Friends and Purpose - Maff Potts

Friends and Purpose - Stories from sofas on streets and some confounding ideas for tough times
 
Illustrations by Victoria Herriman
 
In this book you find out what people say when they come across a sofa, some armchairs and an entire living room in the middle of the street. What you hear are some remarkable and often very funny and very touching stories. Either side of these chapters, Maff Potts shares some of the more surprising things he has learnt about humans and humanity when working in the social justice world with people who have very tough lives. He finds the answer lies in humans, not institutions.
 
Maff Potts has spent 30 years working and volunteering in the social justice sector. This included turning the Millennium Dome into a homeless shelter; running the biggest homeless service in the UK; building a new generation of homeless centres in England for the British Government; and being CEO of a national charity and a housing association. Maff left traditional forms of social change in 2015 when he started the social movement Camerados in his bedroom. As of January 2025 there are 260 Public Living Rooms in 6 countries worldwide, in libraries, hospitals, parks, community centres-wherever the community can find space and a sofa or two. Maff is also a jazz piano player, co-founder of a jazz club and has, for many years, run an after-school club for 8 - 11 year olds called "Funky Friday". www.camerados.org

Victoria Herriman is an illustrator, designer, and arts activist who believes in the power of creativity and humour to bring people together. Her journey hasn't always been easy, but it's one shaped by resilience and a deep belief that art can inspire, connect, and make a difference. Whether working on community projects, creating space for random conversations, or simply sitting down to share a brew, Victoria's focus is always on people and finding the right hat for the occasion. www.victoriaherriman.com