The idea for this book was initiated by Mark Lebon, who approached Terry and I at the end of 2005 to say that one of his best photographic students at the London College of Fashion, Charlie Green, had been killed as a passenger in a drink related car accident.
Mark had the idea to make something in memory of Charlie, but also to support young people at risk internationally. The title “Safe+Sound” was his, the request to make one of our special projects like Family Future Positive, Beyond Price and Learn and Pass it On. The brief was then mine, thinking how we could involve our contributors and what questions to ask. Initially my letter, too abstract this time I fear, was asking for positive stories of people who had inspired us by coming through difficult times including drugs, drink, anorexia, loneliness, depression or serious illness. However, as with the best projects this has grown organically and led by our contributors the contents have broadened and become more layered. We have difficult moments many times in our own lives. So the aim of this book has become to inspire, even in a small way, with personal stories and creative images and help all of us realise we are not alone.
Different people have earned and wear different life experience t-shirts and hopefully this book will show you some of those.
Once again a huge thank you to all of you who have found time in increasingly busy schedules to participate in this project. As always it’s been a great pleasure and honour to be a part of it.
2007
