A CONSTRUCTIVE and positive week culminated in a personal letter from Prime Minister Tony Blair to C-FAR?s chief executive Trevor Philpott.
Mr Blair, who was sent a comprehensive brief detailing C-FAR?s work and achievements to-date, stated that he was very interested in the Life Change programme undertaken at the organisation?s Highampton base.
The Prime Minister suggested a meeting should be arranged with his Home Affairs senior policy adviser to discuss the project in greater detail.
Lt Col Philpott last week met Home Office minister Hilary Benn, Home Office officials and Sir David Ramsbotham, former Chief Inspector Of Prisons and an ardent supporter of C-FAR.
The meeting was primarily to request that C-FAR be viewed as a special pilot project with the ultimate aim of receiving ?Pathfinder? status.
Col Philpott said: ?The minister and the Home Office officials stated that they were very interested in the work that C-FAR had conducted to date. The minister undertook to visit the centre as soon as practicably possible.?
He said this would give C-FAR the opportunity to demonstrate first hand to the minister the effectiveness of the Life Change programme which was helping to address the criminogenic and individual human needs of the trainee.
Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw is also to meet Col Philpott soon.
C-FAR is a registered charity and has been operational since June 2000. A total of 131 trainees have entered the programme and the second intake of 2003 starts on February 19.
The Life Change programme is a 12-month course, which comprises an eleven-week residential phase followed by nine months throughcare.
Trainees on completion of the eleven-week phase, leave the centre with housing, employment or further education and training. A personal mentor is appointed to see the trainee right through the 12-month programme.