew Club running programme - helping people move is the thing that brings her joy.

Curtis James - researcher & activist

Curtis grew up on the Bristol Estate and went to school in Whitehawk. Like many of his friends he left school with little to show in the way of academic achievement. Since leaving school he has spent years discovering his own ways to learn, and now runs a small participatory research company. Curtis is keen to support communities to thrive by challenging broken and out date top down approaches to community involvement in everything from education, health, housing and the environment.

Will McInnes - entrepreneur

Will grew up in Hove. Multiple of his family members are or were teachers in the city, including in East Brighton. He is Chief Marketing Officer at Brandwatch, a global technology company headquartered in Brighton, author of ‘Culture Shock’ and co-founder of Meaning Conference. He was previously a trustee of Safety Net, which runs programmes in schools across the city, and one of the founding non-exec directors of Wired Sussex.

Dave Bailey - parent & former school governer

Born in Wales, Dave is local parent and former school governer, with an interest in education issues. Dave has lived in Whitehawk for over a decade and takes an active interest the community.

Sara Bragg - local parent and Lecturer, UCL Institute of Education

Sara has lived in Brighton for over 30 years. Her research, teaching and publications have focused on education, inequities and social justice, alongside creative teaching, learning and research methods; student voice and participation; formations of gender and sexuality. She is interested in the everyday experiences of young people in schools and tracing how they connect to broader trends in education policy and social change.

Valerie Cane - retired teacher and parent

Val taught local children at Stanley Deason School, and was a local parent. Involved in the trade union.

Sylvia King - Brighton resident and retired solicitor

Sylvia was a Brighton parent of a special needs child and as a solicitor, in the past, represented many parents who were seeking to obtain special educational needs provision for their children.

Sarah Leaney, Senior Lecturer, School of Applied Social Science, University of Brighton

All of Sarah’s research focuses on education, social class and inequality. Also a volunteer at the Crew Club, supporting children in the after-school provision.

Grant Phillips - Anthropologist and local resident

Grant grew up in Whitehawk and went to school locally. Grant went back to education as a mature student and was recently awarded a first-class honours degree in Anthropology from the University of Sussex.

Darren Snow, MBE - co-founder of The Crew Club

Co-founder of the Crew Club in Whitehawk, an organization that provides a programme of free weekly activities for children and families in East Brighton. Awarded MBE in 2007 from the Prince of Wales for his services to young people in Brighton. In 2009 achieved a Foundation Degree in Youth and Community work. Darren is also a level 2 Fitness Instructor and ABA level 2 Boxing Coach. Darren has achieved all of this despite the education he got in Whitehawk.

Ali Ghanimi - founder of Free University Brighton

Founder of Free University Brighton which provides free, cooperative education for adults in the city up to degree level. Ali is a first generation university graduate and set up FUB to make further education accessible to all. She currently works at Brighton and Hove Food Partnership.

Scott Colson - Adult Social Care Convenor for Unison, Brighton & Hove Unitary Branch.

BA Hons graduate that struggled on account of the rigours of the educational system. As it is, it needs change.

Such hurdles were lessened in a more accepting world of trade unionism, and the Free University Brighton.