THE Government?s minister for prisons and probation visited West Devon this week to see at first hand the work being carried by the pioneering centre for young offenders based at Highampton.

Hilary Benn visited C-FAR, the Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation, at its Burdon Grange base on Monday. The fact-finding visit by the minister was the culmination of several meetings between the Home Office and C-FAR?s chief executive Trevor Philpott, who visited 10 Downing Street in February at the request of the prime minister.

C-FAR faces a huge gap in its budget ? the centre has only received £160,000 from the Criminal Justice System and requires around £700,000 to continue operations in the coming year.

Mr Philpott said: ?This visit has been extremely positive, the minister kept his promise to visit and now we await a decision from the Home Office.

?I am quietly optimistic that the required funding and status will be forthcoming. We now await the outcome.?

During his visit, Mr Benn toured C-FAR?s premises and witnessed trainees on the ?Life Change? residential course in action.

Trainees past and present held discussions with the minister and told him the effect the programme had had on their lives.

Two trainees told Mr Benn about their efforts to stay free from substance abuse during a drug and alcohol awareness presentation and said C-FAR had given them the opportunity to make a fresh start.