Resources: Review - The problem of reaching those we have failed

The report is based on a survey of 900 young people aged 14 to 25, around 800 of whom came from disadvantaged backgrounds: the young unemployed, educational underachievers, offenders and those with experience of public care. Their experience, aspirations, difficulties and needs are compared and contrasted with those of a control group of some 100 young people who were not from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The first point to be made is that disadvantaged young people do not fall easily into a single "classification". Indeed, two-thirds of the sample fell within more than one category; in other words, the most disadvantaged experience multiple disadvantages. They share, however, very similar aspirations to their less disadvantaged contemporaries, such as a job, a home, resources and choices. But they face significantly greater barriers to their achievement - and they know it. They are the first to concede that their behaviour, criminality, lack of educational qualification, or substance misuse is holding them back. The report identifies "critical points", such as leaving care, or becoming a parent, where positive support is likely to forestall further exclusion and provide new directions. Unfortunately, these young people are sceptical, and often cynical, about the value of such support.