Youth at Risk

The Youth at Risk programme is the only programme to have won the approval of the government, community and paramilitaries (on both side of the divide,) to work with the ‘troubled youth’ of Northern Ireland.

The yearlong project aims to steer the young people away from the cycle of crime, drugs and violent behaviour. Many have already been victims of ‘punishment beatings’ by the paramilitaries, who also gave the youths a years amnesty from any further punishment.

The course starts with an intense ten day residential. Policed by an army of volunteers, they are encouraged to talk frankly about their experiences; many revealing a past of appalling abuse, violence and neglect from both the community and family. Intense, powerful and at time liberating the residential aims to draw a line under the past and open a new future. For many it is the first time they have spoken about the many hidden and unique issues of growing up within Northern Ireland.