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
So happy our activity packs are providing fun across the generations....
Loving the minidonk small world... happy days.
Just a very quick update- everything is going in the right direction and here is a zooming baby donkey for you......
Gorgeous
Adorable
Aww, lovely to watch ❤
Such a happy little one! ❤
Love him!
Jason James Burton
Just what we needed to get going this morning!
That's fantastic news, he's very fast 😂 xx
I wish I had some of his energy. xx
You have got to smile when you watch him, he is so cute
That’s so cute
Delightful.
Brilliant! Love his joy in his own back legs
He learnt about corners pretty quick. Adorable
So pleased that Saffy & foal have settled down & bonded xx
What a scrumptious little bundle he is, love him x
Aww how beautiful 💖
💯 Cuteness. He's just adorable. Xx
So speedy!! Love him already 🤩
❤️
Love love love those gorgeous little baby zoomies 💙💙💙
Good that he's got some energy.
Molly Bell awwww
Lovely. Melts the heart.
My missus wants one
Thank you all for your congratulations on our lovely baby Minidonk. I just wanted to give you all a quick update and explain why we will be off Facebook for a few days. As you know, we are struggling with funding, and the MD is feeling the strain of trying to map out our future against the ever changing landscape. Added to these pressures, Saffy has not taken to her foal as well as we would have liked. Nothing serious yet, but she did not have enough milk for him, she was not being very gentle with him, and generally, not being the mum that she was with her previous foal. We have had the vet out again, taken advice from people with more experience, knocked two stables into one to give them more space at night, and are generally doing everything we can to promote bonding. This all takes time and emotional energy. The MD has a huge backlog of emails and messages to deal with, and the Minidonk volunteer team are on standby to assist where they can. So please bear with us, give us a few days, and we will be back stronger than ever and raring to go.
🌞🙏❤️🦄
Aw sending love and positivity to the mini donkeys and you all .. ❤️🙏🏻xx
The care of these precious creatures is most important right now! ❤🙏❤
🤗😘
Hope it all works out with the new foal.
Sending lots of love to you all and positive bonding vibes for mini mini Donk and mumma Donk. Xxx.
Good luck. Lots of love xxx
Sending you all the very best xx
You spend your time with your Minidonks Sarah 🙂 They are the important ones. I promise that we will still be here when you get back 😃 💕
Look forward to seeing you when you come back and fingers crossed Saffy will be happy and looking after her little one he is beautiful bless you all xxx xxx 💝💝💝
Thinking of you as you work through your various difficulties.
Sorry to hear this but hopefully all will work out in the end! Good luck!
Praying that saffy bonds soon and well with her goal very soon 🙏🏻
Please please take time out to attend to yourself and the donks, you have done so much for us all over the past few months and you have amazing. I am sure with such a wide following we can all work together to get much needed funds to support you and your amazing donks.🥰❤️👏
Fingers crossed all goes well . Xxxx
Sweet sweet boy.x
Beautiful ❤️💕❤️
God bless you all and we will be here when you can get back on.🙏❤️🙏❤️🇺🇸❤️
Thinking of you all Sarah McPherson xxx
Big hugs too all xx
Sending love, take time for the most important things, yourselves and the donks xx
Come back soon.
Sending lots of love & positivity to you all ❤ I'm available for donkey cuddling, cat fussing & dog napping duties 😁🤣🤣xxxx
Sending love and hugs wrapped in blessings for you Sarah, the Mini Donks especially Saffy and the baby, the rest of the gang and the volunteers. Take all the time you need - we'll still be here waiting to offer support, love and donations ❤️❤️❤️
Post code lottery is offering grants at the moment
Good morning world....
Oh wow! Huge congratulations, so so lovely. Xx
OMG he's so gorgeous 💙💙💙
Awwww bless him he so cute and Saffy being a super mum x
Very cute xx
Gemma Browne look 😍😍😍. X
Congratulations hx
Are you having a naming competition lol?
Can I adopt him 😘😂
Hi he is adorable and a proud Mum bless them love xxx 💖💖💖
Sylvia Green
He’s adorable but so tiny! I’d be worried about losing him!
Absolutely adorable! one proud mummy 💖
Such a lovely picture they are adorable xxxxx
Beautiful 🧡
absolutely precious <3 how could you not smile being greeted with those lovely faces in a morning <3
Great way to start the day! Thanks! ❤
Beautiful. Just beautiful xx
So cute nice morning booster
What a beautiful Mom and Baby.
Welcome to the world baby and congratulations to the mom 💕 So cute and tiny! Shared ~ Ariane
Mumma looks sooo proud!! What a picture❤️❤️
Happy Sunday...... less than 24 hours old 💕💗💓💖❣️
Long legs and big ears... gorgeously gawky 💕
Fluffy baby! I'm in love ❤
Congratulations. Gorgeous
Gorgeous! Stay strong Sarah. ❤️
He is so beautiful 😍
Hollie Langdale
Bless him he is lovely 😍
I have a feeling and I'm hoping once he's named there's going to be a few sponsors out there... especially if the pack includes some of these beautiful baby photos. Enjoy your cuddles. xx
Worth the long wait he’s gorgeous 😍
Karen Riseborough
Oh my fluff 😍
Utterly adorable
Adorable ❤
There is nothing so cute and adorable than a baby mini-donk! 😍😍 Nothing!
Adorable 🥰
I’m in love 😍
Oh, he is so adorable!💕 Well done Saffy girl🎉🥳😊
Beautiful boy.He looks as though he has always been here.xx
Look at that furry forehead 😍 xx
beautiful man and his mummy looks very proud
It still amazes me how something that size actually fitted inside another living being. Big hugs to the new mummy. What a clever girl. Gawguss baby.
So cute
Aww sweety welcome to the world..he is so gorjus..have you named him yet..
Eden says Well Done Staffy and sends a big hug to them both xx
Gorgeous!
And more thank you’s. To Annabel at Stoven Hall Veterinary and Rehabilitation Centre for coming and checking out that all was well, and confirming that, yes, we have got our first boy (in Annabel’s defence, he is very hairy, very small and Saffy was not helping!).
And thanks again to all you Facebook Minidonkers for sharing, donating, sponsoring, messaging, supporting and loving.
Thank you all. Xxxx
Coral Keeley❤️
Fabulous 😍
Welcome to the world beautiful little baby boy - great job Saffy 💙💙💙
Tina Hannant
I made a mistake I said boy
Alex Lee Wiseman
Jason James Burton
Just beautiful ❤️❤️
Absolutely gorgeous! Xx
This is great well done Saffy he is beautiful bless you all xxx xxx 💝💝💝
Beautiful xx
Fabulous news! X
Lady Joanna a baby donkey 😍
Beautiful 💖❤️
How wonderful xx
www.facebook.com/1983835051832847/posts/2707640199452325/?d=n Wondered if you had seen this and if they would be helpful to you guys? We have them and they are amazing! Couldn’t see if you have a charity number
Congratulations 💙
Hopefully you'll have a better nights sleep
Must have been the heat wave yesterday! What a smashing new boy. Well done Saffy. Worth the wait. Xx💕
The best news I have read /seen in weeks ! Congratulations Saffy , time to rest now xxx
How wonderful! xxx
So adorable.
Cute
Wow great news well done Saffy.🥰🥰❤️❤️
Thank you all for your kind words, suggestions and love.
The good news is that at 11.15 this morning I was able to welcome this little soul into the world.
He is just a perfect little donkey. Mum and baby doing fine.
I will be taking some time off social media to judt chill and be with my donks. I may post up some photos and videos but if I don't respond please don't be offended.
No name yet, he hasn't decided what he wants to be called.
Jack Little Gandalf the Grey????? Xxxxx
Jenny Wasiak you'll like him x
How absolutely beautiful 😍
Awww love this. Xxx
Sending hugs Sarah xx
Coral Keeley
He's absolutely beautiful, I love his ears, he will grow into them 😂 Here safe and sound. Xxx
Soooo cute, we're currently staying with the boys and saw some pics this morning, he is soooo small, enjoy some time with the donks.
Fantastic news. Xxx
Finally! He certainly kept us all waiting. Congratulations, enjoy some well earned rest & relaxation xx
So beautiful bless him love xxx 💖💖
He’s adorable!!! 💙💙💙
Absolutely beautiful 😍
Oh my days!! What a little beauty! With this morning's post he is certainly a little ray of sunshine!! He is gorgeous 💕 what a relief for you after all these weeks. Huge congratulations. Take a break, enjoy him and the girls xx
Adorable ❤
Oh he is so gorgeous 😍
Oh how lovely xx
Aw, how lovely! It's a boy!!! 💙💙💙 Congratulations Saffy! And congratulations Team MiniDonk! Xxx 🥳
Adorable. Lots of love to you all x
How very beautiful 💕🤗
Yeay xxx how lovely you should call him Augustus 💜💜💜🥰
Congratulations we will looked forward to his wake up call xx
His ears!😍
Have a few days off then think about doing a name the donk fund raiser again . Congratulations to you all . Stay strong xx
He is perfect! Enjoy your time getting to know him. ❤
We’ve had some bad news. The only support fund that we found, that we were eligible for, that was specifically for small social enterprises and charities that have lost unrecoverable income. MD put in an application, as usual, sweated buckets, stayed up late, was ruthlessly honest about our financial situation, asked for a sum that was nowhere near what we have lost , but that took into account our very modest reserves. Email received yesterday, we are very sorry..... completely oversubscribed.... having to turn down so many deserving applications....... cannot provide any feed pack due to the volume of applications we are having to turn down.
MD has also gone back to the Lottery to tell them how well the Activity Packs are going down, and to ask if there is any way we could get a little more money to get another 500 packs out as the demand is so high. Nope - really pleased with what we’ve done but only one application per organisation- so much demand, fund is oversubscribed.
MD has also gone through her local counci’s discretionary grant scheme again and again, and Minidonks does not qualify.
MD is a little bit broken now. Weeks of little sleep waiting for Saffy to foal, the constant pressure of trying to plan against an ever moving set of targets. Can’t face putting out any more posts asking people who have already supported us to put their hands in their pockets again. Can’t face going through all our photos, looking at the people we have visited, looking at the difference we make to people’s lives. Can’t face Facebook for a while.....
Taking a break to regroup, recover, rethink. Any news on Saffy we’ll let you know. Everyone will be safe and taken care of...... MD just needs a few days off.
Update: thank you all for your kind comments and suggestions. Yes,we have a crowdfunding page, www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/minidonks?utm_term=peyaAWEE8
Yes, you can sponsor a donkey, see our website, www.minidonks.org.uk
I didn’t put these details in the original post because everyone is struggling and I don’t want to keep asking the same people to keep putting their hands in empty pockets. But as so many people have asked how they can help I have put the links here. Thank you.
Have you looked into crowd funding ??
I must donate for the time you gave to Brownies. Will do later today xx
Crowd funding really good . What about suffolk foundation grants
Crowd funding would be great. Would love to send a little donation do you have a link to donate?
Can you PM me please
Crowd Funding! 👍
Sending you a hug Sarah. Take time to regroup, hug the donks (and Gordon if he'll let you lol). xx
So sorry to hear this 😔 Incredibly sad 😞
I'm so sorry. You provide a fantastic service. I wonder if you have ever considered approaching local businesses to 'sponsor a donk' . I'm an admin just made redundant so can volunteer and help with any emailing etc. Don't give up,
Beautiful picture but sorry for the bad news bless you all xxx 💕
Will pm you with an idea
sorry to hear that when you think of what stupid causes the lottery gives dosh out to should be cases like this. you should consider sponsoring a donkey for people to do i have with the donkey sanctuary
❤️
I’ll sponsor a donkey. I have a pub in norwich, could do with the social media, people aren’t pouring in. Rough times for us all. Send me a message if this is possible ??
How much is it to sponsor a donkey?
Derek the miniature horse has become the star of Hethersett. Perhaps he could meet one of the miniature donkeys. Peter Steward.
I’ve just sponsored Alfie, Michelle Shorten there is a Millie!! 😉😬😘
EDP 24
Take some time, Sarah. You need a break. Rest and relax, please. Deal with the ‘stuff’ after resting. Hugs 🤗
I so understand where you are x
Donation made x
Hey listen we love MD, we will be happy to send more money xxxx
Really sorry to read this, we all know how hard you work to keep the Minidonks spreading joy and happiness, take a bit of a break and I know you will come back fighting. Xx
Keep strong lovely. You'll get through this. Hx
Thank you so much for our brilliant activity pack...from all of us at Windmill House.Hope we see you all soon...Xxxxx
Russet 'Maude' Magic
Unfortunately, MAUDE is currently sold out, please mail info@minidonks.org.uk if you would like to pre-order.
Sponsor a Donkey
Make a Donation
