INMATES were put through their paces as a Portland jail launched a new scheme to drive down prisoner re-offending rates.

The Portland Young Offender Institution is one of 10 prisons around the country that has been chosen to pilot a new Government initiative called Custody to Work, which aims to support newly released prisoners in the community and help them find their feet.

The scheme helps inmates get a job and find somewhere to live on release.

Homelessness and unemployment are seen as the main two reasons why former prisoners re-offend.

As part of the scheme, the prison's resettlement officers have joined forces with a Poole-based organisation called Team First to deliver a series of courses for 'problem' inmates who have difficulty fitting in with prison life. Team First has built an assault course called Team Challenge on land formerly occupied by prison quarters. It is designed to help develop communication and team-building skills.

As Prisons Minister Beverley Hughes was being lambasted by angry prison officers over a pay award at their annual conference yesterday, Prison Service area manager Jerry Petherick was officially opening Team Challenge, heralding a new direction for the Prison Service in the Custody to Work programme.

Mr Petherick said the days of the Prison Service waving goodbye to released inmates at the front gate were long gone.

He said: "The resettlement agenda is now the focus of the Prison Service's work.

"Portland is leading the field on issues such as this. With all the problems at the establishment over the years it is good to see this."

The £15 million Custody to Work initiative, which is funded over three years, aims to equip prisoners with the right life skills and knowledge to help them settle in the community.

On release they will be supported by a number of different agencies, including the Probation Service and Employment Service and they will be monitored by Community Service Volunteers.

Governor in charge of resettlement at Portland YOI, John Skelton, said initiatives were being put in place to break the cycle of re-offending. Custody to Work was helping the Prison Service develop closer links with the community.

Portland YOI Governor Kevin Lockyer praised Custody to Work: "It's not about image or presentation, it's about what you need to do with young men to stop them committing further offences when they're released."