DELEGATES from Germany, Italy and Slovenia visited West Devon last week to further their partnership work with C-FAR, the Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation.

The Highampton-based organisation, which helps young male offenders to be rehabilitated into society, entertained five delegates from partner organisations in three European countries.

This follows the visit made to Slovenia by two C-FAR staff members in January.

The aim of the partnership is to promote greater understanding of the issues associated with disadvantaged people, social inclusion and the reduction of criminal reconviction rates by young people across Europe. Developing ways of rehabilitation and training can help transform ex-offenders into worthy citizens.

These links began two years ago when Trevor Philpott, chief executive of C-FAR, spoke at a conference in Athens of the European Offender Employment Forum, an EU pressure group working to raise awareness of employment issues for ex-offenders throughout Europe.

During the five-day visit, discussions took place to implement a programme of exchanges, experiences and knowledge.

Susanne Watt, PR and fundraising manager for C-FAR said: ?The project participants acknowledge the particular strengths of diversity stemming from their respective organisation?s activities and experiences.

?This was seen as providing considerable potential to promote further change upon what are considered to be very serious and damaging social issues.?

Dudley Hewitt, regional director of the Duke of Edinburgh?s Award, gave a presentation on the international award and its potential use by other member states ? C-FAR is an awarding body for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and many of its trainees obtain the bronze award as part of their rehabilitation programme.

At the end of the visit delegates signed a declaration stating their intention to increase the level of partnership work, to share information and undertake various activities to raise awareness and facilitate social change.

RIGHT: A welcome for the delegates from Germany, Italy and Slovenia.