Refugee to MBE
An acclaimed hip hop dancer, choreographer, teacher, social entrepreneur and ‘talent awakener’, Toby Gorniak fled anti-Roma violence in Poland and built a new life in the UK. Based in Plymouth, he founded arts organisation Street Factory, which has inspired thousands of young people from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds. Here he discusses racism, hip hop, academia and his plan to take the ‘Gorniak Method’ global. Article by Jo Gorniak.
Who would’ve thought that a Roma refugee, arriving in the UK with nothing but scars from violence and trauma, would one day receive an MBE from the Queen? Certainly not me. If you’d told teenage me, fleeing daily attacks in Poland, that I’d go on to be the subject of the UK’s first hip hop PhD, I would’ve laughed in disbelief. But here I am.
My story began in Poland, where violence was part of my reality. Being Roma, I was constantly a target. I remember being beaten, chased and even hospitalised – simply for existing. When I arrived in the UK, I didn’t speak a word of English, had no home and felt utterly hopeless. But somewhere in the chaos of it all, I made a decision that would shape the rest of my life: I was going to turn every bit of pain I’d endured into something meaningful. That’s when I realised my pain wasn’t a weakness – it was my superpower.
‘We built it on the five elements I live by: respect, peace, love, unity and fun’
From that moment, I knew my purpose. I was determined to be the person I desperately needed as a kid – for others. My mission became clear: I would help people like me, those who felt invisible, discarded and silenced by society. That’s when I started my work alongside my wife, with nothing more than passion and purpose, starting off in a small church hall, with our mission to unite communities from all walks of life, all backgrounds, and all cultures, with our motto as a foundation: ‘We are one.’
We built it on the five elements I live by: respect, peace, love, unity and fun. These are the core values I wanted to instil in every young person who crossed my path.
We used these elements and our God-given talents as youth activists – dance, drama as therapy, and poetry – to empower the youth to use their voices through workshops, community performances and outreach. We invited MPs, doctors, community leaders and Plymouth City Council to witness what their community needed to thrive. Their voices were amplified, their truth was told, and the doors began to open for them – and us.
My work isn’t just about hip hop; it’s about unlocking the potential that the world often overlooks. It’s about giving a voice to those who’ve been told they have nothing to offer. Whether young people have additional needs, face trauma or are stuck in poverty, I help them discover their individual genius – just like I discovered mine.
I remember when the deaf society needed someone to run positive activities with their teenagers, I put my hand up straight away and said yes. I didn’t know how I was going to communicate with them; it was a space I had never entered, but I was determined not to say no to anyone who needed me. I learned Makaton on a course, turned speakers upside down, and let the vibration fill the room. Fast forward 18 months, they became the UK’s only national deaf hip hop crew.
I’ve always stood up and been counted when I see something wrong. When I don’t believe in what’s happening, I make noise – and I amplify the voices of my people. I’ve given hundreds of platforms for young people to share their stories and experiences. I’ve created hard-hitting, youth-driven theatre to wake up society, to make them see what communities want and need. Not through fear, but through truth. I believe in opening doors for myself and my community, and in my work, there are no ladders – only bridges. When I succeed, we all succeed. That’s my greatest achievement, watching young people run across those bridges, knowing that when they win, I win. My work has always been about creating that ripple effect – teaching others to teach – that’s the legacy I’m proud of. The impact has been phenomenal and it fills my heart with joy.
Over the last two decades, I’ve seen lives transformed right before my eyes. I’ve watched young people who’ve been written off by society step into their power and recognise their worth. That’s what my work is all about – proving that no matter your background, you have something valuable to offer.
‘The Gorniak Method was born from everything I’d experienced and learned’
As the work grew, so did my approach. The Gorniak Method was born from everything I’d experienced and learned. It’s my way of helping young people tap into their genius through hip hop, movement and community.
And guess what? That method became the foundation of a PhD student’s research. A student is now studying the outcomes of my programmes, showing how deeply impactful they’ve been. Yeah, hip hop and academia coming together – that’s the power of using your life’s experiences as fuel.
The Gorniak Method blends my horrific beginnings, two decades of community service and everything I’ve learned into a theory of change. I now have a magic toolbox of strategies to teach people who are labelled ‘unreachable’. I compliment them, believe in them and stand beside them until they believe in themselves. Hip hop dance, drama, rap and theatre are all tools that help unlock confidence and self-worth. The key is helping them realise they’re a genius, and once we unlock that, I help them re-enter education, training or business so they can exceed in their dreams. All I ask is that they ‘teach to teach’ – pass it on and give someone else the same chance when they see them.
When I heard that my work was inspiring PhD research, I was blown away. Who would’ve thought that a kid running from violence would be here, today, influencing academic study? Coventry University believed in my work and wanted to shine a light on its extraordinary outcomes.
I work with communities from all walks of life and my Roma people. When I stand in front of them, being valued and respected, introducing myself in the Roma language and sharing my successes, they hold their heads high. They take pride in their roots, and they begin to want more. Representation really matters. We need to share our Roma success and then take those role models into schools across the UK and around the globe to build our people up.
‘My next goal is the biggest one yet’
Then came the accolades. Being honoured with an MBE by the Queen was something I never saw coming. Winning the BBC Unsung Hero Award and receiving an honorary fellowship degree? It was beyond anything I’d imagined. But as proud as I am of these achievements, what matters most to me is what I can do with them. These honours are tools I’m using to push forward with my mission.
My next goal is the biggest one yet: I want to help one million young people discover their own genius. I’m taking the Gorniak Method global, reaching out to kids around the world who, like me, are growing up in poverty, with low mental health, and being told they’ll never amount to anything. I was that kid once, and I know what it feels like to be invisible. But I also know what it feels like to be seen, to be told you’re enough, and that’s what I want to give to others.
I’m taking it global by running my method throughout Europe, Dubai or anywhere I’m invited. Working with children who need that spark unlocked – schools, universities, city-wide events and seminars. If you need me, just call.
I’m just a Roma kid who refused to accept what life threw at me. My past doesn’t define me, but what I’ve chosen to do with it does. I’ve taken every bit of pain and turned it into purpose. Now, I’m using that purpose to light the way for others.
This mission? It’s only getting started.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Runnymede Trust.
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Photo © Toby Gorniak MBE
