Volunteer Week - Talking to the community from the OSA Pop Up Shop & we meet another two great volunteers at the GSPCA

Today the GSPCA have been at the OSA recruitment Pop Up Shop with a selection of other charities to speak to the community about volunteering.

With the sun shining, the GSPCA would like to thank OSA Recruitment, Volunteer.gg, Association of Guernsey Charities and the Community Foundation for the chance to join some great causes in St Peter Port to spread the word of helping animals in Guernsey through Volunteers Week.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager set up a small display in the shop amongest the other charities promoting their work including Action Aid, Bridge 2, National Trust, Oxfam and the La Societe Guernesiase.

Those representing their charities then talked to passers by about the work each of the wonderful charities do to help the community both at home and abroad.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said 'It was a wonderful day today talking to those interested in helping give something back to the community and also talk to those that already do so much.'

'We have a fantastic team of volunteers here at the GSPCA, but there is always more to do with over 200 animals in our care and thousands that come through our doors each year, as well as all the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the Shelter going we always love to hear from those that would like to help us from individuals to companies.'

'All week we have been focusing and celebrating just a few of the volunteers at the GSPCA, but a huge thanks from ourselves is extended to anyone that helps the GSPCA or indeed any animal in Guernsey.'

'Volunteers Week seems to grow year on year and it is heart warming to see all of the wonderful work that goes on within the Guernsey community.'

Today we meet Donna and Jo, two volunteers that help with the day to day running of the Shelter.  They work in all departments and are always happy to help with anything that needs doing at the 4 acre site in St Andrews.

Donna Francis a GSPCA Volunteer and also the Chairperson for RSPB Guernsey helps at the Shelter whenever she can said 'I volunteer firstly because I love animals, absolutely all of them and I feel passionately that they all deserve to be treated well with love and care.'

'The GSPCA have dedicated staff that work long hours, often volunteering in addition to their paid work hours; they do a wonderful job but they need help.'

'Volunteering is an opportunity to give direct help and care to animal welfare and to lighten the load of those who give every day.'

'The rewards are many such as is spending time with wonderful little guys who have often had a rough deal in life.'  

'We can’t ’take them all home but we can give them love and make them feel special while they’re waiting for a new home.'

'So if you want to help animals and wildlife, work with lovely dedicated people, learn about pets and wildlife volunteering is for you.'  

'The icing on the cake is all the furry cuddles you get!'

Jo Streeting one of the fantastic regular volunteers we seen after he finishes school, during weekends of his time off said 'Originally I came as part of my D of E.'

'After coming for about a month or two, I began to realise that I enjoyed working with the animals and watching their personalities grow until they went to their new home or were released.'

'The experience was very rewarding which caused me to volunteer more and more and is one of the main reasons why I continue to volunteer.'

There are many ways a business can get involved with the GSPCA and to find out how your business can get involved please click here.

To see more on volunteering please click here.

To visit the Guernsey Volunteers website please click here.

To view previous stories of our fantastic volunteers and staff -

Amazing People Doing Amazing Things for Animals in Guernsey - Results of the Staff Member & Volunteer of Summer 2013

GSPCA Masquerade Ball a wonderful evening and success at the St Pierre Park Hotel - Thank you to all involved

GSPCA Staff Member Yvonne from over 5000 nominations is a finalist at the Petplan & ADCH Animal Charity Awards 2014

Staff and Volunteer Awards Autumn Winter 2013/14

A night full of gratitude at the 131st AGM of the GSPCA days before our 141st year

Volunteers & Staff at the GSPCA Nominated for Spring Appreciation

Volunteers Week - Ferreting at the GSPCA - Meeting Hayley Malpas

Volunteers Week - Meeting helpful businesses - Thank you to Barclays - CSR with animals in Guernsey part 1

We have lots of animals in need of homes. Could you help us advertise them? To download a the posters please click here. or to share them on social media please click here.

To download a poster to advertise the Hedgehog Competition please click here.

To download a poster to advertise the Hedgehog Awareness Poster Competition please click here.

Create a GSPCA Awareness Poster for Hedgehogs

Age groups –

4 – 7 years old (infants)

7 – 11 years old (juniors)

Some ideas could include:

Watch out for hedgehogs on the road waking up from hibernation

Hedgehogs out in the day time could mean there is something wrong

Please put out clean drinking water for hedgehogs over the summer

Check for hedgehogs before cutting the lawn/grass

Discard of rubbish properly - especially netting/wires

Make sure your swimming pool/pond is easily escapable

Do not put slug pellets down as they are poisonous

Don't touch a nest until sure you need to intervene

Cut holes in fence bottoms to allow hedgehogs to pass through gardens

Watch your dogs around hedgehogs- either one could get hurt

Other points to add:

Phone GSPCA for advice/emergency: 01481 257261

Advice on the GSPCA Webpage- www.gspca.org.gg

BE AS CREATIVE AS YOU LIKE!

Prizes for the top 3 in each age group.

Send your posters with your name, age, contact number and school on the back to [email protected] or to the Shelter at

Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Rue du Truchots
St Andrews
Guernsey, Channel Islands
GY6 8UD

Closing date 6/6/14. Winners will be announced on the 13/6/14

Build a Hedgehog House

2014 Competition

Design and build a hedgehog house to be used in your own or friends garden!

There are two age group categories:

7 to 11 years (Junior age)

11 to 16 years (secondary age)

The top three from each group will be contacted to be judged and there are PRIZES for the top 3 designs in each group!

The house structure must be:

- Waterproof  

- Big enough to make a nest

- Safe from predators

- Camouflaged

What could you use to build the house?

 - Logs                          

- Old plastic box

- Bricks

- Wood

- Pots

- Anything else - Be as creative as you like!

Try the internet and our website for more inspiration!

www.gspca.org.gg

Last thing to do is take a beautiful photograph then email it to us along with your age, full name and contact number to:

[email protected]

Closing date 6/6/14. Winners will be announced on the 13/6/14

Good luck and have fun!

Please be careful when building your hog houses

 Work with an adult to put it together as you may need to use grown-up tools

We currently have two stunning cats called Trio and Trouble needing operations. To donate to help them please click on this link www.justgiving.com/Gspca-Trio-and-Trouble, call 01481 257261, by post or popping into the Shelter.

GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, Guernsey, GY6 8UD

To find out about our Events, how to become a Member, Sponsor an Animal Pen, our Wish List, Corporate Sponsorship & Volunteering, , our New Build & Redevelopment Appeal and much more please click here.

To find out about GSPCA training and courses at the Shelter please click here.

There are many ways to support the work of the GSPCA and you can even donate online by clicking the paypal link below.

Have you liked us on facebook yet or joined us on twitter?