Hackney Child

The powerful, refreshingly honest, first-hand account of a childhood spent in the Care system. At the age of nine, Hope Daniels walked into Stoke Newington Police Station with her little brothers and asked to be taken into care. Home life was intolerable: both of Hope’s parents were alcoholics and her mum was a prostitute. The year was 1983. As London emerged into a new era of wealth and opportunity, the Daniels children lived in desperate poverty, neglected and barely nourished. Hounded by vigilante neighbours and vulnerable to the drunken behaviour of her parents’ friends, Hope had to draw on her inner strength. Hackney Child is Hope's gripping story of physical and emotional survival – and the lifeline given to her by the support of professionals working in the care system. Despite all the challenges she faced, Hope never lost compassion for her parents. Her experiences make essential reading and show that, with the right help, the least fortunate children have the potential not only to recover but to thrive. ‘It’s raw and absorbing’Grazia ‘This story needed to be told’ Cassie Harte, Sunday Times Number One bestselling author  

About the Author :
Hope Daniels was the child of alcoholic parents. She spent most of her childhood in care, where her experience was broadly positive. At the age of thirty, she felt ready to deal with the demons of her childhood and engaged with intensive therapy, where she sought recovery for a dependency issue. She is very proud to refer to herself as a 'care leaver in recovery'. Under her real name, Jenny Molloy, she is a guest lecturer, has been central to the development of the 'Care Leavers' Charter' - founded in October 2012, and is called on by government bodies to advise on the care and fostering of children. Her mission is to reach out to care leavers and associated professionals to inspire hope and to remind us that all care leavers have ability Morag Livingstone is an experienced documentary photographer and film maker. She has an Honours Degree in Business Studies and 15 years' experience in the corporate sector. She went on to attain a Masters in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London University of the Arts, where she is now a guest lecturer. When not writing, she makes films across continents that bring stories of poverty, low income and young peoples' mental health to life for the development sector. Like her namesake, the explorer Dr Livingstone, Morag has lived in Zambia. She is related to Dr Livingstone's wife, Mary Moffat, rather than the man himself, but she is still looking for that elusive link.

Review :
‘A shocking reminder of what some children are subjected to as they grow up’  ‘An insightful look into one girl’s journey into the Care system in the eighties, Hope’s story shows the maturity and opportunistic attitude some vulnerable children undertake in order to thrive’  ‘Hackney Child is already gaining 5 star reviews ... It’s raw and absorbing’  ‘Reading it, one is left with a kind of desolation naïve as it might be, that children in the UK are still living lives like this’  ‘Incredibly powerful ... Hackney Child really is a must-read, not only for social workers but also for teachers, nursery staff, neighbours and friends’ ‘A refreshingly honest, first-hand account ... It offers an invaluable insight into the emotional world of such children ... It will touch your heart, stir all kinds of emotions, and give you a perspective which is so child focused, it may change how you view the care system’  ‘A must read for anyone seeking deeper understanding of the experiences and feelings of children who come into the care system’ ‘For all those who believe we intervene too often in family life; that parents always know best; that removing a child from his or her parents is an abuse of human rights; this book is essential reading’