A PIONEERING project based at Highampton, helping to rehabilitate young offenders was dealt a blow last week when it received only a fraction of the central government funding it had been hoping for.

C-FAR ? the Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation ? needs £750,000 to buy and refurbish its premises at Burdon Grange, Highampton.

The Government last week announced that the centre would receive £150,000 from the Criminal Justice System reserve to add to the comparable figure allocated last year.

C-FAR chief executive Trevor Philpott said while he was ?disappointed? with the amount allocated by the Home Office, there was the indication of possible further funding next year.

?After nearly three years of work, I would have liked a more significant contribution,? he added.

The grant offer comes with the condition that an evaluation of the project currently being carried out by the University of Bristol is allowed to continue.

Officials at C-FAR are hopeful a favourable report will make more funds available in the future.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett said he was pleased the grant had been made to C-FAR but added that the Home Office could make more money available to help the pioneering centre?s work.

?C-FAR has been up and running for three years. They have done this with very little Government assistance.

?The Government should put its hands in its pockets to see C-FAR through the evaluation project to which the Home Office has submitted it, to see whether it is cost-effective and whether it reduces re-offending and aids education and resettlement.?

C-FAR was informed of the £150,000 grant last week after receiving a letter from former Minister for Prisons and Probation Hillary Benn. Mr Benn visited C-FAR last month to tour the premises and see its Life Change programme at first hand.

Following the visit, Trevor Philpott said he was ?quietly optimistic? the required funding would be made available.

C-FAR recently celebrated its first anniversary at Burdon Grange with a garden party fund-raiser.