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
Something a bit different this morning. Did you know that as well as miniature donkeys, there are giant donkeys? American Mammoth Jackstock donkeys are huge and beautiful. If we were able to make Minidonk Farm a reality we might have to call it Mini-maxi Farm because we would have to bring a couple of these babies home!
HAPPY FRIDAY!!
They are all adorable bless them love xxx 💖💖
Beautiful.
STEP AWAY FROM THE MAMMOTH DONKEYS!
Are these even bigger than Poitou?
We need to get this donkey farm up and running so you can get these beautiful big donks as well.😁
I have had the pleasure of meeting two Mammoths. Believe me, they are every bit as curious, fun and sweet as the minis but in a larger package. I know one that loves to photo bomb and enjoys all the laughs and hugs she can get! They are not popular here on the East Coast (USA) but are used for pack animals and riding in the Western mountains and Grand Canyon.
Let me add, both Mammoths were rescued out of kill pens, owned by kill buyers bound for slaughter. Even these magnificent creatures are in danger of meeting such a fate in American auction barns.
Beautiful sky at Minidonk HQ this morning. Today we are sending love to all the staff and Residents at Hethersett Hall. We love visiting you all and can’t wait to see you all again. We hope you enjoy a little video of the donks.........
Was that Bo Peep who told him off? That's my girl ! I swear he's got bigger in a week.
They are all adorable bless them 💕💕
Jack is so naughty now!! The sweet baby stage flew by quickly. 😂😂
Good morning MInidonkers. We've got a lot to tell you today, so please bear with us - all exciting stuff!
We now have Christmas Cards & Calendars available in the Minidonk Shop! Both feature our beautiful Minidonks and are great value at only £7.50 for 10 Christmas cards and £10.00 for our calendar (p&P included so no nasty surprises at checkout).
www.minidonks.org.uk/minidonks-merchandise/
Our lovely mascot, Maude is back in stock to order from sponsor@minidonks.org.uk If you have pre-ordered a Maude, please contact us as emails have been sent out re payment but some are still outstanding?
Our Games Compendium is also in stock to order from sponsor@minidonks.org.uk.. This is a great gift and contains lots of games for Christmas fun.
(Both Maude and our Games Compendium are available in very limited numbers, which is why we do not put them in the online shop as we do not want people to be disappointed if they go out of stock.)
We are offering special Sponsorship Christmas Packs ... order early and they can be dated for 25th Dec and sent out just before the big day! Your pack will include a sponsorship certificate, profile of your sponsored donkey, Christmas card and 4 activity reports sent out throughout the year of sponsorship.
A reminder for our 100 Club. If you are already a member and would like to retain your numbers for next year we need to hear from by 1st December. If you are looking for a little stocking filler for someone, we have a very few numbers left, at only £12 for the year. You will have a chance of winning, whilst supporting our very worthy cause.
And finally, our next big project - a recipe book 'Maude's Makes and Bakes'
Full of sweet and savoury makes and bakes inspired by lots of the ‘happy trolleys’ we see in a range of different settings and the MD’s love of a good tearoom! It will be presented in the form of an A5 spiral bound book.
We NEED YOU to send us one of your family favourite recipes... complete with a selfie of it and you! You may wish to add a personal story as to how the minidonks have made their impact on you or a family member where appropriate. This includes chefs in care homes etc., please help us spread the word.
In order to do this we are trying to get some local sponsorship so that there will be a ‘this has all been made possible with thanks to’ page inside or on the back cover featuring company logos to advertise their involvement and wares… with the option that they may wish to have a recipe included also - all for a donation of £25.
If you would like to be a part of this exciting new project or know someone who would, or a business that would be interested we would love to hear from you… for further details please contact sponsor@minidonks.org.uk for further details. We are aiming to launch this around Valentine’s Day 2021.
This is fabulous work, well done Sarah and team x
I think you mean NO nasty surprises at checkout 😁
Just brilliant all round! 💖
Hi! 😊 I sent you guys mine and my sister's forms for carrying on the 100 club, if possible could you confirm you received them? 😁 Will be sending over the payment in a couple days 😊😊 x
I will send the flapjack recipe if you like? I can do the doggy compatible recipe alongside as your dogs liked that too?
We had a wonderful surprise in the post last week - it was a present for the donks and we will be taking some photos today to share with you and do a proper thank you to the senders! So today, let’s share the love 💓. We loved your reaction to International Donkey Nose day and would like to nominate today as “cuddle who you can day”. If you have someone to cuddle, do it often and long, cuddle your pets, cuddle your teddies, cuddle whoever you are allowed to......... and don’t forget to cuddle yourself with good things to do, feel, eat, say, touch and smell. Make yourself a luscious cuddle-in-a-mug drink. Wrap yourself in a luxurious cuddly throw. Happy Cuddles to you all!
Christmas come early, we could do with some of that!!
These are beautiful pictures bless you all xxx 💕💕
Thank you so needed this today hugs and love back to you all and special ones for all your love 🥰
Big hugs to you all thanks for sharing x
Treating myself to lunch with hubby at our favourite local cafe. Sending love and hugs to you and Team Mini Donk ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you and cuddles to all of you too. 😊
Happy Monday!!! I would like to thank everyone who helped make yesterday’s trip to Old Hall Farm such a success. We raised £500 in donations and shop sales. We made new friends. Jack and Saffy had a great day out, meeting new people, goats, peacocks and Guinean fowl. It felt very strange to be out again, but good. We will be looking at how we can get the donks out in a safe, socially distanced, way. We will be very weather dependant but will always try and give you as much notice as possible.
We have exciting times coming. We will be running 🏃♀️ “50k February for Minidonks” and many of you have said you will join us - amazing! More details on this to follow. We have managed to stretch our Coronavirus Community Funding to produce a little Christmas pack for 300 care homes. We have our online shop and sponsor offers ongoing, so your Christmas shopping can all be done in one place!
So on this ☀️ Monday morning, we are feeling optimistic and we hope you Monday is full of good things, like a small donkey playing with his dinosaur 🦕.
Www.minidonks.org.uk
It was lovely to meet u, glad it was a success for u all x
So pleased you all had a successful day. It was great to see the donks out and about, particularly Little Jack (and you guys of ourse☺) xx
So glad all went well well done love xxx 💖💖
Happy Monday to you all x have a good week xx 💕💕
I love watching them play with toys
Glad it was a good day xx
Lauren - mini donkey with a dinosaur 😊 xx
Ben Gulliver
Every donkey needs a dinosaur! 💗
We are feeling the love today. We received a wonderful surprise in the post yesterday. A note, and a photo and a £50 donation from our friends at Oakes Court, a NorseCare housing with care scheme in Downham Market. We have visited Oakes Court several times and we love going there. They were willing Guinea pigs when we were developing our Activity Packs and they held a raffle to raise money for us. Diane Blackmur, thank you all so much - you are superstars and we can’t wait to see you all again
And don’t forget, We will be at Old Hall Farm, Bungay Road, Woodton, NR35 2LP today, Sunday 25th October, from 10-4. We will have the Minidonk Shop, loaded up with goodies including Christmas Cards, Calendars, Games Compendiums and so much more. Weather depending, we will also have a couple of the donks with us. We will be socially distanced, with contactless payment and the donkeys will be there to be seen, but not touched. (Could this be Jack’s first public outing????)
Old Hall Farm have a fantastic farm shop, cafe and pumpkin trail, but they do get busy. If you want to eat at the cafe it would be best to book. Call them on 01508 333110. Fingers crossed for good weather and many thanks to Old Hall Farm for the invitation.
Come and do your Christmas shopping early!!!
Sally Roe , if you want to go out today?
Glad you received it, we are all looking forward to the day that you can visit again.💖
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We will be at Old Hall Farm, Bungay Road, Woodton, NR35 2LP tomorrow, Sunday 25th October, from 10-4. We will have the Minidonk Shop, loaded up with goodies including Christmas Cards, Calendars, Games Compendiums and so much more. Weather depending, we will also have a couple of the donks with us. We will be socially distanced, with contactless payment and the donkeys will be there to be seen, but not touched. (Could this be Jack’s first public outing????)
Old Hall Farm have a fantastic farm shop, cafe and pumpkin trail, but they do get busy. If you want to eat at the cafe it would be best to book. Call them on 01508 333110. Fingers crossed for good weather and many thanks to Old Hall Farm for the invitation.
Come and do your Christmas shopping early!!!
Jenny Wasiak any chance C can take you? Xx
There's even a limited number of spooktacular minidonk treat bags especially for Hallooween and lots of lovely pre loved items too!!
How lovely a little bit of normality well almost hope Jack enjoys seeing people even though social distancing xx
It's amazing who you bump into in the wilds of Suffolk. Our hay is very kindly being stored with this lovely pumpkin chap and his carers!!!
Great picture xxxx 💘💘
And a lovely golden matching doggy
My Pumpkin brother!! I can imagine probably created after a couple of Baileys one chilly afternoon... least they keep themselves busy. x
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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