Looked After cover art

Looked After

A Childhood in Care

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Looked After

By: Ashley John-Baptiste
Narrated by: Ashley John-Baptiste
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About this listen

'This is a book that everyone must read. It's funny, moving and of course it's often sad. But mainly it's a beautiful and fascinating and enlightening portrait of the care system, a world that is barely understood by many of us. It is also a proper page turner: the twists and turns and set-backs of his childhood are as gripping as they are shocking. I genuinely couldn't put it down. This story is more urgent and relevant now than ever.' - XAND VAN TULLEKEN

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Ashley John-Baptiste grew up in the British care system, living with five different families, without ever being truly part of a family.

It wasn't easy, or straightforward, and Ashley's ever-changing living situation affected every single part of his life - from his education to his sense of identity to his friendships and his hobbies. And yet, throughout everything his childhood in care threw at him, Ashley remained resilient and found a way to take advantage of the opportunities that came his way.

Now Ashley feels able to tell us - vividly and movingly - how, when it felt like the world was turning its back on him, he refused to be an outsider in his own home and set about establishing a new and positive life for himself.

Looked After is a memoir written from the heart that pulls no punches but demonstrates that given encouragement and love - and, sometimes, a second chance - a care-experienced boy can become a successful broadcaster, a loving husband and a proud father.

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'Rage-inducing from start to finish. It is such a powerful story, but it's also a rallying cry for change. It will mean so much to lots of kids out there and should be read by every social worked in the land.' - WES STREETING

'Ashley John-Baptiste joins a high class of writing by upstanding respectful and honourable citizens and professionals, professors and actors, lawyers, doctors, artists and authors, all who happen to have had a life in care. We have every right to tell our story as much as anyone else. Welcome, Ashley.' - LEMN SISSAY

'An inspiring story of triumph over adversity.' - FATIMA WHITBREAD

'Ashley has done the country a great service in shining a light on the inhumane - and at times brutal - way that society supports this most vulnerable group of children. Every politician should read this book and commit to fixing the system.' - SHARON WHITE

'Beautifully written, with such immediacy, clarity and warmth.' - EAMON McCRORY, Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology at UCL

©2024 Ashley John-Baptiste (P)2024 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Parenting & Families Relationships Funny Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

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What listeners say about Looked After

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Absolutely incredible real life story of growing up in care

I was blown away by Ashley’s story of his time in care. A must read for everyone. Ashley you’re an incredible person to have overcome so much on your own.

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So moving

An amazing book. Thank you so much for writing this. It should be compulsory reading for all those who work with looked after children and all those who make decisions about their lives. Adults need to get better at listening to children and taking time to understand their reactions .

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Ashley transports you to his inner world - thought provoking and incredibly powerful.

Listening to Ashley's story is incredibly powerful. It gives a thought-provoking glimpse into the inner voice of a Looked After Child and the challenges they face being in the care system. As a social worker, it brought up interactions I'd had with children and challenged the messages I may have inadvertently given as well as fondly remembering the relationships I built and the goodbyes that felt final and unnatural to me, let alone the children themselves. A must read for anyone, it speaks to humanity and is the sort of book that will stick in your mind once you've read it.

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Touching and relatable

Really well told and something I can relate to. Very nostalgic too. A good insight to the care system and the impact individuals can have

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The cruelties of the care system

I felt the lines about how the little boy Ashley was feeling were stunning. I also enjoyed his friendships and would have liked more of this. Some of the descriptive sections were flat.

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what an amazing book! an emotional roller coaster

I'm a foster carer and have been for many years, I have really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, tears of joy and sadness. I don't know you but I feel incredibly proud of you. A true inspiration.

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Thanks for sharing your humbling experience

A stark insight into the “care system” thank you for sharing your story and providing an insight into a system I had no knowledge of. I cried for the little boy who didn’t feel he belonged and was so touched by your inner strength. Well worth listening to.

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A good insight

A good insight into the struggles of growing up in care, a true reflection of a child not being heard but despite the odds he actually makes something of his life.

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Beautifully written and read

As a leader in social care, to use Ashley's phrase, this book delivered a few "gut punches". It was a really eloquent insight into his world and listening to Ashley tell it on audible felt even more impactful. Thank you for sharing your story. We are trying to do better. We have much more to do.

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Heartwrenchingly sincere

To hear and experience this through the voice of the author gives you a very real sense of the authentic emotion of Ashley’s journey. I have nothing but respect for his resilience and ability to vividly make real, a journey that many are unable to conceptualise.

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