Children's author Andrew Buller showcases the work undertaken with the amazing Catching Lives homeless clients at a literary festival in France. The work involves the writing and illustration of their own children's book "Harbledown Hope" that channels their own emotions and experiences through the eyes of a suffering urban fox. This is the first of two presentations given.

1. Presented by children’s author Andrew Buller
www.andrewbuller.com @ABullerAuthor
Part 1

3. • Author, Illustrator, Designer, Consultant, Speaker
• Author of children’s book series ‘The Rhymers’
• Volunteer at Catching Lives – use creative writing
and arts skills to enable and inspire clients
www.andrewbuller.com

4. • Independent charity supporting rough
sleepers, homeless & vulnerably housed
in Canterbury & East Kent
“Our vision is of a society where all are
included and all, no matter how
disadvantaged, can make a contribution. ”
www.catchinglives.org

5. • 2 year EU funding with partners in Spain, Italy, France
• “Enable clients to express their thoughts, feelings and
emotions through art work, photography, animation,
film, poetry, drama and short story writing”
• Long-term vision way beyond this funding
• Key aims of the project:

6. Q: What masks do we hide behind?

7. • The Blank Page
• Anything goes
• Everyone & every idea valued

8. The Urban Fox – but why?
• “We can identify with it”
• Link with previous artwork
• Freedom of animal voice

9. • Produced the first fox print for
Catching Lives map
• “The Fox’s new talents – my
new talents”
• “Writing helps me make sense
of things”
• Shared at creative writing
workshop Oct 2015 – huge
boost to self-confidence

10. Q: Why can our community relate to the urban fox so well?

11. Help
Vulnerable
Alone
Need
Justice
Equality
Respect
Misunderstood
Mistreated
Roaming
Scavenging
Victimised
Abused

13. • Fox hunt
• Parents of fox killed
• Fox rescued by kind dog
• Journey to Canterbury
• Arrive at Greyfriars shed
• Animals try to feed fox
• Fox close to death
• Mother dog feeds fox
• Hope of future for fox
• Caring father figure revealed

14. Fox - survivor
Weasel - evil
Squirrel - nutty
Badger - dependableRat - greedy
Dog - fierce Dog - rescuer
Seagull - crazy

16. • Jimmy & Keith - talent & knowledge incredible
• Story locations linked to walk
• Important places to homeless community
• Walk part of 3-day EU Litfest

18. In search of the animal’s shed –
representing Catching Lives

21. Encourage as many as possible to get involved

25. Harbledown Hope

27. • Complete the story, illustrate & publish
• More books – Harbledown’s series
• Much more written & art work

28. • What talent within our clients
• What a positive use of time
• What development of new skills
• What an inspiration to others