A Devon donkey charity today unveiled its 2009 dates for donkey carer experience days; it has found that the opportunity to ‘muck in’ at its Sanctuary in Sidmouth makes an ideal gift for ‘the person that has everything’.
The Sidmouth-based Donkey Sanctuary has created these unique £150 experience days to help raise funds towards its worldwide work; in return, participants can enjoy a hands-on, behind-the-scenes experience meeting and caring for some of its donkeys.
Debbie Pearce who heads the Sanctuary’s fundraising team hopes people will consider the day as an alternative Christmas or birthday gift and believes it is well worth it:
She says: “Amongst all experience gifts on the market, we offer truly hands-on activities, including mucking out stables, grooming donkeys and exercising them. We have received amazing feedback during our first of providing these special events; most participants didn’t want the day to end.”
The experience day dates available in 2009:
- Wednesday 1st April
- Wednesday 22nd April
- Thursday 14th May
- Tuesday 19th May
- Thursday 11th June
- Tuesday 23rd June
- Tuesday 7th July
- Wednesday 9th September
- Thursday 24th September
- Thursday 8th October
For your chance to groom, feed and exercise donkeys at the world’s largest donkey sanctuary, please contact us.
I did think the idea of these days is great but I was gob smacked at how much it costs, £150 for one day, with travel and accommodation on top of this it could turn out to be a very expensive gift indeed. Perhaps a weekend would have been a better idea?
Why on earth is it so expensive?
I was going to ask my husband for this as a Christmas gift but not at these prices. I suspect only well off people will afford these prices, leaving the rest of us unable to realise the experience of looking after a donkey.
I understand the need to raise funds but I think this is a bit over the top. I think the Sanctuary is shooting itself in the foot, especially in this time of recession and the credit crunch. I would have thought a lower price would have drawn more people to the course.
I am doing a 7 week course in horse care over 7 weekends for £65, this includes £5 for the exam as this is not compulsory, but I think this is more realistic and affordable for most people. I am just finishing my Level 3 I have paid £195 but for all three levels, paying for each level separately and, I have had 21 weekends of fun and the most wonderful experience of my life, I am going on to train to become a groom, and I suspect that all I have learnt on these courses would cover me for looking after a donkey's as well.
Isn't it a shame that some people may miss out due to the expense of this course!
The Donkey Carer for the Day experiences are designed to raise funds for the charity whilst enabling participants to spend an enjoyable day with the donkeys.
Before launching the Experience Days we conducted research into other similar experience events, which were mainly pitched at around £200 and most do not have the "hands-on" elements of working so closely with the animals (grooming, walking etc).
We restrict the number of participants at each event to around 10 to ensure that each person gets plenty of attention from both staff and donkeys. Naturally, we are very mindful of the participants' comfort and safety and, for this reason, the ratio of staff to donkey carers is high. We also provide participants with lunch, refreshments and a goodies bag, all of which add to the expense.
Many of the attendees have been given the experience for a special birthday or anniversary, and the feedback we have had from everyone who comes is that the days have met their every expectation. The 2008 dates became booked very quickly and we had to put on extra dates to accommodate everyone; we have had several bookings for 2009 already.
We do, of course, understand that the cost is not within everyone's budget. That said, supporters have the opportunity to enjoy a week of donkey-related activities during Donkey Week, which is held in May every year, where the daytime programme is free. Plus, of course, we do not charge for parking or admission to the Sanctuary for those who choose to visit as many times as they can, 365 days a year.
Anyone who knows anything about horses and donkeys,knows of the invaluable work that The Donkey Sanctuary as a charity do throughout the world. While £150 is a considerable sum of money for most people, imagine the good work that could be done either home or abroad to help those donkeys in the greatest need. Surely the idea of these special gifts is to raise money for the charity, while the recipient also spends an enjoyable and unforgettable day?