Fifty-One Moves

A 'Going Straight' genre life story which breaks new ground in taking as its focus the vagaries of the child care system and in doing so is re-assuring for professionals and young people in care alike. It is a shocking fact that whilst just one per cent of young people enter care to be 'looked after' by a local authority, foster parents and in children's homes, a whopping 27 per cent of prisoners have been in care at some time or another. Ben Ashcroft was one of these. Fifty-one Moves is his vivid and telling first-hand account of his experiences in 37 different establishments. Altogether - as the book's title implies - he was moved 51 times from his first placement as a ten-year-old until he left care at age 16, as he drifted into penal custody. With his experiences of young offender institutions behind him and out of trouble for ten years, his is a positive example of personal change. The book contains many insights as to how this came about as well as the impact of care on a vulnerable child and young person. It also shows the difference that can be made by a person's environment, the work of the child care services, the help of its professionals and the ups and downs of success and failure as these efforts are brought to bear.

Reviews
The book was described as inspirational, powerful, emotional, compelling and required reading for anyone interested in the care system when released on Kindle, e.g.
'An inspiring and moving account of the trauma and distress caused to a young boy by his family and our care system': Sarah
'How do you fix pieces that have been utterly shattered-as a parent, ex-care man and professional psychologist I wish I knew-I guess the resolution to do so has to be out there': Dr Peter MacParlin.
'A very raw book...but this only adds to the sense of passion and honesty with which it is written': Fiona Sorsby, Bingley, West Yorkshire.
'This motivational read is such a hard hitting tale...it's heartfelt and gives such a clear first-hand account of life living in a care home...A brilliant worthwhile read about a man who truly turned his life around': Stacey Spencer.

Author
Since 'sorting out his life', Ben Ashcroft has had a variety of mainly unskilled jobs before setting out to realise his lifetime ambition to become a published author. Someone who also enjoys creativity, he is also in demand on the conference circuit where he has worked with audiences both large and small.