Broadcaster, TV presenter, author and inspirational speaker Ashley John-Baptiste has today been announced as the host for Voices 2025, the national creative writing competition for care-experienced children and young people, run by Coram Voice and sponsored by UK management consultancy Cadence Innova, part of Transform.
Ashley will present the awards at a ceremony in London on 30 May 2025, alongside former competition winner Ira Hakim, with actor Peter Capaldi, a long-term supporter of the competition, joining the event as a special guest.
This is the ninth edition of Voices, a platform that showcases the creativity and talent of care-experienced children and young people. The awards will celebrate the 24 shortlisted finalists in the competition, who have submitted their entries – including poems, stories and raps – on the theme of ‘My Voice’. The entries have been judged by a panel of acclaimed children’s authors, writers and other leading experts, many of whom have personal experience of the care system.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Coram Voice, a leading charity championing the voice of care-experienced children and young people.
Alongside his role as an award-winning broadcaster and TV presenter, Ashley John-Baptiste is an inspirational speaker who shares his own story of navigating the care system, and is the founder of Be Inspired events which aim to spark aspirations of people who have spent time in care. Ashley fronted the BBC Three documentary Care Home Kids: Looking For Love as well as a documentary about siblings separated in care. His debut book Looked After: A Childhood in Care was published in 2024.
Ashley John-Baptiste said: “I’m passionate about the outcomes for young people who have been through the care system and giving them opportunities to unlock their ambitions and potential. That’s why I’m proud and excited to host this year’s Voices awards. It’s set to be an incredibly inspiring event, and I can’t wait to hear the finalists’ stories.”
Peter Capaldi said: “I’m really pleased to be supporting the Voices competition again this year. It is such an important initiative for care-experienced young people and helps us all to better understand their experiences. It’s always an honour to meet the young writers, hear their stories and celebrate their achievements. I’m looking forward to meeting this year’s finalists and discovering their talents and I wish them all the very best of luck!”
Ira Hakim, who won the care leaver category in Voices 2024 and will be co-hosting Voices 2025 alongside Ashley, said: “I love the Voices competition because I feel so seen here as a care-experienced person, like on a deep level. Everyone just gets it and at the same time we get to celebrate our creativity and words in a way we don’t normally get the chance to. It’s thrilling to be part of something this special.”
Brigid Robinson, Managing Director of Coram Voice, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ashley and Ira as our hosts for Voices 2025, and delighted that Peter will be joining us our special guest for the evening. They are all a huge inspiration to our young writers taking part this year who will have opportunity to meet them in-person at the ceremony. We’ve been blown away by the powerful and creative entries we’ve received this year and look forward to a very special night of celebrating young people’s talent and voices.”