A pioneering project to rehabilitate low-risk offenders from HMP Dartmoor by giving them the opportunity to complete a work experience programme with the Forestry Commission has successfully helped 10 former inmates into full-time employment.

The Dartmoor Rehabilitation Project, a unique partnership between HMP Dartmoor and the Forestry Commission, offers selected prisoners an intensive programme of skills training, work experience and mentoring.

Offenders work with the Forestry Commission clearing overgrown vegetation around streams and rivers and managing the Dartmoor forests of Fernworthy, Soussons and Bellever.

The project, which began as a prototype in 2004, is the first of its kind in the region. It gives valuable work experience, practical skills training and land management skills to enhance employment prospects.

Prisoners benefit from the physical and mental benefits of working outdoors and increased confidence, and are able to begin to bridge the gap between prison life and the outside world.

They have the opportunity to receive a wage which is payable to them on the completion of the project, to support them in their new life.

To be eligible for the project, selected offenders must be assessed by HMP Dartmoor and issued on a Release on Temporary License before beginning the three stage programme.

Liz Abell, Devon Renaissance: "By giving offenders the opportunity to learn new skills, the level of re-offending is dramatically reduced, which in turn impacts on other inmates who can see the positive outcomes of the project."

During stage one, offenders complete an unpaid 30-day voluntary work experience programme on the moor, and complete national accredited training in specialist skills.

Stage two allows the offenders to enter a six-month minimum paid work experience programme; offenders who have performed well during stage two will then be offered up to three months full-time employment with the Forestry Commission on their release.

To date 17 offenders have been through the project, three are still participating in skills training and 10 have entered full-time employment in jobs including tree surgery, gardening, landscape work and one self-employed forest contractor.

Only one of the 17 has re-offended, compared to Home Office figures which show that nearly two thirds of prisoners re-offend.

The project is supported by the Probation Service, Dartmoor National Park Authority and Devon Renaissance- the rural regeneration partnership for Devon, which has provided £60,000 of the £200,000 project cost.

It has received praise for dramatically reducing levels of re-offending in participating offenders and in securing long-term employment for the ex-offenders.

On their release, the now ex-offenders are given the opportunity to take a three-month contract with the Forestry Commission, working as part of the team, managing the moor.

Liz Abell programme co-ordinator for Devon Renaissance, said the project is a unique rehabilitation initiative, with clear benefits.

"By giving offenders the opportunity to learn new skills, the level of re-offending is dramatically reduced, which in turn impacts on other inmates who can see the positive outcomes of the project," Abell explained.

"The prisoners themselves can begin a new crime-free life, which impacts on their families, and the thousands of people who visit Dartmoor every year benefit from improved public access, and increased biodiversity."

David West, development manager for the Forestry Commission, agrees that the benefits of the project life-changing for those involved.

He said: "We are most grateful to Devon Renaissance for helping to fund this exciting project. The Dartmoor Rehabilitation Project has exceeded our agreed outputs, has been recognised as a national example of best practice, and most importantly it has really changed peoples lives."