JSPCA PRESS RELEASE

March 2005  

JSPCA Animals' Shelter introduces new volunteer fund raising coordinator

The JSPCA has today announced a new initiative to ensure its long-term financial survival. The Association was forced last month to make severe cutbacks in the services it offers, due to a dramatic reduction in the legacies received from the public, which have supported the Shelter since it was formed in 1868. The new initiative involves the creation of a fund raising sub-committee. It will be made up of both existing committee members and high profile individuals and doers from the commercial world that feel strongly that the Shelter deserves a long term place in the Island’s charitable infrastructure. 

JSPCA Manager Pru Bannier said, “There is greater competition than ever for charitable funds. We are delighted with the recent grant of £20,000 from the Jersey Association of Charities, but there is so much more to do to ensure the long term survival of the Shelter.

To implement the new initiative, the Committee has appointed business consultant Sindy Boléat as fund-raising co-ordinator on an ex gratia basis. She will manage and co-ordinate the various strategies that the Shelter is putting together. She said “I do not think that the public is aware how serious the situation is, or the full extent of the Shelter’s problems.” she said “She continued “Because of forced cut backs the shelter no longer offers a 24 hour service. During the dark years of the Occupation the Animal Shelter received over 30,000 animals and never closed their doors, day or night. I cannot believe that the public of the Island will allow the Shelter to struggle now. The Shelter carries out a critical public service, yet receives no States funding and is unlikely to do so. This is our Shelter, so it’s up to the public of the Island to act now.”

Expressing her backing for the initiative, Pru Bannier commented “We have been forced into these measures by economic changes outside our control. Through this initiative, we intend to take control of our own destiny and place ourselves in a position where the welfare of the Island’s unwanted animals is secure. We cannot expect the public of the Island to support us if we do not help ourselves, and so we will be doing a number of things over the coming months to generate maximum value for money internally. I believe that these measures, together with the help of the public of the Island, will enable the Shelter to emerge from this crisis stronger than ever and able to reintroduce all of the services that we have provided without charge for so long.”

ENDS