ABSTRACT
The transition from school to work has always been a crucial time in the lives of young people. How and when this transition is made can have a major impact upon the sense of identity they develop, the importance they feel they have in the eyes of others, the kind of person they want to be and their view of the world in general. This book is about the nature of that transition for one small group of young people, making the journey in the new policy environment of post-Thatcherite Britain. These young people were the focus of a major research study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), whose support is gratefully acknowledged. Our main purpose is to tell their stories and to explore issues of policy and social theory that have significance far beyond the immediate contexts of their lives.
