Due to the current restrictions in place to contain the spread of coronavirus, we have suspended all our wellbeing visits. We have postponed all our public visits in line with government guidance. We will resume visits as soon as it is safe to do so, and will continue to follow all relevant government guidance. We are issuing daily "virtual visits" via our Facebook page to keep in touch with the special people that we visit and the staff who care for them. We send our best wishes to everyone working to keep vulnerable safe at this difficult time.
We appreciate any support you can provide us with at this difficult time. You can Browse our Minidonks Merchandise, Sponsor one of our Minidonks, and you can Make a donation via our Justgiving page.
Any support you can give will mean that we will be here, ready and poised to carry on our life enhancing work, just as soon as it is safe to do so.
Thank you.
What do we do?
We bring our gentle and friendly miniature donkeys to your community group, voluntary organisation, dementia group or special needs group.
We are based in South Norfolk and operate across Norfolk and Suffolk. Basically, we visit anywhere where a mood boosting donkey visit would help people with their wellbeing.
If you want our donkeys to come to a Wedding, Private Party, Event or even a Funeral we can do that too.
Why do we do it?
Having worked with family carers professionally and having been a family carer for two parents with dementia, the group’s founder knows firsthand how stress can be relieved by spending time with these beautiful animals.
Sarah lost her mum to dementia in April 2017 and took the decision to set up a social enterprise to bring the benefits of interacting with mini donkeys to as wide an audience as possible.
How do you book a visit?
If you would like to find out more about how our visits work or would like to book a visit, you can e-mail us, give us a call or download a booking form.
Our visits do book up quite quickly and if you have a specific date in mind (wedding, summer fete, special birthday) call us to reserve your date. Bookings are confirmed on receipt of a completed booking form.
Mini Donks on Facebook
Gooood Mooorning Minidonkers. Do you remember our Valentine mini-mindfulness packs? Well, we have had some lovely feedback from across the world. A minidonk supporter in Colorado requested on of our free email packs, and sent her photo of her appaloosa donkey biscuits! And a little closer to home, the residents of Oakes Court in Downham Market sent these photos of their hand made valentine cards and bakes. It makes us so happy to receive feedback on what we do!
That's so lovely... Maude's very proud of her Mini-Makes and Bakes idea. You never know there could be another pack in the pipeline soon!! x
You spread love and happiness in these uncertain times xxx
Yippee 🥳 We have another birthday 🎉 post going out today. This time it is for our very own, super-sponsor/ coordinatorMaude/Minidonk shop creative guru, South Norfolk Volunteer of The Year, and hard worker, Linda White. Linda has worked so hard since joining us as a volunteer, she has given her time, her energy and her heart ❤️ She deserves an extra special day today, so we asked a couple of the team members for a message.
Bussso, Head of Security
“Linda, you may remember when you first came here I was a big scaredy-cat. I barked at you quite a lot (sorry!) because I was frightened, but you ignored my barking and brought doggie bics in your pockets, and before I knew it, I was greeting you with a wag and a smile. Thank you for helping me learn that most hoomans are great. I love you, Linda, see you soon. Bring biccies. Xxxx”
Little Jack Rabbit
“Linda, 😁 I love Linda. She gives the best cuddles and kisses, she is great fun and even runs round the field with me. Happy Birthday Linda 💋 mmmwwwaaahhhh!”
And who is that in the photos with Busso??? More exciting news to follow.....
Happy Birthday Linda xxxxx
Happy Birthday Linda! Hope you have a lovely day. The boys and I hope to see you soon xxx
XX
Happy Birthday Linda! 🥳
Happy Birthday Linda!! Xxx
Happy birthday Linda.
Happy Birthday Linda x Top Volunteer x hope you have a lovely day xxx 🎉🎈🎁🎂🎉
Happy Birthday Linda! 🥳🎁🎂🎉💐xx
Have a great day, Linda. xx
Happy Birthday Linda. X
Happy birthday Linda! x
Happy Birthday to you!
Thank you for the lovely 'post'... am proud to be a part of it all. xx
Happy birthday Linda from a Minidonk friend x
Happy birthday xxx
We are feeling the love for Kingsley Healthcare Group today. You might remember that a year ago, they stepped in to support us with sponsorship of our donkey team. Well, they have gone one better this year and have not just renewed their 2020 sponsorships but they have added to them. They are gifting the sponsor packs to their individual homes, so 14 Kingsley care settings will now be sponsoring a Minidonk, getting quarterly reports, sponsor certificates, donkey profiles and photo specials of their sponsored donkeys. We are delighted at their continued support and cannot thank them enough.
If you would like to support us by sponsoring one of our beautiful Minidonks, it costs only £35 for the whole year. See www.Minidonks.org.uk for details of how to sponsor. Which one would you sponsor??? Xxx
Wonderful news..
That’s heartwarming news x❤️🙏
That is brilliant x Happy Tuesday 😊😊xxx 💖💖
Great news. You can never sponsor too many mini donks!😆xx
That's great news x
Fantastic 👍
Great news xxx
Lovely news. Currently sponsoring Rubik and Alfie for my Mum and niece.
How lovely is that, well done Kingsley Health Care.❤️
The morning in the life of a Minidonk. We eat our balancer pellets and get our feet picked out...then straw is put in our two racks.....whilst our humans clean our shelter and pooh pick the paddocks.....then when they’re trying to put down our megazorb and straw bedding, we decide to come and roll in it....cheeky little 😉😁
Ah bless them they are all adorable love xxx 💖💖
Life is grand if you’re a minidonk x
Contentment!!! I think that means ‘ I love my humans x lovely to see x bless them xxx 💝💝💝
They just want to make sure the bedding is spread out just right 😂
So adorable 🥰
What a donkey life
Or the right thickness, but those rubber mats sure help out!
Oh is that not so cute i want to rub that belly.❤️
Gorgeous 💖💖
We have a very special post going out today to one of our superstar volunteers. This volunteer first met us at an event we had at The Forum in Norwich. His wife suggested that he might want to volunteer with us. In his own words, “l came for the donkeys and stayed for the people.” Tim Wright has been a cornerstone of Minidonks ever since. Christmas 2019, the MD came down with cold, and couldn’t lead visits (yes, we took infection control very seriously before the pandemic) and Tim stepped forward and led 6 visits in a row in the week before Christmas. He has forged special bonds with the people we visit, with our other volunteers and with all the donks, especially with Pixie. So, Mr Badger, Team Leader Tim, we wish you a very happy birthday on this most auspicious day, and we cannot wait to have your dry wit, your immense heart and your very rare but precious hugs, back. Love you so much, Pixie. Xxxxxx
Tim Wright Happy Birthday 🥳🎉🤩💐🥳😻🥕
Happy Birthday Tim xx 🎉🥳🎈🎁🎂🍭🍰🎉
Happy Birthday Tim, lots of love from the boys. Rubik says you and he need a photo too! Looking forward to when we can see you next 🥳
Happy birthday Tim love Greg
Happy birthday Tim have a great day
A Very Happy Birthday Tim hope you have a great day xxx 🎂🎂💐💐💞💞
Have a wonderful day Tim. x
happy happy birthday!! visits with you are always a guaranteed laugh 😆
Happy birthday x🎁🎉🎉🍻🎂🍏🥳
Happy Birthday Tim. X
Happy Birthday Tim! 🥳
You guys have sweet hearted donkeys on your place 💜💕💙
Happy Birthday Tim, see you sometime this year hopefully!! xx
happy birthday tim, have a good one! ✨
Happy birthday , hope you have had a lovely day xx🍰🎁🥕
A very Happy Birthday Tim, and many more. What would this world be like without people like you, you are special!!!!
Hope you had a lovely day. The sun was great to see, must have come out specially.
Thanks all
Good Morning Minidonkers! It’s the 20th of the month, which means it is Minidonk 100 club draw day. Maude has got all the news for you, along with two special friends! We have so much exciting stuff going on behind the scenes and there will be more Maude’s available very soon if you would like your very own Maude in your life. Happy Saturday. Xxxx
Ooh Maud has got sisters!!! ??? Have they got names too?
Will you be selling the knitting patterns? I love these and would be willing to buy the patterns!!❤️ our tenants at Oakes court am sure would love to own one. X
Ooh are these glove puppets. I’m still having trouble getting the wool all from one place lol!? Especially during lockdown?
Awww, so good to see Maude has fantastic Minidonk company, what a very wonderful idea Linda Whitecand Kathryn Filby! 🤗💐🥰
The 16th February was the boys official 3 year anniversary of joining the donkey team at Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing.
I cannot believe 3 years have gone by since we joined the Minidonk family of Sarah, her girls (with the additions of Millie and Jack) and team of volunteers.
There have been so many special, heartwarming, tear jerking, funny, crazy moments.
Here’s to many more years being part of the Minidonk family. And a thank you to the lady who made it all possible ❤️
This is fantastic and you all do a great job beautiful pictures love to you all God Bless you all 🙏xxx 💞💞💞
Wonderful team and love the updates xx
Oh Steph - that brought a tear to my eye. So very, very lucky to have you and the boys on the team. Let’s hope that we can carry on with our amazing journey very soon. Thank you for all that you have brought to the Minidonk family, Dr Steph! Xxxxx
Lovely photos and such a lovely post to you all x wonderful team all round xx 💝💖💝💖
Thank you you have no idea how much a donkey hug means today 🙏🥰
Thank YOU for sharing, you make so many people feel good.
Can’t believe how quickly Thoughtful Thursday has come around again. Today I have asked a few members of the Minidonk team for their top tips on looking forward to the Spring:
Busso, Head of Security says, “Stay by the fire, keep warm, and cuddle up with someone you love if you can. Run like the wind when you get the chance, and take snacks whenever they are offered.”
Little Jack Rabbit says, “Run, play, bite someone (hee hee hee) and run away quickly, play leapfrog (!?!), have some milk from mum. Can’t wait to get out and see mooore peeooople!!!”
Pixie says, “Be kind. If you get the chance of a cuddle or a smmoooch behind the ears, take it. Share the love 💕”
It will soon be Spring and we are so looking forward to being able to see you all again. Take care, stay safe.
Morning everybody x to Busso I say 👍 I like your style x I’m with you with the fir and especially the snacks x to little Jack Rabbit 👍brilliant thoughts wish I could come and play and fun have with you x and Pixie 👍 we could have soo many cuddles and share with everybody else x take care precious ones x enjoy your Thursday xx 💝💕💝💕👍
Ah yes “leap-frog” 😂 glad everyone is doing well though!
Russet 'Maude' Magic
Unfortunately, MAUDE is currently sold out, please mail sponsor@minidonks.org.uk if you would like to pre-order.
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