2023 Autism Guernsey and the GSPCA will bring the Puffin Parade to Guernsey – Could you sponsor and paint a puffin?

2021 Guernsey saw the Guernsey Goat Trail which was hugely popular and brought smiles and fun to many islanders and visitors.

Autism Guernsey and the GSPCA are delighted to be working together to bring a Puffin Parade to Guernsey in 2023.

Both charities are looking for businesses to sponsor a puffin and artists to decorate them.  This is a real community project and we invite groups, schools, individuals and professional artists to join in this initiative and paint a puffin. 

The 4 foot puffins will be displayed from April 2023 which is the month that the puffins return to our shores to breed around Herm, Alderney, Sark and the cliffs of the Bailiwick.

Mandy Rowlinson from Autism Guernsey said “Autism Guernsey and the GSPCA, Guernsey SPCA are excited to have partnered up to hold a 'Puffin Parade' in 2023.” 

“The Puffin Parade will be similar to the Goat Trail but will comprise 4' Puffins instead of goats.”

“We received fantastic feedback about the Goat Trail and we are hoping that the Puffin Parade will be even more successful in 2023.”

“If you would be interested in sponsoring a puffin or indeed painting one, please contact myself at Autism Guernsey on 232879 or [email protected] . Alternatively you can contact Steve Byrne the GSPCA on 01481 257261 or email [email protected] .” 

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “We are absolutely delighted at the GSPCA to be teaming up with Autism Guernsey for the ‘Puffin Parade’ in 2023.”

“In 2023 we will be celebrating 150 years helping animals in Guernsey which include puffins.”

“This spectacular event will be a great celebration of our 150th anniversary in the Island.”

“Puffins are a comical looking bird which  many islanders really love and we are looking for businesses or groups to sponsor each of the 60 puffins.”

“The plan is that over the winter artists will decorate the puffins and in April when the puffins return to our shores to breed we will launch the ‘Puffin Parade’ so we can all enjoy the fabulous work of our local talented artists.”

“The ‘Puffin Parade’ will see each of the 60 puffins placed around Guernsey until the end of the Summer when we will have a fabulous event to auction each of the puffins to raise much needed funds for Autism Guernsey and the GSPCA.”

“Please do get in touch with Autism Guernsey or the GSPCA if you would like to know more about this fabulous event.”

To download a form to sign up to sponsor one or puffins please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Sponsorship%20letter%20-%20puffins.docx 

To download the artists form please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Artists%20Form%20-%20puffins.docx 

An opportunity to become involved in a major community event

In 2021 Autism Guernsey and the Guernsey Adult Literacy Project organised the Goat Trail which was extremely successful and raised over £80,000 for the charities.

Autism Guernsey and the GSPCA are now organising a further parade for 2023 – the Puffin Parade.

When deciding on what kind of statue to use for this event, it was agreed that we would keep to the theme of animals and birds synonymous with the Bailiwick.  Therefore it was agreed that we would use Puffins, although larger than their normal size.

Photographs have been taken of Puffins and these will be used by the model makers to create a mould from which the fibreglass models will be made. It is anticipated they will arrive in Guernsey during the summer of 2022 when they will be handed over to local artists, designers and community groups who will decorate them.

At the start of April 2023 they will go ‘on parade’ at locations around the island to coincide with the Puffins’ arrival in Herm. A map, available from the the Bus Terminus and hotels, will be created indicating their locations. They will remain in their positions until September when they will be auctioned, all proceeds going to Autism Guernsey and the GSPCA.

We are seeking individuals or organisations who would be prepared to sponsor the puffins at a cost of £1,000 each. The sponsorship covers the cost of manufacturing the puffin and transport costs.

The intention is to involve as much of the community as possible - although some puffins will be painted by local artists, others will be decorated by community groups and schools, ensuring that this local art project involves and inspires large numbers of local people.

What’s in it for the sponsor?

The puffins will be fitted to plinths to which will be fixed plaques detailing the name of the sponsor and the designer/painter.

The map, showing the location of all the puffins, will include the names of the sponsors. The map will be freely available to locals and visitors alike. This map will also be put on our Website and Facebook pages, and sponsors can then share it on their own social media sites.

There will also be an App and written quiz on sale at venues around the Island such as hotels, cafes, entertainment centres etc. whereby entrants have to name the locations of the puffins, the sponsors and the artists.

By ‘adopting’ one of the puffins, your company name will be presented in a totally different way. Positioned in locations all over the island, the puffins will be immediately striking, eye-catching and memorable. They will have genuine ‘stopping power’.   We know from the previous trail that visitors and locals enjoy seeing all the painted statues and that footfall increases in those locations where the statues are placed.

This will be a major community project with high impact. The puffins will be ‘on parade’ for many months and will inevitably attract considerable media interest.

Should they wish, sponsors will have the opportunity to brief the artist on the design of ‘their’ puffin to ensure the design reflects their particular business. It may also be appropriate that the puffin is located at or near the sponsor’s place of business.

There is also the option for the sponsor to buy the puffin after the parade so that it can take up permanent residence in the organisation.  The only stipulation is that the design does not include names or logos since these could limit the attraction to potential bidders at the auction.

Should you require any further information, or if you would like to reserve a puffin, please contact Mandy Rowlinson at Autism Guernsey on 232879 or [email protected] or Steve Byrne at the GSPCA on 257261 or [email protected]

The Puffin Parade website will launch soon with more information www.puffinparade.gg

Donate

Donate by calling  01481 257261, by post to GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, Guernsey GY6 8UD or online https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal

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