Charity Spotlight is a weekly series dedicated to showcasing the incredible work of Jersey’s charities – from grassroots initiatives to island-wide movements, we’ll be sharing the stories of the people working tirelessly to support those in need and the importance of leadership in guiding that work.
Each week, Express hears from a charity leader on their biggest challenges and successes, what leadership and wellbeing truly mean in the third sector, and their hopes for the future.
Next up is the JSPCA – a charity dedicated to providing care for unwanted, sick, lost, or aged animals and wildlife in Jersey.
Before he passes over to newly appointed permanent CEO, Pam Aubert, the Animal Shelter’s Interim CEO Tom Noel shared his reflections…
The biggest challenge facing our charity right now is…
Delivering our mission. We are committed to doing this and doing it well. But we need to invest in our people, property and services right across the organisation. We have ambitious plans but as you might expect, it takes time and needs a lot of funding and expertise.
The most rewarding part of our work is…
Watching animals that have come into our care due to severe neglect go through the process of rehabilitation with our amazing team. Seeing that same animal healed, happy and confident toddling off with its new adoptive family has to be the most rewarding aspect of our work. After all, that’s what we’re here to do.
We have a number of success stories, and we look forward to sharing them on our channels soon.
A common misconception about what we do is…
We put down a healthy animal if we’ve had it for too long.
This is untrue and quite painful to hear. Every animal deserves the chance to thrive and be loved. Once the animal in our care is healthy and ready, our mission is to always find it a suitable and loving home.
If we had double the funding tomorrow, we would…
Create a shelter that is efficient, modern, with species-appropriate accommodation, and improved medical and rehabilitation areas to serve all the animals, both domestic and wildlife, that come into our care.
We want the shelter to be a buzzing hub of activity, with animal care at the heart of it. That vision includes an education centre and community spaces that we can all benefit from and enjoy.
One thing I wish more people understood about our cause is…
We are governed by the animal welfare law and have to work within the legal parameters granted to us. What we can and can’t do is often misconstrued for ‘not willing or wanting to help’. We hope we have the chance to set the record straight and bust these myths as we do more around education of animal care and welfare.
The most inspiring success story I’ve witnessed through our work is…
Not a specific case per say, but more generally when working with pet owners in a welfare case. Rather than just seizing an animal when investigating a welfare concern, we have taken the time to build a relationship with the owner to understand their difficulties and the factors that could be contributing to the neglect. It may have stemmed from a number of things; personal circumstances, emotional and financial struggles, or bereavement. We have supported pet owners, taken steps to improve the condition of the animal and provided some relief with regards to animal care for the owner.
Our charity wouldn’t exist without…
The incredible support and generosity of the public. We’re grateful for every donation, to all the hours put in by our volunteers and to everyone who advocates for us.
The biggest shift in the charity sector over the past decade has been…
Without a doubt, the cost of living.
It has impacted people in many ways, but specifically to us, we have seen it affect the cost of pet food and veterinary bills. We expect to see more cases of owners being forced to give up their pets simply because they can no longer afford to keep them.
The best way for people to support us (beyond donations) is…
Advocate for us, do the right thing as a pet owner, support us through donating skills and time, and remember to be kind.
In five years, I hope our charity will…
Be well on its way with implementing our property masterplan. It is part of our exciting and ambitious plans to create a stronger and sustainable future for the JSPCA.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned as a leader is…
A mission goes far beyond a corporate statement. It defines your organisation and drives every decision you and your team make.
A great leader in the charity sector needs to be…
Compassionate and focused on the greater good.
The best piece of leadership advice I ever received was…
“Get the wrong people off the bus”. It is important for a leader to recognise who is disrupting progress or does not support the values and mission of the organisation. Equally, leaders should quickly recognise their stars. Invest in staff who make a real difference and nurture them for personal and collective success.
The most important quality in a team is…
Working together, diversifying skills and finding balance.
When it comes to motivating people, I believe…
We should lead by example.
One thing I do to support my team’s wellbeing is…
Listen, care and be part of the difficult conversations.
A mistake I made early in my leadership journey was…
Trying to be everyone’s friend.
and what it taught me was…
This drains time and energy and can be disruptive.
The one skill I think every charity CEO or manager should develop is…
Partnership. Step away from the desk and discover who you can lean on for expertise and resources. And likewise, be willing to reciprocate.
If I could change one thing about how charities are run, it would be…
The lens by which we see charities. Working in the charity sector, doesn’t make you a charity. Invest in your people through training and development, and renumerate them properly.
The most unexpected thing about working in the charity sector is…
Diversity. Even if you have planned your day, you never know what challenges will come your way.
GET IN TOUCH…
If you know a charity you think should be featured, drop a message to editor@bailiwickexpress.com.
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