The Citizenship for Life scheme that has run successfully in the Helston and Lizard area for two years is returning with two adventurous, military-themed launch days.

The programme takes a group teenagers and helps build their confidence and life experiences over a 12-month period, through visits to organisations and charities.

Its pilot year involved students from Helston Community College and Mullion School, as the brainchild of community network manager Charlotte Chadwick. It proved so successful that last year it was extended to include Falmouth School and Penryn College.

Now in its third year, the project is expanding once again, and for 2013 there will be two separate programmes – one remaining in the Helston and Falmouth area, with a second trialled in Newquay.

Mrs Chadwick, Cornwall Council’s community network manager for Helston and the Lizard, Falmouth and Penryn, said: “I am delighted we are embarking on a third year for Citizenship for Life and I’d like to say a sincere thank you to all those businesses, individuals and organisations who have supported the programme, and I extend a very warm welcome to new sponsors.

“We hope all the participants and mentors gain a tremendous amount of personal and professional satisfaction from being involved in C4L. Last year’s participants felt it was inspirational.”

Lucie Robinson, one of Cornwall Council’s new graduate developing leaders, is now the project manager for Citizenship for Life and will oversee both programmes.

She is planning programmes that will be more challenging than ever before, starting with two adventurous launch days at RNAS Culdrose for Helston and Falmouth area programme and at RAF St Mawgan for the Newquay programme.

Citizenship for Life also has a high profile new patron in the form of humanitarian Terry Waite, who said: “As president of the programme I am proud to be associated with a scheme that frankly is streets ahead of activities in other parts of the country. This is due to the imagination and flair of the leaders of the course and also to those business firms who have had the foresight to sponsor the programme.”