The authors give a voice to young men from disadvantaged communities in Limerick city who participated in two exploratory research studies, Uncertain Futures: An Exploratory Study of Men on the Margins and Hidden Fathers: Supporting Young Single Fathers at the Margins. Consideration is given to what the men told us about different aspects of their lives; their school days and work opportunities; their experiences of everyday life in their communities; what it means to be a father. The issues that emerge in the studies are reviewed and, using the lessons from desistance research, key messages for probation practice in particular and for social policy in general are extrapolated. The necessity of considering the social contexts of probationers when designing interventions is stressed, as is the importance of creating effective partnerships in applying solutions to social exclusion.