Donkeys, Downtime & Deep Breaths: A Sanctuary for the Frontline
By Charities Correspondent
Frontline staff from several animal welfare organisations took time out from their demanding roles to take part in a range of wellbeing sessions at The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon recently.
The group, which included staff from Flicka, Ash, Margaret Green and the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, were joined by Donkey Welfare Advisers and several members of staff from The Donkey Sanctuary at the Donkey Assisted Activities (DAA) centre in Sidmouth.
They spent the day connecting with colleagues and building relationships with other organisations, all in a peaceful setting alongside the donkeys.
Throughout the day, the group took part in mindfulness exercises focused on body awareness and sensory grounding, resilience-based discussions and Donkey Facilitated Learning (DFL), which involves coaching-based interactions in the presence of donkeys, guided by a qualified facilitator.
Participants explored what resilience meant to them, used symbolic items and observed the donkeys’ behaviour.
The donkeys’ natural teamwork helped show how people can support one another through challenges.
Lauriel Woodley, Sidmouth DAA Centre Manager, said:
“Hosting multi-agency days allows frontline equine welfare workers to connect, share experiences and support one another. We explored emotional resilience, mindful techniques for managing stressful situations and goal-setting strategies to overcome challenges.”
She added: “Many animal charities are operating at full capacity with limited time and resources, which can impact both staff and equine wellbeing. Throughout the sessions, the donkeys offered their own ‘feedback’, reminding participants of the importance of taking time for self-care to better care for the animals they support.”
There were also opportunities for open discussion around professional obstacles and shared strategies for overcoming them, encouraging collaboration and cross-agency learning.
A creative enrichment workshop showcased sustainable items like the whirligig and water buffet enrichment activities, sparking ideas to improve environments for donkeys and other equines.
Amy Dearlove, Sanctuary Manager from the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, said:
“I never expected working with donkeys to feel so different from working with horses. Both are wonderful animals to partner with, but I was drawn to the playfulness and interactive nature of the donkeys we worked with. They were so calm and willing to engage – I could’ve spent hours in that session!"
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Kiera Benham, Donkey Welfare Adviser at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “It was such a wonderful day, being able to spend time with like-minded people and with the donkeys. In my role, it’s hard to take a step back and just ‘be’ with the donkeys, so having that time really helps to settle and focus the mind on what’s really important.”
Participants each took something positive from the day, with many saying it was a great chance to connect with colleagues, meet new people and enjoy the calming presence of the donkeys, who were without a doubt the stars of the show.
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