Dose of Hope | The Great British Colouring Book

This is a story about how outrage inspired a beautiful wave of action nationwide.

Earlier this year, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick ordered the erasure of cartoon murals featuring Mickey Mouse and Baloo the Bear ​​at a reception centre for unaccompanied children seeking asylum.

Why? Because Jenrick thought these murals were “too welcoming” and “sent the wrong message” to the children.

The British public was appalled.

So too was the Professional Cartoonists’ Organisation (PCO), who decided to send a kinder message to children arriving in the UK. They came up with the brilliant idea of turning their anger into something positive by creating colouring books for these children.

This is where the 38 Degrees community came in. Overnight, supporters raised the funds needed to produce and distribute the first run of these books.

‘The Great British Colouring Book’ became a reality.

Thanks to 38 Degrees supporters’ generosity, more than 4,000 colouring books have made their way into the hands of newly arrived children.

Bringing together over 50 cartoonists, including Terry Gilliam and Quentin Blake, this incredible colouring book includes drawings of British culture in all its variety – from the full English breakfast to the Loch Ness Monster.

Read more about the project in The Times, where Libby Purvis wrote:

Due to popular demand, we’re making the colouring books available to members of the public for a very limited time and for a one-off donation. This bumper second edition will feature more than 100 original drawings from the UK’s best cartoonists.

Order your colouring book before the deadline tomorrow!

HUGE thanks to each and every supporter who has already ordered a copy, as well as for the lovely messages you’ve been sending in. Below is one of many heartwarming notes that we’ve received, courtesy of Kate in Westmorland and Lonsdale.

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