A pioneering project to rehabilitate low-risk offenders from Dartmoor Prison by giving them the opportunity to complete a work experience programme with the Forestry Commission has helped ten former inmates into full-time employment. The Dartmoor Rehabilitation Project, a partnership between the prison 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 date 17 offenders have been through the project, three are still participating in skills training and ten 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 with Home Office figures which show that almost 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.