IT may not be a household name yet. But in a couple of years' time C-FAR will be as well known as Boots and Marks and Spencer.
That is the prediction of spokesman Richard White.
'Something like this had to happen here. In America there are numerous similar courses having a great success. They are achieving an 80 per cent success in stopping re-offending — rather than 80 per cent of people leaving prison and re-offending without this intervention,' he says.
The revolutionary C-FAR — Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation — a charitable training company, was launched at Okehampton Camp last July.
It provides a holistic residential programme of intensive personal and social development to persistent male offenders from the South West.
A team of more than 40 dedicated staff runs it — drawn from such diverse professions as education, police, military, counselling, psychology, special educational needs and many more.
'We passionately believe that the trainees need the opportunity to move forward and break away from their criminal behaviour,' says Richard.
'They come in looking at their feet — and go out standing tall. The main thing about C-FAR is that we offer an alternative.'
So far 21 trainees have passed through a cycle of four courses. Eight have graduated.
'We are on a learning curve as well as these guys. We told the first group they were "guinea pigs",' says Richard.
C-FAR has now honed the programme to better equip its trainees for the workplace by helping them take the positive step between custody and employment.
'One of the things that we learnt was that we needed to be more up-front. That is what we do now — tell them it isn't an easy course. It will be the hardest thing they have ever done, emotionally, educationally or behaviourly,' says Richard.
'We say: If you aren't up for that don't come. If you are, then come.'
All trainees initially take part in an intervention programme where they are met and given a risk assessment. C-FAR only takes people who want to come — there is no press gang, and ultimately no obligation to stay.
'It is tremendously demanding to be challenged in this way. People come from either post-custodial; before custody from what is classified as "at risk of offending" from Social Services or similar agencies; or thirdly as an alternative to custodial service.'
Richard says C-FAR is not against prisons.
'We just say that on its own it doesn't work — it is just an expensive way of making bad people worse.
'We work together on a daily basis with the 15 prisons in the South West — eight of which hold our target group.'
Each trainee embarks on a 12-month project: two weeks intervention work, 10 weeks at C-FAR, followed by nine months in employment or further education and housing for those who graduate.
'We work through what makes them offend and why they do it. They usually tend to come from deprived family backgrounds.
'A guy doesn't get a good grade at school, doesn't get a good job so he cannot strive for what he wants. If he still wants the expensive things and to pay the rent the excuse is he steals to pay the rent.'
C-FAR is geared to making the young men passing through their care think in a different way.
Ironically, being liberated from the more orthodox cycle of crime and punishment can be disconcerting and uncomfortable — but hopefully also healthily thought provoking.
'They are used to punishment for what they have done wrong. What we do is explore and encourage them. We do not use punitive measures for their mistakes. We ask them why they have done what they have, and to look at the consequences of their actions,' said Richard.
'You could argue that they are victims. Victims of society. Because of that they end up where they are.
'The majority of these guys don't want to be doing what they are doing. But they didn't know a different way. We encourage them to look at life in a new way.'
C-FAR aims at giving people a sense of self-worth. The ability to walk into an employer and say 'I'm an ex-offender and I'm going straight — and I can do that job.'
Successful trainees are matched with sympathetic employers.
It is the only agency in the country undertaking such a rehabilitation project aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds.
'Guys this age walk out through the prison gate and 80 per cent re-offend within two years — most within the first two months. They have no job, possibly no home to go to, and with the only support being the overworked probation service. Why shouldn't they re-offend?' said Richard.
C—FAR has encouraged visits from sceptical people that have been at the receiving end of burglaries. They usually leave with a positive opinion. The message is: yes, offenders need to be punished, but they also need help to change their ways thus breaking the cycle of criminal behaviour.
C-FAR is no last chance saloon. But it is a very strong stepping stone to a new crime-free lifestyle. And if you fail there is no disgrace.
'We say to everybody that hasn't made the course they are more than welcome to come back. Maybe at the time they haven't had the maturity and desire to follow it through. So come back when you are ready and have a second attempt,' says Richard.
'We are not doing this because we are Goody Two Shoes. But we are totally committed and believe it it. These guys have done their punishment, now let's rehabilitate them so they don't do it again.'