The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys and mules worldwide.

Opened in 2007, our Ivybridge sanctuary is home to donkeys who work with vulnerable people within our donkey-assisted therapy activities and life skills development programme.

What is donkey-assisted therapy?

Donkeys have an innate emotional intelligence that can help to develop the psycho-social and emotional skill set of humans. We allow our donkeys the freedom to work with our clients on the same level to develop an empathetic relationship, which is mutually beneficial for the client and donkey.

Initially, the programme focused on children with additional needs but over the past four decades the demand for a programme that could help adults and children with a wide range of emotional, psychological and cognitive needs became apparent. As a consequence we are building on the solid foundation established over four decades and further developing what we aim to be a cutting edge programme, focusing on developing key life skills such as self-esteem, managing emotions and empathy.

In addition, 21 members of staff across The Donkey Sanctuary are currently undertaking an accredited Equine Facilitated Learning qualification, which allows the charity to offer Donkey Facilitated Learning programmes to a wider client group encompassing a more diverse set of emotional, psychological or physical needs, such as veterans, youth at risk, recovering addicts or those suffering the legacy of abuse.