A long-serving GSPCA volunteer, Yvonne Chauvel, has been shortlisted as a finalist for Animal Charity Employee of the Year—an honour she says both humbled and surprised her.
A GSPCA senior animal care assistant has been named one of three national finalists in a major animal welfare awards category.
Yvonne Chauvel has been shortlisted for the awards’ Animal Charity Employee of the Year category, one of three honours recognising excellence in promoting animal welfare.. Speaking about the nomination, Chauvel said being recognised alongside other people working in animal welfare “really means a lot,” and added that she is looking forward to attending the awards evening at the ADCH Conference next month while representing GSPCA and Guernsey.
Chauvel, who has worked for the GSPCA for around 30 years, credits her long commitment to a decision that began with volunteering.. Before her formal role, she spent time with the organisation as a volunteer, a period she says helped her understand where her real passion lay.. “I have always had pets and love all animals,” she said, describing the pleasure of working alongside others who care to help thousands of animals each year.
That personal connection has remained central even as her responsibilities have evolved over decades.. She explained that it was only after getting the chance to help at the GSPCA as a volunteer—just over 30 years ago—that she truly recognised how strongly she wanted to dedicate her working life to supporting animals.. “I only wish I had started sooner,” she said, underlining the sense that the organisation became more than just a workplace.
The news of finalist status also caught her off guard.. Chauvel described her reaction as “very shocked,” saying she feels “incredibly humbled” to be shortlisted for what she called a prestigious award.. For many people in animal welfare, recognition can feel rare because the work is often steady, hands-on and quietly ongoing rather than headline-driven.. Chauvel’s comments reflect that reality: decades of effort culminate in a moment of public acknowledgment, but the motivation remains rooted in daily care.
She has, however, been on the finalist radar before.. Chauvel was nominated in 2014, making this latest shortlist not the first time her dedication has been recognised in award circles.. GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said the organisation is proud of her, describing her dedication, compassion and commitment over three decades as having touched the lives of thousands of animals and countless people.
Byrne’s message also points to the wider impact of the role: animal care staff do not only provide physical support to animals in their care, but help shape how communities respond to welfare challenges.. Awards like Animal Charity Employee of the Year may focus on an individual, yet they often draw attention to teams—those who work with routine, resilience, and care day after day.. In that sense, Chauvel’s nomination is both personal and collective.
From a human perspective, the difference between volunteering and a long-term career can be significant.. For Chauvel, the boundary blurred: volunteering became a gateway to sustained employment, and her early experience appears to have shaped her outlook.. Her story is also a reminder of how organisations like Misryoum highlight the pathways that bring people into animal welfare—and how those pathways can develop into lifelong commitments.
As the ADCH Conference approaches, attention will shift from preparation to the awards evening itself, where one of the finalists will be recognised publicly for their work.. Even before the outcome, the shortlist places a spotlight on the GSPCA and on the people behind its services—those who keep welfare standards moving forward, often out of sight and out of mind.. For the wider community in Guernsey, the recognition offers a moment of pride, but it also reinforces a simple message: sustained care is being seen, valued, and celebrated.