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The JSPCA hopes to begin a “new era” under the leadership of its new interim CEO who wants to put the charity back at the "heart of the community".
Tom Noel stepped into the top job at the JSPCA last month.
He takes over from Debra D’Orleans, who retired as the charity's boss after five years.
Mr Noel is looking to improve the 155-year-old charity’s stance in the community after it has endured what he described as a “challenging history”.
The new CEO said his aim is for the JSPCA is to “very much not look backwards” and focus on “pushing forward”.
Pictured: Mr Noel hopes to put the JSPCA back at the "heart of the community" in Jersey.
Although he steps into a position with a tricky past, Mr Noel’s vision for the future of the charity is nothing short of positive and determined.
Focusing on community engagement and openness, he said he wants to use his position to put the JSPCA in the “heart of the community” once again.
“There’s no doubt that the charity's had a had a challenging history,” Mr Noel said.
“The JSPCA needs to be at the heart of the community.
"It needs to be open to work with all animals, all charities and all people that are passionate about the animals that live on the island."
The JSPCA has faced a number of years of financial struggle after the charity was rocked by the actions of its former CEO.
Major Stephen Coleman was jailed for seven years in 2020 for defrauding £400,000 from the charity to pay himself a three-figure salary and fund a lavish lifestyle.
Pictured: Major Stephen Coleman was jailed for seven years in 2020 for defrauding £400,000 from the JSPCA.
During sentencing at the Royal Court, the judge ordered that everything Coleman owned – including his house and other high-value possessions – must be sold to pay the charity back at least part of what the former army officer and St Lawrence Centenier stole from them.
The charity was lucky to survive the ordeal after financial reports from the period of Coleman’s dismissal in 2017 showed the JSPCA was carrying debts of nearly £1 million.
It remains Jersey’s most serious charity fraud.
Mr Noel said: “Obviously it’s not right for me to comment on that but what I can say is, that every CEO, is responsible for an era of the charity and my predecessor [Ms D’Orleans], has done a fantastic job in ensuring that the JSPCA is on a solid footing financially."
Mr Noel, who is also a trustee on the Board of Dementia Jersey, recognised that the JSPCA had been “closed off” from the community and other third sector animal welfare organisations and is looking to change that going forward.
“We’ve been quite closed off from the community of animal welfare charities that exist on the island," he explained.
"If you look at our mission, which is to prevent cruelty, promote knowledge and provide for the aged, sick and lost animals or Jersey, we very much do the latter part of that, but in terms of promoting knowledge and preventing cruelty, that’s an area where I think we can do more.
"We can only do that by being open to partner with other charities, other wildlife sanctuaries, other educational provide providers.
“An observation since coming in is a lot of these relationships needed fostering.”
As a former young volunteer for the JSPCA, Mr Noel said that he was “fascinated” at the opportunity to take on the interim CEO role.
"It’s a fascinating opportunity for me," he said.
"I left my previous employer and had the opportunity to come in and help a charity, that I’ve got very fond memories of and quite a strong allegiance to, so it’s been fantastic for me to be able to step in and give something back."
Reflecting on what one does as a person in an interim lead position, Mr Noel said it is about making one of two choices.
“For any interim CEO, there’s two ways you can handle it," he said.
"You can come in and keep a plate spinning, or you can come in and do what you think is right and what you think is needed and I’m very much doing the latter.
“But it’s less about the person who’s in the CEO seat, and more about what the JSPCA needs for the future.”
Sticking to his intentions for the JSPCA to put itself back in the community, Mr Noel took to the charity’s social media platforms earlier this month to introduce himself and ask stakeholders to come forward to discuss the charity’s future priorities.
“It’s just to make sure that we that what we’re building is going to be fit for the for 2025, and beyond, and it’s going to be helpful,” he said.
To expand on this, a new 'Strategy Open Day' is planned in January to invite volunteers, stakeholders and interested parties to hear about the charity’s future targets.
These include investment in infrastructure and partnering with other welfare charities such as the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team, which the JSPCA has been recently able to support for the first time.
Although his role is temporary – albeit without an end date – Mr Noel does not want to be seen as “just a caretaker” as interim CEO, which comes with the eventual responsibility of finding a permanent successor.
“I’m not just a caretaker, I’m doing what I think is right for the charity and pushing forward,” he said.
Mr Noel continued: “A big part of my role is recruiting – including the new CEO – but what I am keen to do, when it is my time to pass the baton on, is to stay involved with charity.
"I have already been talking to the Chairman about potentially staying on as a as a trustee."
Looking forward to recruiting the new “face of the charity” in the form of a successive permanent CEO, Mr Noel said whoever gets the role will underpin a “new era” of investment for the charity and will need to engage with all its stakeholders.
Describing the future as an “exciting ” time for the JSPCA, Mr Noel said the charity is also working on a "property master plan".
He explained: "We have quite a large site, and it needs a bit of money spent on it and due to my predecessor, we’re in a position where we will be able to do that to improve the lives of the animals that stay with us and the people that dedicate their career to us.
"It’s quite an exciting thing for the new CEO, and for me while I’m in the role.”
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