Staff and volunteers from mental health charity Devon Mind recently spent the day at The Donkey Sanctuary’s Ivybridge centre where they took part in a mindfulness session alongside some of the resident donkeys.
The aim of the day was to showcase the animal welfare charity’s Donkey Assisted Activities (DAA) programme, giving the team from Devon Mind a greater understanding of the theory behind it and the support available to their clients through the programmes.
Devon Mind is an independent mental health charity affiliated with the national Mind association. They provide advice and support to empower anyone in the county who may be experiencing a problem with their mental health.
Each local Mind branch is unique. They understand the needs of their community and tailor their services to match, which include talking therapies, peer support, advocacy, crisis care, employment and housing support. One of the services that they will now be referring beneficiaries to is the Donkey Assisted Activities programmes at the Devon sanctuaries in Ivybridge and Sidmouth.
The day started with refreshments and a tour of the centre, followed by a presentation and an opportunity to network with the Ivybridge and DAA Development teams.
It was then time for some donkey time in the guise of a Donkey Facilitated Learning session, led by Victoria Banfield, DAA Development Lead at The Donkey Sanctuary.
The Mind team engaged in a mindful activity and were then guided through an activity with the donkeys, incorporating the partnership of The Donkey Sanctuary’s organisational values.
The team from Mind agreed that spending time with the donkeys, and being in their natural surroundings, can really benefit wellbeing in a very holistic manner.
In addition, by having someone to just to listen without judgement, and then have the donkeys mirror their emotional and behavioural states, gave way to some different thinking patterns and growth within a team capacity.
Working with the donkeys helped them become aware of the importance of collaboration, which then opened the conversation up between the group. Individuals also became self-aware of the need for better communication within work life and a prioritisation of wellbeing for themselves, while providing the same for their local community.
Nat Wilcocks, Equine Coach at Ivybridge, said: “It was a great day showcasing our services. This experience just shows that our programmes are suited to everyone!
“It was a real insight getting to know more about the Mind organisation and everyone's roles within, and to hear how we can benefit the staff of the organisation, as well as their clients through our programmes.
“Working with the group in the session showed the power of the donkeys, as they reflected how the team felt throughout the session.
“The session also highlighted the importance of teamwork and collaboration between the Mind team, by bringing The Donkey Sanctuary and Mind together though our shared core values.”
Nat added: “It would be interesting to hear how they have implemented what they learnt from their session, and how that is benefitting them as a team.”
Victoria Banfield, DAA Development Lead, said: “It was incredibly moving watching the donkeys work with the 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 Mind so that they also get to reap the benefits of being in the presence of these sentient creatures.”
Marianne Steele, CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary added: “The fact that Mind, a powerful advocate for mental health, is bringing its own staff to The Donkey Sanctuary, to experience first-hand the positive impact donkeys can have on our wellbeing, really is testament to the mutual benefits of sharing a close connection.
“This new partnership will open the door for more people to benefit from connecting with our donkeys, promoting positive attitudes towards donkeys while contributing to their rehabilitation.”
For interviews, images and information please contact The Donkey Sanctuary press office on 01395 573124 or 07870 849563 (including out of hours) or send an email.
The Donkey Sanctuary is the world's largest equine welfare charity. Our vision is a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued. We run 10 sanctuaries around the UK and Europe, giving lifelong care to more than 7,000 donkeys and mules. Our hospital treats sick donkeys and trains vets both nationwide and worldwide. Our donkey-facilitated learning programme helps vulnerable children and adults develop life skills by connecting with donkeys on an emotional and physical level.
Please note that the name ‘The Donkey Sanctuary’ should not be abbreviated to ‘Donkey Sanctuary’, and the word ‘The’ should always appear with a capital ‘T’ as above.