By Nicola Pearson BBC News, Midlands correspondent

Mr James said he had learned new skills on the course

It is known to most as community service and traditionally involves clearing gardens or decorating homes.

But it is not entirely effective - almost half of the offenders punished in this way re-offend within two years.

In Derbyshire, probation officers are trying a new approach in a bid to stop offenders returning to a life of crime.

Martin James, 22, is one former offender chosen to take part in a training programme run by Derbyshire Probation Service.

He was convicted of burglary after he got drunk and stole sports equipment from a shop in the Isle of Wight.

Mr James was given a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

But instead of gardening or woodwork, he is spending a large amount of time on the Skills Builder Programme, where he is taught first aid, food hygiene and DIY.

'Not motivated'

He is greeted by six other offenders on a DIY workshop being held at in the basement of a Methodist hall in Derby.

Session leader John Price is animated as he explains to the offenders how to wire a plug.

It beats being out in the cold, gardening Offender, Lee

Some of the group seem to be taking notice, but others look like they are simply going through the motions.

Des Morrison, from Criminal Justice Training Solutions, designed the programme for the probation service.

The former head of the Youth Offending Service in Derbyshire said: "The biggest thing that prevents people from offending is getting them employed.

"If you can get them back into employment or some form of training then you'll often turn them around."

The group is also taught how to write a CV and how to behave in a job interview.

Janet Hickey, of Derbyshire Probation Service, said the course did not offer offenders a way of getting out of hard labour.

"Many offenders aren't job ready, they aren't motivated", she said.

The Probation Service said the course was not an 'easy option'

"They've got no qualifications and they don't feel as if they can compete in the workplace. So this course is about preparing people for the world of work."

Mr James said gaining qualifications was more useful to him than carrying out manual work.

He said: "It's good to get a job . . . I've picked up quite a few things I didn't know before."

But classmate Lee Lowe, 25, is more sceptical.

When asked if learning about how to wire a plug or learning about the amounts of units in alcohol were a help, he said: "Not really, no, because I know it and I don't drink.

"But it beats being out in the cold, gardening."

And that is an issue - will the perception be that offenders are being given an easy option?

Mr Morrison said: "There will be people out there who will say 'how dare somebody get their skills raised for free when I'm trying my hardest to pick up skills and having to pay for it'.

"But for every �1 we spend on the programme, we're probably saving �6 to the public purse - the cost of court, the cost of criminal damage, the cost of all the things that they would be up to.

"And perhaps you and I would have safer communities."

At the end of the morning, there is applause for the offenders as they receive certificates for the course they have completed in the workshop.