JTYAF NewsAugustJTYAF selected by the Acorn Branch of the Oddfellows
The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation is honoured to have been selected by the Acorn Branch of the Oddfellows, as their charity of the year for 2010/2011. Pete and Linda were invited to their annual craft show and lunch on Saturday the 31st July where they were introduced to the members and the partnership was launched. Exhibits ranging from handmade cards to vegetables were judged by a panel of adjudicators and were later auctioned to raise funds for the JTYAF. Ron Munro proved a very effective auctioneer and with the proceeds of the raffle over £200 was raised on this the first event for the Foundation. Pete and Linda were made very welcome and would like to pass on their thanks to all the members of the Acorn Branch for their hard work and support. AugustChristchurch Juniors Sponsored WalkVicki Dibdin a class teacher from Christchurch Junior School in Dorset approached the JTYAF as she was planning a project for her students to write letters of support to the soldiers in Afghanistan. We put Vicki in touch with the Padre at 40 Commando Royal Marines and the children were delighted to have the opportunity to send the Marines ´e blueys´ with words of support from home. The children received many thoughtful detailed responses from the Royal Marines from 40 Commando which they were able to share with each other and their families. Vicki said that the project really opened the eyes of not only her pupils but also their families to the reality of the war in Afghanistan 550 children walked all afternoon (non-stop) in a large circuit around the school grounds. Children were allowed to wear shorts and sunglasses all day to add to the event. They selected two charities, the JTYAF and an educational charity in Uganda. The JTYAF have received an amazing £640.20 from the proceeds of the children’s sponsored walk and would like to thank Vicki, all the children at Christchurch Junior School, the staff and friends and family that supported this event so generously.
AugustEast Dorset Education Partnership
East Dorset Education Partnership (EDEP) is a partnership between 32 schools in East Dorset designed to improve opportunities and services for all pupils through their learning and teaching. They work together to raise attainment in school communities, encourage staff to share expertise and best practice, and empower school leaders to create local strategic plans to benefit our learning communities. They aim to be one of the leading educational partnerships in the UK EDEP organised a competition for local school children called EDEP´s Got Talent which they held at the Verwood Hub during the week of the 21st June. Children from all over the area took part and the proceeds of these evenings were donated to the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation. We are honoured and privileged to have been selected as the recipient charity for such a prestigious organisation and would like to pass on our thanks to everyone involved. This event raised an amazing £683.90 which has made a very important contribution to our continued success. It also gave us the valuable opportunity to promote the foundation amongst local young people and their families. EDEP also organised a fun day for local young people on Saturday 3rd July at Ferndown Leisure Centre which aimed to encourage a fit and healthy lifestyle by giving local youngsters the opportunity to try a fantastic range of new activities. The Summer Blast was a brilliant event attracting young people from all over the area and the proceeds of the day were donated to the JTYAF and the Juvenille Diabetes Research Charity. AugustSainsbury’s Ferndown Making a DifferenceThe John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation was honoured to be selected by customers and colleagues as the local charity of the year for 2009/2010 by Sainsbury´s in Ferndown. Although the partnership has now unfortunately come to an end the impact of the relationship on the success of the foundation and the opportunities they have been able to provide for local young people has exceeded all expectations. Sainsbury´s Ferndown have shown what can be achieved by local businesses in partnership with local charities. The whole store came together helping to raise funds for and awareness of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF). The energy, commitment, enthusiasm and the hours of time happily given up on a voluntary basis helped to raise over £4000 for the charity. Fundraising started in June 2009 at a Fashion Show to launch the partnership. They then held a mufti day for staff, sold JTYAF wristbands, had collection days and collection boxes on the tills. A Winter Wonderland fashion show in November was an amazing success and Sainsbury´s Ferndown also supported the Dorset Fire Bike Ride which was a huge event with the JTYAF one of the recipient charities. The Summer and Winter Fashion Shows were organised entirely by Sainsbury´s colleagues and their families and many of them worked until the early hours of the morning on several occasions, to make sure that everything went smoothly. The colleagues involved ranged from Department Managers to Trolley Collectors. They produced posters, flyers and tickets, collected raffle prizes from local businesses, organised hair dressers, stage sets, models, photographers, put the outfits together, prepared an ‘after show’ buffet and drinks, arranged the choreography, compared the show, the work involved was endless. The level of support from so many of the staff was truly incredible. The shows were great fun too, the enjoyment of the colleagues was evident for all to see and the customers were astounded by the professionalism and quality of the entertainment that was provided.
Sainsbury’s General Manager Gary Gunn presenting the final cheque for £3000 to Pete Thornton
Saturday & Sunday 12/13th JuneTeam Ferndown ride for JohnOn Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th June, eleven staff and three customers from Ferndown Leisure Centre will be getting ’on their bikes’ to ride between 10 and 230 miles in John’s memory and in support of the Dorset Fire Bike Ride. Martin Mansbridge and Lee McCumiskey from Ferndown Fire Station have organised the event and we are very grateful to them for all their hard work and also for including the JTYAF as one of their chosen charities. The Leisure Centre staff and customers have been fantastic in their encouragement, generosity and support of the foundation and have really made an important contribution to all that the JTYAF has achieved. The Thornton family have been completely overwhelmed by such an incredible show of unity in the aim to make John's foundation a success. A massive 'thank you' to everyone who is taking part, especially Thomas Newman, Russell Harness and Jane Jory who are riding the entire 230 miles! Riders Role of Honour Team Ferndown aims to ride an amazing 1332 miles in total! If you would like to sponsor us why not visit www.justgiving.com/dorsetfirebikeride-jtyaf where donating is simple, fast and totally secure. Visit www.dorsetfirebikeride.co.uk to find out more about this amazing event.
Sunday 23rd May - Everest for Heroes Summit DayMatt and Pete safely home after being on the Top of the WorldBelow is a short extract from Pete's blog on the Everest Team's website www.everestforheroes.co.uk which gives us an insight into their experiences on top of the world. To find out more about their amazing achievement please visit their website which gives details from both Matt and Pete and their incredible Summit Day Story.
Picture: Pete Sunnucks left and Matt Snook right, arriving home to a VIP reception. Pete and Matt have not only gone down in history for their successful summit of Everest but also because they are the first to stand on the top of the world for Help for Heroes and of course for the JTYAF! They have raised over £12,000 for the two charities which is also an amazing achievement. There is still time to donate, so dig deep and visit their justgiving page at www.justgiving.co.uk/everestforheroes
May 2010Matt and Pete on Top of the World --- Everest Expedition 2010
Picture: Matt Snook left and Pete Sunnucks right, on Top of the World for the JTYAF and JT. If you would like to keep up to date with the news visit www.everestforheroes.co.uk
May 2010 -They’re Back on Track.... (Everest Expedition 2010)
Reaching the highest point on earth will fulfil their personal lifetime dreams. But more importantly it provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness and funds for two charities they are deeply passionate about - Help for Heroes and the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation. If you would like to keep up to date with the news If you would like to sponsor Pete and Matt www.justgiving.co.uk/everestforheroes
March 2010JTYAF Scholar Lisa Hicks - Best Female LifterLisa competed in the Bristish Powerlifting Championships for the Bristish Drug Free Powerlifting Assocation on Saturday 27th March. She came second and achieved three personal bests, her bench lift matching the European record! Lisa won the trophy for best female lifter and should be truly proud of her achievements. Lisa who is training with the Great Britain Team has been selected to compete for the British Drug Free Powerlifting Assiciation in the European Powerlifting Championships on the 27th June in France and is still hoping to compete in the European Championships in Norway. All at the JTYAF wish this amazing young lady all the success she deserves.
March 2010Forres Sandle Manor Prep School choose the JTYAFThe JTYAF were honoured to be chosen by the pupils of Forres Sandle Manor Prep School in Fordingbridge as the chosen charity for their business project. Nine children from the school Enterprise Club formed a company and called it 'Kids In Kontrol.' The board of directors are pupils aged between 9 and 12 years and the aim of the project is to learn about business. They have organised the production of 50 'Magnoboards', a deluxe fridge magnet with room for photos and messages and they intend to sell these at a profit. The profit they make will be donated to the JTYAF. Linda and Pete were invited to the school to give a short presentation to the students explaining a little bit about the foundation. The pupils also made an excellent sales pitch for their product which impressed Pete so much he has put in an order! We would like to thank Mr Clarke and the students at Forres Sandle Manor School for choosing the JTYAF and wish them every success with their venture.
Tuesday 2nd March 2010Manley Hopkinson leading an expedition to the South PoleManley Hopkinson, our Ambassador for the South, has a challenge of his own. In November of this year he is leading an expedition to the South Pole. He and 6 other adventurers are walking, unsupported, hauling 90kg sleds and targeting the world record of 24 days, 8 Hours and 50 minutes to reach the pole using the Beardmore Glacier route. As Manley says “Our route is more technical and tougher than the traditional route from Hercules Inlet, but I believe it’s much faster”. They will cross 460 miles of glaciers, crevasses and ice waves in sub zero temperatures to reach their goal. Details can be found on his web site www.bestofbritishsouthpole.com. Have a look and follow him there while he achieves his dream. Maybe a JTYAF wrist Band could form part of his wardrobe?
Saturday 9th January 2010Awards of £36,000 in 2010The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) has announced that it will award an amazing £36,000 to local young people in 2010. Following massive fundraising support both locally
and nationally, further expansion will see the award of a significantly
higher number of bursaries and scholarships across an even wider
range of local youth organisations in the Foundation's second year.
The JTYAF have allocated £36,000 for awards in 2010 to advance
the lives of young people from the Girl Guides, Scouts, the Dorset
Music Service, the Dorset Fire and Rescue Cadets and young employees
from Sainsbury's in Ferndown, in addition to the three core organisations,
Ferndown Upper School, the Dorset and Wilts Wing of the Air Cadets
and the Air Cadet Junior Leaders.
November 2009Waitrose Community Matters Scheme
Autumn 2009JT remembered at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
17th & 18th October 2009The Junior Leaders TributePete and Linda Thornton were honoured to be invited to visit a
JL training weekend at the Sunhill Centre in Skipton, North Yorkshire.
They were invited to the dedication of a memorial and were also
able to witness a 'snapshot' of JL activities which gave them an
insight into why the course held such a special place in John's
heart. Junior Leaders (JL) is a leadership development course aimed
at senior members of all 3 cadet forces. Junior Leaders is undoubtedly
the toughest and most rewarding course available to young people
today. The JL's are extremely fortunate to be provided with fantastic
opportunities and training from a talented and immensely dedicated
team of instructors. The Aerial Adventure Course at the Sunhill
Centre www.sunhillcentre.co.uk
provided exhilarating and adrenalin charged experiences for JL development
in trust, problem solving, leadership and teamwork. Just one of
the many activities on offer for these young men and women, over
one weekend!
12th January 2009A Great Start to 2009The Board of Trustees are delighted to announce that the first
monies have been allocated for bursary and scholarship applications.
10th January 2009Simon Weston Pays His Respects
|
The store has helped to make a real difference to young people locally, as the success of the JTYAF during their year in partnership with Sainsbury‘s has seen the allocation for awards in 2010 increase to £36,000 JTYAF awards are supporting local guides on a visit to India to work on the Doorstep Schools project, conservation trips to Peru, providing training equipment for a young National level Powerlifting Champion, funding flying lessons, badminton coaching courses, flute lessons, football coaching courses amongst many others. Natasha Wakelin from Ferndown Upper School who has recently received a JTYAF award said that “she was grateful for the doors that the JTYAF has opened for young people in Ferndown”. The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation are grateful to Sainsbury‘s Ferndown for helping to open those doors and would like to thank staff and customers for their fabulous support over the last 12 months. 
Falklands hero Simon
Weston OBE took time out to visit JT's family prior to the quarterly
Trustees meeting.Registered Charity No: 1125277 Patron:
Simon Weston OBE |