KS3 Citizenship 2.2b. Personal wellbeing 2.1e.
KS4 Citizenship 2.2b. Personal wellbeing 2.1e.
Current KS3 Citizenship 3a PSHE 4g
Current KS4 Citizenship 3a PSHE 4g

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This activity invites the students to think about how Ryan has felt in his troubled life since the age of seven, and to consider what might happen to him by the time he is 21, if he continues to break the law.

Discussion
Why do the students think young people commit crimes? Why do some people who have a difficult childhood end up as criminals and others don't? Introduce the idea of strong support from family members or school, help from social workers at an early stage etc. In the students' opinion, what kinds of intervention might have worked to help Ryan stay inside the law and have a more positive attitude to life?

Role play
Ask the students to get into pairs and take on the role of Ryan and a peer mentor/counsellor. The mentor's role is to encourage Ryan to talk about his behaviour and to explain why he feels the need to break the law. What kinds of open questions would the peer mentor ask Ryan?