The trustees of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) are delighted to announce that £70,000 has been allocated for awards to local young people for 2014. The charity has expanded to include three additional youth organisations making JTYAF funding available to many more young people.

Since it was formed in 2008, in memory of Lt John Thornton who was tragically killed in Afghanistan, the charity has awarded funding to over 550 young individuals and supported numerous school projects.

The JTYAF now supports sixteen youth organisations, one of the additions this year is East Dorset District Scouts. Also new for this year is the Bournemouth and Poole Borough Council’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme which together with the Scouts will increase the number of young people able to apply for JTYAF awards by almost 2500.

Capt Ian Thornton, John’s brother and JTYAF trustee commented, “The foundation is a wonderful legacy for John and he would be proud to see that the JTYAF has helped so many young people to realise their ambitions.”