CALLINGTON Community College is forging a pioneering volunteer partnership with the UK's largest volunteering charity, Community Service Volunteers. (CSV) René Winter, 20, from Hamburg, Germany, joined the college last September as a full-time volunteer until this July, supporting the personal, social and health education (PSHE) and citizenship departments. CSV is playing a lead role in the development of citizenship in the school curriculum and has volunteers involved in 18 schools across the UK. Full-time volunteers provide dedicated resources for four-12 months and bring a new dimension to the work of the school. Jennie Kramer, head of PSHE and citizenship and healthy schools co-ordinator said: 'René's presence at the college has created a whole new role. 'He is my right-hand man and a great role model for the pupils. I myself took a gap year working as a CSV volunteer and found it a life changing experience. This gave me the idea of incorporating a CSV volunteer at Callington.' As well as supporting Jennie Kramer, René works directly with students of all ages. His role includes helping with lessons, co-ordinating peer support services for students, and encouraging partnerships with outside agencies. He also assists a weekly tutor session where students can discuss their lives outside school. René's placement has been such a success that he is to attend a national conference on pupil participation alongside Jennie Kramer at the National College of School Leadership in Nottingham on April 28. Here, he will give a workshop on CSV and the benefit of working with European volunteers in secondary schools based on his experience as a conscientious objector working at Callington. The school is to recruit a second CSV volunteer for this September. 'My placement has allowed me to take a gap year and to think about what I want to do next, instead of going straight back into education,' says René, who is considering studying education as a university option.