A remarkable group of almost 100 Ferndown Upper School Sixth Form students has been celebrated after raising an incredible £8,128 for the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation, through this year's Cardboard Campout. The students truly demonstrated the very best of young people.

The students spent the night in shelters made entirely from cardboard, testing their creativity, teamwork and resilience. The Mayor of Ferndown, Cllr Lawrence Wilson, was on hand to judge the shelters and said: “I was very impressed with their efforts. It was very difficult to award some and not others as they were all very good!”

Pete Thornton JTYAF Chair said, "We could not be prouder of these outstanding students. They willingly gave up their weekend, stepped outside their comfort zones and embraced the challenge with positivity and incredible enthusiasm. Their commitment to helping others has been nothing short of inspiring."

"Raising £8,128 is an extraordinary achievement, but what has impressed us most is the compassion, teamwork and leadership shown by every student who took part. They are fantastic ambassadors for their school and a credit to their families and our local community."

Local businesses supported the students’ efforts to reach their fundraising target by collecting cardboard in the weeks leading up to the campout. The school thanked the companies involved, as well as Tesco Ferndown for providing breakfast supplies and Asda Bournemouth for donating fruit juice.

Special recognition was given to the teaching staff who volunteered their time to supervise the overnight event and to the families who encouraged and supported the students throughout their fundraising efforts.

The funds raised will enable the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation to continue supporting local young people through grants, awards and opportunities that help them fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions.

For many involved, however, the true success of the Cardboard Campout went far beyond the money raised.

The event showcased a generation of young people who are willing to give up their own time to help others, demonstrating kindness, empathy and a strong sense of social responsibility. In an age when young people are often unfairly criticised, these Sixth Form students proved that the future is in safe hands.

As the cardboard shelters came down the following morning, the lasting legacy of the event remained clear: a remarkable £8,128 raised, countless lives set to benefit, and a group of exceptional young people who showed exactly what can be achieved when a community comes together for a good cause.