Kainos rehabilitates prisoners at Swaleside in Sheppey

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The Kainos project teaches prisoners how to adapt to life on the outside, the BBC gained access to the project in Sheppey

Kainos is a project which originated in Brazil in the 1980s.

Originally it was a Christian programme but over the years it has changed and now it is an accredited programme for the prison service to rehabilitate offenders.

The programme runs at HMP Swaleside prison on the Isle of Sheppey.

It is claimed the programme is significantly reducing re-offending rates by creating lifelike communities inside jails.

Kainos is not a specifically Christian programme, but it does use a moral framework which many of the major religions would recognise.

It uses intensive cognitive behavioural therapy, workshops and community living, to rehabilitate the men. The aim is to improve their social skills and employment opportunities.

There is also a social evening every week, where local volunteers come in and spend a few hours with the men, just chatting and drinking tea with them. Kainos say this is a vital part of the process, as it helps them men reintegrate into society when they leave.

Primarily the programme helps high to medium risk offenders - so these men have committed serious crimes, including murder, drug offences and fraud.

It may not preach Christianity as part of the programme, but the staff and volunteers who come in, are motivated by their Christian faith, to do what they do.

The prison service can see that Kainos is a successful project. At HMP Swaleside the reoffending rate is 37% but for those inmates who have participated in Kainos - it is just 7%.

John: convicted of drugs offences

John has learnt not to judge people before speaking to them

"The Kainos project is good because it gives everyone a chance to better themselves. It teaches me to be more aware of how other people are thinking and how my actions could affect anyone not just myself. A big one for me is judging people before I get to know them - judging them by their dress or their religion before I've spoken to them. This course teaches you not to do that. From the prison side of things, it's definitely calmer on this wing than it is on the other wings - it's definitely helping the people who are doing the course at the moment."

Azhor: convicted of a serious crime

Azhor want to be a chef when he is released

"It's cool, I get to cook, I get to learn things which will help me when I get out and yes, I'm becoming a chef. I've changed a lot - I came in when I was 17 and I'm 22 now. When I first came into prison I didn't behave because I didn't care that much. Since doing this course for the past two years I've behaved myself. I have more confidence now because when I first came in to jail my English was proper rubbish and now I speak to people I don't know and that wouldn't have happened back then. When I get out I will definitely stay out of trouble and not come back in and hopefully raise a family and take care of them."

Biff: convicted of drugs offences

Biff likes the fact that inmates can choose if they want participate

"It's enlightening and good to address other people's views on your crime and the affect it has on people. I've learnt to be tolerable of other people and to accept that there may be differences. I stand up for the Kainos because it is purely and simply one of the rehabilitation courses in prison that isn't mandatory so you make a choice. So if I'm with like-minded people who have made a choice then it has got to be a better place to be than on a course that you are made to do. I'm an atheist and it's enlightened me towards the Christian faith but I don't think I'd ever be swayed towards Christianity - it's run by Christians but it's not forced down your throat. It's a rehabilitation course first and foremost not a religious course. It's about you and how you behave in the community."