GSPCA thanks Bailiwick Express with award for "fantastic support"

Sunday 20 March 2022

Bailiwick Express was delighted to accept a "certificate of appreciation" at this week's GSPCA annual general meeting.

Steve Byrne, Manager of the animal welfare charity, said that Express was presented with the award "for fantastic support in promoting our work and stories".

“Not a week goes by where we don’t appear in one of their stories," said Mr Byrne. 

John Knight, the President of the GSPCA, said: “We are hugely grateful to all of the media and their support, but this year wanted to highlight the incredible support from Bailiwick Express who highlight so much of our work which is shared with thousands of islanders and is so appreciated by us all at the GSPCA."

Express' community pages regularly cover the activities of the GSPCA and provide links to fundraising initiatives.

Matt Fallaize, Express' News Editor, said: "We were delighted to accept the GSPCA's generous award. Many of our readers are interested in the important work which the GSPCA does and we are always pleased to report on stories about its activities. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the GSPCA over the next year."

Mr Knight used the AGM to express his "congratulations to Steve Byrne...and his 10-year anniversary, who does so much for us, and Lorna Chadwick, the Welfare Manager, for her 15-year anniversary, and we are so grateful for all she does". He also thanked other members of the GSPCA's employed and volunteer teams.

Pictured: GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne.

In his report to the meeting, Mr Byrne said: "What a challenging few years we have had at the GSPCA. We couldn’t achieve so much without our incredible team, who have worked so hard through such difficulties.

"We have 149 years' history, but in recent years we have seen record-breaking numbers of wildlife, especially with seals, birds, rabbits and hedgehogs. In fact, over 2,700 wild animals last year, the highest-ever number.

“We continue investigating cruelty reports - over a thousand a year. Many can be resolved easily or with some advice, but sadly we still have those occasions where we have to work with the authorities.

“For 149 years, we have helped animals around the clock and for over 40 years we have ensured we run a 24/7 ambulance service, which we couldn’t do without our amazing volunteer ambulance wardens and the rest of the team at the GSPCA.

“Sadly, due to covid, we had to reduce volunteer numbers on site. We are slowly building this back up, although we have to be cautious.

“Boarding numbers have been incredibly low due to covid and really affected our income - as well as a lack of fundraising events - but we have all worked really hard and are so grateful to so many for all of the financial support and other support in so many ways.

“Despite covid and challenges across the British Isles and world, we still manage each year to put on our Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday, where we celebrate with thousands of islanders, and last year we celebrated our 10th event."

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