We are pleased to announce that we are partnering with The Donkey Sanctuary to offer service users new ways of supporting their mental health and wellbeing, by connecting with donkeys through their innovative Donkey Assisted Activities (DAA) programme.

The Donkey Sanctuary is a leading animal charity with centres across the country, including two in Devon (Sidmouth and Ivybridge), that not only supports the care and welfare of donkeys worldwide, but also actively promotes the self-development of children and adults through the benefits of being in the presence of donkeys. Donkeys are highly intuitive animals that can sense subtle changes in their environment. Simply by observing their responses to us, we can learn to regulate our body language, thoughts, and emotions.

This new partnership aims to create a referral pathway for Devon Mind service users to benefit from connecting with donkeys whilst receiving additional mental health and wellbeing support. The Donkey Sanctuary currently delivers support through a variety of activities, including Donkey-Facilitated Learning (DFL), Wellbeing with Donkeys (WWD), and the Donkey Management Programme (DMP). Support is delivered through individual and group formats, and each session offers some form of mindfulness or grounding activity. The offer of self-care support at the Ivybridge centre has generously also been extended to all Devon Mind support staff.

Earlier in the year, several members of the Devon Mind team visited the Ivybridge centre for a taster showcase session to experience the support programmes now available to service users and gain a greater understanding of the theory behind DAA, whilst getting to meet the resident donkeys! The showcase experience started with refreshments, a tour of the centre and a presentation, prior to beginning the DFL session led by DAA Development Lead Victoria Banfield. After being introduced to the donkeys and starting with a mindful activity, our team was then guided through a group task that incorporated both organisations’ values.

The session brought attention to the impact of spending time with donkeys in their natural surroundings, particularly on wellbeing and self-awareness, and how this could offer wider holistic benefits. The donkeys’ ability to mirror emotional and behavioural states enables different thinking patterns and growth. Overall, the DFL session highlighted the importance of collaboration and led to open communication and new insights within the team.

Reflecting on the showcase and partnership with Devon Mind, Victoria commented:

“It was incredibly moving watching the donkeys work with the Devon Mind team. I am consistently in awe of how powerful this self-development can be.

I think that the donkeys made a big impression on the participants, allowing them the time and space to ruminate on what their needs are, which can sometimes get suppressed when working within the healthcare and social support industry.

The practitioners present on the day have already started to refer in clients for our services, but we do hope to welcome back the team from Devon Mind so that they also get to reap the benefits of being in the presence of these sentient creatures.”

The experience provided us with a unique first-hand experience of the many benefits donkey therapy can offer, whilst also gaining a greater understanding and appreciation of the importance of the welfare and care of the donkeys involved. We are really excited to be working closely with the Donkey Sanctuary and look forward to seeing the therapeutic impact that DAA can have for our service users.

Find out more about the Donkey Sanctuary