At our meeting on Saturday the Trustees of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) allocated £85,000 for awards in 2023. This funding will support local young people by providing them with scholarships and bursaries helping their personal development and the pursuit of their ambitions.

The charity was set up in 2008 in memory of Leiutenant John Thornton RM who was tragically killed in Afghanistan while serving with 40 Commando Royal Marines. The aim of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation is to encourage and assist young people to ‘climb as high as they can dream.’ Whatever their dream, we hope to help them achieve it.

The Trustees selected 19 youth organisations for support in 2023 which included Ferndown Upper School, Ferndown First and Middle Schools, Beaucroft Foundation School, the Guides and Scouts and the Bournemouth Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets. Funding was also set aside for young people who are not members of any of our supported organisations, increasing the reach and diversity of the Foundation within the community.

This is the 15th year of the JTYAF and an amazing £935,000 has been awarded to almost 2500 individual young people, together with countless whole school and group projects. Without the kindness and generosity of our supporters however none of this would be possible.

We look forward to an exciting year ahead!