Photo courtesy of Air cadet junior leaders

It is hard to believe that 60 young people could raise almost £29,000 for charity in just a few months, but the Air Cadet Junior Leaders on Course 24 have done just that!

Not for the faint-hearted, the Air Cadets Junior Leaders Course is physically demanding and requires real commitment and determination. The course, which runs from September to Easter, involves nine weekend training camps and an assessment week. During the course they complete a Level Two Certificate in Team Leadership from the Institute of Leadership and Management, and as part of their assessment they are tasked with organising a fundraising event for the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation.

The individual fundraising activities that they organise are remarkable. Many of them are tough physical challenges such as completing the Welsh Three Peaks in 24 hours, running the length of the Helmand River, a 24-hour cycle ride or a 30 miler on Dartmoor. There are many fundraising activities too, a football tournament, a quiz night, a fun night, and even a Santa’s Grotto. The list of innovative ideas is endless. These exceptional young people clearly capture the interest of their friends and family and do a fantastic job promoting the ethos of John’s Foundation. The generous support that they receive is testament to their commitment and dedication to the JTYAF.

The resulting £29,000 is an outstanding achievement and takes the total raised by Air Cadet Junior Leaders since 2010 to a staggering £280,000! This funding has made an enormous difference to the lives of many young people.

The JTYAF has awarded over £1 million in bursaries and scholarships to young people and established 20 partnerships with schools, youth groups and Cadet Forces in Dorset and Wiltshire. Individual grants have enabled award winners to pursue their ambitions whether, career development opportunities, or creative or sporting professions. During the last 3 years alone the JTYAF has supported over 50 group projects in schools and youth groups, making a difference to literally hundreds of young people.

The Air Cadet Junior Leaders have been the main contributors to JTYAF funding for many years. Their support has had a huge impact on the opportunities that the JTYAF can provide for young people. We really can’t thank them enough.