Hi everyone. I am delighted to share that my debut book, Looked After: A Childhood in Care, will be published by
@HodderBooks
in June โ24. About my time care, I hope it shines a light on the system. Amazed & humbled to have a book on the way. โค๏ธ Pre-order now. Link in bio๐ซ๐๐ฝ
When I collected my A level results, Iโd just left foster care & was adjusting to living alone in a council flat. No family to celebrate with. Deep isolation. No โwell doneโ lunch. Shout out to all the care experienced ppl collecting results today. Be proud. What a triumph. โค๏ธ๐๐ฝ
After Englandโs semi-final win on Wednesday, one fan told me he feels โevery black and minority player is one bad game away from racial abuseโ. He wasnโt wrong.
#EURO2020
#Euro2020Final
2 days ago my wife gave birth to our beautiful daughter. The level of care from NHS staff was spectacular! I was unreservedly thanking every worker I encountered at the hospital. This is my shout out to them on Twitter ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
#ThankYouNHS
#ClapForOurCarers
Here I am - a BBC reporter / presenter with BAFTA winning actress & writer
@sophiewillan
. Weโre both care experienced. Whilst some stigmatise and write off care exp. ppl as damaged beyond repair - we and so many other care experienced ppl will continue to rise & smash it ๐๐ฝ
In care I thought I was an only child. In my 20โs I find out via a FB msg that I have siblings. 2020, I bump into a brother for the 1st time by coincidence. This has led to a film about the state of sibling relationships in the care system. Prod by a great team. Out 26th Jan ๐๐ฝ
In 2010 Iโd recently left the care system & was terrified at the idea of adulthood. Back then I had NO idea that Iโd work in broadcasting & would thrive as a young adult. Point is - you donโt have to be limited by your background. Happy 2020 peeps. Make this year count ๐๐ฝ
This kid was shunted across 4 foster homes & a care home. Excluded. Suspended. No aspiration. If you had told him heโd be a BBC broadcaster, graduate & author, heโd have thought it a lie. My book Looked After comes out tomorrow. Pls pre-order if you can. Link in bio. Thanks. ๐๐ฝโค๏ธ
The reaction to our documentary has left me a bit stunned. Our film shines a light on a care system that, at times, fragments & breaks the bond of siblings. Thank you BBC News for investing in this story. Hereโs the link to the full doc. Please watch ๐๐ฝ -
These siblings were split up in care & didnโt see each other for 8 yrs. They were reunited through a Xmas dinner put on for care leavers. This yr scores of Xmas dinners are being held for care leavers thanks to
@lemnsissay
. Catch my report about it tomorrow on
@BBCBreakfast
My first girl was born during the first covid lockdown & my second girl arrives as Russia invades Ukraine. Today Iโm grateful for the basic freedoms I can enjoy with my girls. Oh, and a BIG thanks to the NHS! ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
Iโm always reluctant to share clips of my girl on Twitter. But I just got sent this clip of her reacting to seeing me on telly this morning & I cannot resist sharing!! That feeling of my seeing my daughterโs reaction never gets oldโฆ ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝโค๏ธ
Saskia is care experienced and features in our doc. Lived without her brothers for years & is now a social worker. I am up in Manchester doing BBC interviews with her. Sheโs incredible and represents herself SO well. ๐๐ฝ
If someone had told me as a foster kid that Iโd one day work as a BBC broadcaster & speak at award events - Iโd have disbelieved it. Itโs easy to take the present for granted - but sometimes youโve gotta stop, celebrate the wins & appreciate the growth. Hereโs to a new week ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
Hello people! Following the response to our doc on iPlayer, BBC Three is giving it a TV slot over the next few weeks. ๐ It will also run on the BBC News Channel this w/e. Glad this issue is getting the platform it deserves. Will give an update on timings when Iโm allowed! ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
How do you get ready for uni when you canโt even afford a suitcase? Only 6% of teenagers whoโve lived in foster homes or care homes make it to uni. In my latest report for
@BBCNews
I explore why so few care leavers go to uni. Pls watch & share ๐๐ฝ
A care leaver stuck in uni halls because she doesnโt have a home to go to; another moved to a house with total strangers days after lockdown; a 20 yr old estranged from relatives & alone in a bed sit...Hereโs my latest report on care leavers in lockdown -
Delighted to start a new role as Digital Senior Reporter for
@BBCNews
๐๐ฝHoping to generate quality, original stories that affect younger viewers & communities that donโt always feel represented. If you have any story ideas pls email me - ashleyjohn.baptiste
@bbc
.co.uk ๐๐ฝ
Today is launch day & Iโm now officially a published authorโฆ Very gassed to say that Looked After is now available to buy on Amazon, Waterstones etc. Link in bio if you fancy grabbing a copy. A BIG thank you โค๏ธ๐๐ฝ
Well, itโs National Care Leavers week. Shout out to every care experienced person whoโs had to navigate โthe systemโ. The trauma of time in care can follow you well into adulthood - so well done to those who are here & making the best of life. The sky is the limit.๐๐ฝ
As a child I spent many Christmasโ in homes where I didnโt feel like I belonged. For many whoโve been in care, Xmas can be rough. Cos of my start, it was a joy to be at
#ShapingUs
@Earlychildhood
carol service celebrating those helping our youngest. It airs on tv, Xmas Eve ๐.
Really happy that tomorrow afternoon
@bbc5live
is dedicating a whole hour to discussing how care leavers are coping under lockdown. Iโll be live with Nihal & some care leavers from across the UK. If youโre care experienced pls tune in & get in touch ๐๐ฝ
Thanks so much to
@BBCTheOneShow
for having me present this special film and share a bit of my own story. I really hope that people learnt something - and that any looked after children watching were empowered.
He introduced the power of words to so many of us. Made an English syllabus accessible to so many of us. Made us believe in the value & power of our own voice. A hero. Rest well. ๐๐ฝ
I am grateful that these days, my Christmasโ are filled with love. But I can still viscerally recall certain years in foster care (& post care) where I felt deeply isolated. Hereโs a note to all the care experienced ppl (& others) who might be dreading this time of year. Big โค๏ธ.
Big love to all the care experienced people & others whoโve had to grow up without a conventional โmumโ. Hopefully youโve still got incredible people that you can appreciate on a day like this.๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
#HappyMothersDay
The idea that we should always be hustling is overwhelming. Working hard is important but recently Iโve been thinking on the importance of taking my time. Potential wasnโt meant to be fulfilled overnight - itโs ok to take time. No need to feel rushed by the accolades of others ๐๐ฝ
Morning guys. Iโm proud of this article I wrote for
#BBCNews
- a very important issue thatโs been made into a documentary. Pls have a read ๐๐ฝ -
Subnormal: The scandal of black children sent to 'special' schools
I genuinely love chatting to & sharing with other care leavers. Someone I met a while back just sent me this msg on Twitter. What great news to wake up to ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
The incredible Samantha Morton dedicated her BAFTA to those who are care experienced. Incredible. The support she showed when I did my doc on siblings in care was a big surprise. Sheโs the real deal. A champion for so many. And as she says - representation matters. โค๏ธ
#EEBAFTAs
I mentioned that Iโve been following 3 black British freshers @ Cambridge uni, documenting their experiences over the past year. Well weโve now edited a 25 min doc for BBC News. So proud of this film - which it airs next week. Stay tuned! ๐๐ฝ
Been invited to speak at the Princess of Wales
#ShapingUs
Symposium - all about early years. Itโs tomorrow. Iโll touch on my care journey & share insights from my BBC work on the care system & underserved young ppl. Glad I can harness trauma of my early yrs for such good use. ๐๐ฝ
One day to go! Meet our
#ShapingUs
Symposium host and speakers! With talks from a range of thought leaders & a panel of experts covering their professional & personal experiences, it's going to be a brilliant day!
Iโm co-presenting a new
#BBC2
show peeps. An 8 part series about how modern Brits pursue spirituality - alongside the Rev
@revkatebottley
๐๐ฝ. Never done a project like it before ๐๐ฝ Starts this Sunday, BBC2, 13.50๐๐ฝ
Have just left Waterstones in Piccadilly after my book launch event. No words. Stunned by the turnout, the vibe & everyoneโs generosity. What an incredible crew of people. ๐๐ฝ๐ซถ๐ฝ
Delighted that tomorrow you can catch my first ever film for
@BBCTheOneShow
- where I visit a modern day care home for looked after children. Iโll also be on the sofa afterwards to chat a bit more about the care system & my experiences. Tune in. BBC1, 7pm ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
Very chuffed to be hosting the
@BASW_UK
Social Worker of the Year Awards tonight. Hearing powerful stories of social work practice. ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
#SWA22
And this is a questionโฆ If the brain doesnโt stop developing until youโre 25 - how can care experienced 16 year olds, with all their hardship & trauma, be expected to actually live stable adult lives?
An absolute privilege to play a part in todayโs
#BBCNews
coverage - hearing from people on the mall and to also do my first ever live for the 10 oโclock news. A very bittersweet day.
#Queen
Big day tomorrow (gulp!) It will be my first time presenting
@BBCTheOneShow
- alongside the brilliant
@angellicabell
! Looking forward to chatting with some great guests. Hope you can tune in๐ค๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
Over the past year Iโve been following three black students at Cambridge Uni for a BBC News doc. Today was our last day shooting. Itโs been a privilege documenting their experiences during a year like no other. They are resilience personified ๐๐ฝ
Our documentary was mentioned in the House of Commons today - in an important question raised by
@EmmaLewellBuck
about siblings in care. Surprised but also glad that our journalism is having this sort of reach.
Sir Mo Farah was brought to the UK illegally as a child; his father was killed when he was four; he worked as a domestic servant & was fostered. His real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin. ๐คฏThis is a must watch. The true story of Britainโs greatest ever track athleteโฆ
So my boi
@itsjungleboi
has only gone & released a single with
#Zayn
Malik &
@R3HAB
!! Heโs an amazing producer & artist whoโs been at it for years - so this is well deserved. ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
If you watched
#SmallAxe
last night, read this article of mine about the Mangrove 9 trial. I got to meet & interview the legend that is Barbara Beese ๐๐ฝ via
@bbcnews
Seriously. To all the presenters, reporters, producers, crew etc. who have been holding the fort in
#Ukraine
, to keep us all informed about this depraved invasionโฆ thank you! Some incredible stamina & courage being shown by SO many. ๐๐ฝ
โโฆthose taken into care face a loveless loneliness and a bleak futureโ? What an ignorant, short-sighted take on care kids. Peddling a v harmful stigma. No nuance or perspective. FYI, I was in a care home. I have love, community and my future is bright.
Since Oct 2019 Iโve been following 3 black Cambridge Uni freshers for a piece weโre doing on the black experience @ Cambridge. Today Iโm filming with 1 of those freshers in his home & here he is with his Nigerian parents, getting ready for the new term. They are SO inspiring ๐๐ฝ
As someone who didnโt have a personal representation of a good father - being a new dad can present a lot of insecurity. Yet here I am, with an incredible little girl who is flourishing. Shout out to all the dads that show up for their kids. Happy Fatherโs Day peeps ๐๐ฝ
Feeling honoured that โฆ
@thetimes
โฉ has published an extract of my book in their magazine. Writing about navigating the care system took much resolve & Iโm glad for any recognition it gets. Article here & you can pre-order my book via link in bio. ๐ซถ๐ฝ
Morning! Hereโs our full film - โBeing Black at Cambridgeโ. Pls do have a watch. A total team effort -
@karlenepinnock
@jhsfmama
@robtaylortv
. Other versions rolling out across BBC platforms later today ๐๐ฝ
My debut book LOOKED AFTER is editorโs choice in The Bookseller today (
@thebookseller
) - Iโm extremely flattered. Comes out in June, but you can pre-order now via link in bio.
#LookedAfter
๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
This year marks 100 years of council estates - so Iโve written this piece for
#BBCNews
Online. Do have a read (I also touch on my own personal experience of living in a council flat). The piece is a total team effort - see end of piece for credits) ๐๐ฝ
Worked from home today. For lunch, took my 2 year old daughter to our local park, sat on a bench & had a โchatโ. We counted all the red cars driving by. Bliss. Being present in the small things can be hard for me, but simple moments are ๐ฏ the ones to treasure. For real๐๐ฝ
Snap of me speaking at the Princess of Walesโ
#ShapingUs
symposium earlier this week. To speak as someone with care experience to such an influential room felt important. ๐๐ฝ
Hi everyone. I am delighted to share that my debut book, Looked After: A Childhood in Care, will be published by
@HodderBooks
in June โ24. About my time care, I hope it shines a light on the system. Amazed & humbled to have a book on the way. โค๏ธ Pre-order now. Link in bio๐ซ๐๐ฝ
Am still receiving so many messages following our film & will make the time to get through as many as poss - but Iโve just glanced this one on Instagram. Incredible stuff. ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
Hi people. Tonight our documentary Split Up In Care: Life Without Siblings is airing at 22.00 on BBC3 TV. If you havenโt seen itโฆ get involved! ๐๐ฝ
So so chuffed to be back presenting Social Worker of the Year awards. Always inspired by the stories I hear. Letโs go! ๐ช๐ฝ
@socialworkaward
#SWA2023
Morning guys, Iโve been hearing from black men about the racism they experience in the UK. Itโs vital their experiences are seen & heard. Please have a watch & do share if it resonates with you ๐๐ฝ
Was great to meet & have lunch with Lord Simon Woolley today. First black man to be a master at a Cambridge Uni college & founder of Operation Black Vote. He also spoke about his journey as a child in foster care & then adoption. Inspired is an understatement. ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
For the past year, BBC Africa Eye has been secretly investigating sexual harassment by lecturers at West Africa's most prestigious universities.
Stay tuned... ๐
#BBCAfricaEye
l
#SexForGrades
To mark
#BlackHistoryMonth
ย , I want to acknowledge Lyndon. A black man & my key worker when I was in residential care at around the age of 8. He forced me to go school (significant cos other boys in home didnโt go). Heโs impacted so many lives in care & ๐ฏdeserves a shout out.
The SAGE member on
#Marr
claimed that a school age person is seven times more likely to bring
#covid
into a household than anyone else. The PM however just said that schools are very safe & that the risks to students and staff are very small...
Went to a BAFTA screening last night for
@JimmyAkingbola
new documentary - about his time in care. Simply incredible. A compelling watch that will no doubt impact many. Glad to know thereโs another care exp. bro in this media space.๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
THREAD: As the political crisis continues in Venezuela - thousands have fled to the small island of Trinidad. Itโs just 7 miles off the coast of Venezuela, making it one of the easiest places to reach. Watch our film to find out more -
The culmination of two years of work in physical form. My book arrived in the post today - first time Iโve held it. Link in bio if youโd like to pre-order! โค๏ธ๐๐ฝ
What a brilliant picture.
@vicderbyshire
giving a platform to a bunch of young black men to share their experiences and tell their truth. All done with sensitivity and class ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
โI watched my foster mum get smaller and smaller as I was driven away - I was weeping.โ
@AshleyJBaptiste
describes the trauma of having to move foster homes aged 8. He was moved multiple times as a child.
Here is Norman Mills, my final social worker. He was featured on BBC Radio 4 this morning.
He is NOT the social worker, also called Norman, who named me after himself. That was Norman Goldthorpe.
Norman Mills. A good man.
The thought of living independently as a 16 yr old care experienced young person is scary, daunting and pretty much impossible for most... I left care at 18 & only felt remotely capable of โadultingโ in my mid 20sโฆ
As a working class, comprehensive school educated, care experienced Cambridge graduate - I sincerely apologise for any private WOE I may have caused to certain individuals. ๐
Someone who grew up in care sent me this msg on instagram earlier this week after reading
#LookedAfter
So glad itโs resonating with care experienced ppl โค๏ธ