Our most recent award has gone out to a young lady who at just 12 years old has already proved her ability as a footballer and an inspirational figure for other young girls.

Horserenity is an equine assisted learning centre providing help for children and adults with their challenges, giving them space and time outdoors with horses

This is the 9th consecutive year that the charity has supported the Dorset & Wilts team to take part in the Nijmegen March, making the challenge accessible to more than 150 Air Cadets over the years.

The 10 Qualified Air Cadet Junior Leaders (QJL’s) pictured above with Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty (centre left) and the Officer Commanding the Junior Leaders Course (centre right) were selected for this year’s JTYAF funded Expedition to Ghana.

One of the best days of the year for the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation is meeting the students and presenting awards at the annual ceremony at Ferndown Upper School.

A young Seargent at 149 (Poole) Squadron Air Training Corps is soon to take part in an STA Level 2 Swim Teachers Course thanks to the JTYAF.

A talented young musician from Wessex Youth Orchestra has recently been supported to take part in a tour of Amsterdam this summer.

Bournemouth Sea & Royal Marine Cadets are heading to Weymouth in May to gain their qualifications in sailing and power boat handling.

The Bournemouth Youth Marching Band has been honoured by an invitation to perform in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.

Since January the JTYAF has already supported 13 young people with funding for registration fees, equipment and expedition costs, giving them the opportunity to complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards.

A young lady from Weymouth has been selected to take part in an expedition to Ecuador in July, where she will experience a whole range of challenges and activities including canoeing the upper reaches of the Amazon and climbing several of the Andean peaks.

A young lady from Ferndown is set to travel to Uganda in July this year, where she will take part in a Gorilla Trek and also live and work in the community helping to build a specially designed playground for the local children.

Southbourne Surf Life Saving Club has received a JTYAF award for £1200 to purchase a surf ski and paddles.

2019 is well underway for us all here at the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation.  At our recent Trustees Meeting we agreed that £85,500 will be allocated to support young people in the year ahead.

The JTYAF was delighted to support the team from Dorset and Wiltshire Wing Air Training Corps to attend the Nijmegen Marches 2018 and would like to congratulate all those who took part on their achievement.