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John's legacy lives on as foundation honouring Royal Marine allocates £85k to young people

Lieutenant John Thornton who was killed while on active service in southern Afghanistan with 40 Commando Royal Marines. He was 22.

By Staff Reporter [email protected]

Published: January 22, 2021 | Updated: 23rd January 2021

“We are totally overwhelmed by all the kindness and generosity that has made this possible.”

The words of Pete Thornton.

He was speaking after the Board of Trustees of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) agreed to allocate an amazing £85,800 for the year ahead.

Young people from 19 local youth organisations are set to benefit.

The figure is similar to the allocation set in 2019 when there was no pandemic causing the cancellation of fundraising events.

Almost £780,000 has now been given out in awards since 2008.

JTYAF was established in honour of Lieutenant John Thornton, the son of Pete and Linda Thornton.

The Royal Marine officer was killed while on active service in southern Afghanistan with 40 Commando Royal Marines.

He was 22.

The JTYAF’s purpose is to encourage and assist young people to ‘climb as high as they can dream.’

Simon Weston OBE is Patron and the Board of Trustees include Pete, Linda and John’s brother, Ian, as well as business and community leaders.

All are volunteers.

The charity has no paid staff and no premises with virtually all funds raised directly invested in young people.

Twelve trustees and five ambassadors took part in the online meeting when the allocation of funds raised in 2020 was made.

Linda and Pete with John at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone, in December 2005 where he passed out after Officer Training.

Pete said: “We are truly grateful to be able to continue to do the work we do in John’s memory.

“We are, however, very conscious that the charity is entirely the sum of its supporters.

“Without them there would be no JTYAF.

“We are totally overwhelmed by all the kindness and generosity that has made this possible.”

Linda added: “It is amazing during these uncertain times but testament to our incredible supporters.

“It just shows that every penny really counts and it all adds up.

“It’s good to have a ray of sunshine at the moment.”

JTYAF is to add West Moors Middle School as a new organisation to support.

It is also creating a new John Thornton Flying Scholarship for 2021.

The foundation has provided a minibus for schools and youth organisations in the Ferndown area for the last five years but the lease expires in March.

With careful budgeting the charity is able to set aside funds to continue the lease of the current minibus for another five years.

More than 2,100 young people have benefitted from JTYAF support since it was formed.

Recipients of the charity’s Young Achievers Awards are selected for their demonstration of the foundation’s key values:

  • Courage
  • Determination
  • Unselfishness
  • Cheerfulness in adversity.

JTYAF has also funded numerous group and whole school projects.

They range from refurbishing the library at Ferndown Upper School to funding an assistance dog at Beaucroft Foundation School.

Pete said: “Young people are experiencing many challenges in these uncertain and difficult times.

“Every contribution that the charity receives will help them to build a brighter future.”

Linda added: “John touched the lives of many people.

“Now his legacy lives on making a real difference to the lives of local young people.”

To find out more about the work of the JTYAF, or join its team of volunteers, please visit jtyaf.org or email [email protected]

  • JTYAF has received a £5,000 donation after being chosen as the Charity of the Year for 2020 by all three Captains at Crane Valley Golf Club.

The usual fundraising events and activities were impossible due to pandemic restrictions.

But the club was able to hold a Captain’s Charity Day and a Captain’s Charity Fun Day between lockdowns.

Pete Thornton, JTYAF’s Chairman, said: “We are so grateful to Crane Valley Golf Club and all their members.

“But special thanks must go to the Ladies Captain, Shani Bancroft, Men’s Captain, John Astley and the Senior’s Captain, Paul Rowbottom [pictured above].

“This was an incredible achievement, and we can’t thank them enough.

“It will make a huge difference to a great many local young people in the year ahead.”

All three Captains have again chosen John’s Foundation as their charity of support for 2021.

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