The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation
The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) was set up in 2008 in memory of Lieutenant John Thornton, from Ferndown, who was tragically killed in Afghanistan while serving with 40 Commando Royal Marines. His Foundation encourages and supports young people from 18 local youth organisations. Award applications are endorsed by the organisation, who know the young people well and award winners receive scholarships and bursaries to fund their training and personal development.
The aim of the Foundation is to inspire and support young people to ‘climb as high as they can dream’ by providing access to opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have had. John achieved so much in his short life and therefore supporting local young people to achieve their ambitions and potential became a fitting legacy of which he would be immensely proud.
In addition to providing funding for education and training courses, equipment and tuition, young people have realised their ambitions in countries as diverse as, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Nepal, China, and Borneo.
In 2019 an Air Cadet Junior Leaders Team made up of 10 Qualified Junior Leaders embarked on a 3-week JTYAF funded expedition to the small rural community of Obom, in Ghana. Their volunteering project continued the work of the Cadets in 2017 & 2018. This expedition was not only a lifechanging experience for these young people but has also made a huge difference to the community they visited. The team were delighted to discover that since the completion of the primary school by the 2017 team, regular school attendance numbers had improved, and the primary school has had an increase in its number of students of 30% year on year. By providing safe and functional educational facilities the team has created invaluable opportunities for children living in poverty.
The JTYAF is also involved in many whole school and group projects, which range from the refurbishment of a school library and funding of cyber bullying competitions, to the purchase of an Eye Gaze System for pupils with complex additional needs. The JTYAF funded minibus has also been providing access to activities for literally thousands of young people for the last 41/2 years by serving 7 local schools and numerous youth organisations.
The JTYAF has no paid staff, no premises and is run on a purely voluntary basis by trustees, ambassadors and a growing network of volunteers. Keeping running costs to a minimum ensures that the maximum amount of funds raised can be directly invested in young futures. Since 2008 more than £700,000 has been award to over 2000 individual young people.
Without the kindness and generosity of our supporters and the local community however, none of this would be possible and the JTYAF is extremely privileged to receive such fantastic support.
We would like to send our heartfelt thanks to Tech Autos for their continued support. All funds raised will be used to help local young people to discover their potential, develop their talents and inspire them to be the best that they can be.
For more information please visit www.jtyaf.org
A Note from Tech Autos
I know John from when i was about 13 years old, as a business i really want to get behind both Pete and Linda and help where we can to support their great course.
We do this by cobra rides and give the kind donations of the passenger to the charity as well as offer school placements for the children the charity supports.
I cant put into words how much good these people have done to our local community especially after the lost of a son, but still they keep on giving.
I wish them both all the best.
Kind Regards
Dan Walsh
Owner Tech Autos