Bringing John, 11, back to the fold

We'll call him John, although that's not his real name. He has been expelled from school in fourth class. He had been getting hassle about not having his homework done, about not wearing his uniform, about being late or missing days. John's mother never seemed to mind - she often kept him at home to mind his younger brother.

John, who lives in a flats complex, starts hanging around street corners, running errands for drug dealers, getting involved in petty crime - shop-lifting and vandalism. He smokes hash and roams the streets. He is always able to get money one way or another. He always has nice clothes.

After nearly two years of this life, John comes to the attention of a member of a city initiative set up to target young people like him. The co-ordinator of the initiative contacts him and his mother and John is brought into the project. He is quite bright, although academically fairly weak.

At first, John's self-esteem is very, very low but he is delighted to have somewhere to go in the morning. There is no hassle about home-work and no rule about wearing a uniform.

He is 11 years old. His language is foul. At the project, he refuses to sit at the table to have breakfast with the others. He doesn't feel comfortable sitting down with them. He is abusine towards the others. He feels awkward, rough and tough - too tough to sit at a table and eat breakfast with two grownups and five other kids. He's not used to such nice, friendly surroundings.

The day starts at 9.30 a.m. It's not a bit like school. They do crafts and cooking. There is no such thing as `Sir' or `Miss.'

After breakfast, John begins to do his lessons with Pat, a grown-up. He starts to enjoy it.