Young people are under greater pressure than ever to achieve material success and to conform to what are often contradictory social norms. Racial and religious tension, drug misuse, physical and sexual abuse, gun and knife related violence, teenage parenting and a general sense of disaffection remain salient aspects of daily life for too many young people in Britain today.
Research shows that many of the young people growing up in the most deprived areas feel that they have no future. They have never been taught how to think or communicate, many are angry and think nothing of hurting other people as they struggle to make sense of what is a rapidly changing world. They often carry negative identities that were not of their own making (young offender, deprived minority, asylum seeker, feral, etc..) These negative identities increasingly come to define who they are as their behaviour reflects the roles that society projects upon them.
I.D. processes provide a safe space for young people to develop a positive sense of who they are, and to equip them with the tools and skills they need to build lives that are mentally and physically healthy.