Please Think Fairtrade and Free Range this Pancake Day

Today is not only St Davids Day, it is also Shrove Tuesday also known to many as Pancake Day and many of us will shopping for our ingredients.  The GSPCA would like to remind everyone to think of the produce that you are going to use and please look to buy Animal Welfare friendly products such as free range eggs.

Although the EU legislation has forced many battery farms to improve their standards, chickens that live as free range birds have a much better quality of life.

Many of us will be adding extra ingredients and the GSPCA would also like to encourage everyone to not only look at using animal welfare friendly products but to also use Fairtrade goods where possible.

The GSPCA occasionally rescue chickens that come into the Shelter and we have a lot of cockerels which are either reunited with their owners or are looking for homes and if you are interested in adopting some of the hens or even occasional cockerels like those we currently have please do get in touch.  Many of the hens we have rehomed have turned out to be fantastic layers.

Below is a basic pancake recipe to help you celebrate Shrove Tuesday -

To make pancakes you'll need a flat bottomed frying pan, a sieve, mixing bowl and a big spoon or two.

Basic Batter Recipe - Ingredients for making about 8 pancakes

4oz (100g) plain flour.

Half a Pint (250ml) of milk.

1 Standard Free Range Egg. (Size 2)

Pinch of Salt (half teaspoon)

Extra Ingredients to finish the pancakes

2oz (50g) Lard or Fat - for the frying pan.
Sugar, Lemon, Orange etc to add flavour but please look to see if it is Fairtrade produce.

Making the Pancake Batter

• Sieve the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. 
  Make a small hollow in the centre of the mixture and drop in the egg (not the shell).
• Begin to mix while gradually adding about one quarter of the milk. Continue to mix well until bubbles become visible in the mixture.
• Gradually pour in the remaining milk while continuing to mix. 
  (if it's a bit too thick - then add a little water.)
• Pour batter into a jug for easier pouring into pan.

Making the Pancakes

• Heat the frying pan, and place a small piece of lard/fat in the Centre. Allow this to melt and spread over the pan.
• Get the pan nice & hot and when the lard begins to smoke slightly, stir and pour in some of the batter - approx 30ml or 2 tablespoons, or enough to thinly cover the bottom of the pan. (tilt the pan to help the batter spread evenly)
• Cook until nicely golden brown on the bottom. (shouldn't take too long)
• And now the only tricky bit of the whole operation - toss / flip the pancake to within an inch of the kitchen ceiling and position the pan to perfectly catch the pancake on the way down - cooked side up, easy. (you could of course just turn it over with a big plastic spoon, but where's the fun in that? ;-)
• Cook the other side until nicely golden brown (tip - when frying never turn the pancake more than once.).
• Serve immediately with sugar, syrup, lemon or orange poured on top.

To find out more about Fairtrade Guernsey Click Here http://www.fairtradeguernsey.com/?moreinfo=198&page=5

The RSPCA Assured has replaced the Freedom Food label scheme and is the charity dedicated to farm animal welfare and to find out more https://www.rspcaassured.org.uk/

When you see the RSPCA Assured label you know that animals have been kept to strict RSPCA welfare standards. The standards cover the whole of an animals’ life, not just their time on farm. A stimulating environment and plenty of room to move around are just two of the many benefits.  Freedom Food can also be an affordable ethical choice, as they approve indoor as well as free range and organic farms. So, make one small change to your shopping and one big change to farm animal welfare. Find out where to buy Freedom Food and get recipe ideas now.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "It is important when shopping to think where your produce has come from and the quality of life both the animals and farmers have had when the item has got on the shelf and into your basket."

"Free range hens, Fairtrade and the RSPCA Assured scheme are all ways that ensure the animals on the farms and the farmers are all cared for."

“At the GSPCA we are delighted to hear so many Guernsey farms getting RSPCA Assured certification recently.”

"So please this Pancake Day use free range eggs and this RSPCA Assured and Fairtrade when shopping."

“There are many ways you can help support our vital 24/7 work and donate or raise funds for the hundreds of animals in our care.”

“With over 100 hedgehogs, 6 seal pups, dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, fish, reptiles and many birds we help over 3000 animals through the doors every year.”

“If you would like to support our Amazon Wish List and see lists of items that we use every day and things that we are appealing for.”

“If would like to help with wish list items you can call us on 01481 25721 or email [email protected] or the easy way to see many items we are in need  is by going to our Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/25MJPPDAGXHL1?type=WishList .”

“We do promote buying items locally but shopping online can help raise funds at the same time as if you select the GSPCA through easy fund raising part of the amount through 1000’s of online retailers comes back to the GSPCA and it has raised over £2500.”

“To sign up to do this please visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/guernseyspca/?u=1CHID8 .”

“Sadly Amazon Smile doesn’t allow Guernsey charities to sign up but you can go through easy fund raising to achieve the same donation.”

“As mentioned you can always chose to donate via local stores and the Amazon Wish List is a shop front showing some of the items we need but there are many others and we have published these on our Wish List page http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list .”

“A gift of a tiny bowl costing less than a £1 to a £600 intensive care unit, every donation is hugely appreciated and really makes the team smile that there are those that care and want to support our work.”

“Another amazing way to support our work is by just a couple of pounds each month can make a massive difference in helping the animals in our care and to find out more please go to http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf .”

“To make a donation you can go to https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA) .”  

“We couldn’t do so much without your support.”

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

Puffin Patrol

In 2023 we are running a Puffin Parade and to sponsor a 4 foot puffin with the GSPCA and Autism Guernsey go to - http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/2023-autism-guernsey-and-gspca-will-bring-puffin-parade-guernsey-%E2%80%93-could-you-sponsor-and-paint-

Sponsored Event

Why not create your own sponsored event or challenge - https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA)

For lots more ideas why not visit our fundraising page www.gspca.org.gg/fundraising

Wish List

Check out our wish list page from the smallest of items to our biggest of projects there are many ways to support us - http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list

To visit our Amazon Wish list to see some of the items we need to help the wildlife please visit - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/25MJPPDAGXHL1?type=WishList

GSPCA Wildlife Hospital Appeal

To make a direct donation please visit - https://giving.gg/donate/event/4618/Please-Support-the-GSPCA-Wildlife-Hospital-Appeal

To Buy a Brick in the new Wildlife Hospital and download a leaflet please click here - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Buy%20a%20Brick%20Wildlife%20Hospital.pdf

Larger donors or corporates may want to make a larger donation and become an Exclusive Build Partner and to find out more please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-exclusive-build-partner

Legacies & Bequests

By leaving a gift to the GSPCA in your Will really helps us to improve the lives of animals into the future.  After providing for those you care for, please consider leaving a proportion of what remains to the GSPCA it is so appreciated and makes a real lasting legacy.

A gift like this to the GSPCA ensures our animals and those in Guernsey will always have someone to keep them safe. To find out more please http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/gifts-wills-and-funding 

Gift Aid on Donations over £500

To find out about the States of Guernsey tax relief information on gift aid up to 2020 on donations totalling between £500 and £5000 please see the details by going to https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2617&p=0

2021 gift aid is from £500 and up to £7500 and here are the details - https://www.gov.gg/article/151830/Income-tax-relief

To download the form to claim for 2020 or before please follow this link https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1994&p=0

Become a sponsor and GSPCA member

Why become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor and support our work each month please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf

To become a Corporate Angel Pen Pal form for your business to sponsor animals in our care each year please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Corporate%20Angel%20Pen%20Pal%20sponsor%20formnew.pdf  

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Many of you will have seen us on social media and your support liking and sharing our posts is really appreciated, and to visit our social media pages please go to

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In line with States of Guernsey advice please DO NOT visit the GSPCA if have any symptoms of Coronavirus and we continue visits to the Shelter for only essential reasons and to please call us on 01481 257261 or email [email protected] before your trip to see if we can help without you coming to the Shelter. For the latest information and advice please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/search/node/coronavirus

With huge challenges on our resources and a drop in income from boarding and donations please help us help animals in Guernsey with our #GSPCACoronavirusCrisisAppeal by donating online via - https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal

Below are our usual opening times but with the current challenges due to covid these are occasionally adjusted to ensure we provide the best of care for the animals and those needing our 24/7 help, in an emergency please call 01481 257261