Devon donkeys boost NHS staff wellbeing

With exclusive use of the centre for the day, the group enjoyed activities such as art, drama and spending time with the donkeys. They began with a mindfulness and interaction session in the field, where they connected with the donkeys in the warmth of the Devon sunshine.

Lauriel Woodley, DAA Centre Manager, explains: “Many young people accessing our Donkey Facilitated Learning and Wellbeing programmes are referred by the NHS CAMHS team. This has been a long-standing partnership and when we were approached to support a Wellbeing day for their hard-working staff, we were delighted to be able to provide some opportunities for mindful interaction with the donkeys.”

Mindful moments with the donkeys

Led by staff from the DAA centre, the ground-based sessions are offered free of charge. They support personal growth, help individuals navigate everyday stress and challenges, and promote positive connections with donkeys.

James Rogers, DAA Equine Assistant, explains : “The group made their way out into the paddocks where they took part in a gentle mindfulness exercise using the five senses to stay in the moment, noticing what they could see, hear, feel, smell or taste without overthinking. It was about tuning in to the little things around them, helping to quiet the mind and stay present.

An image of a women laughing and smiling as a white and brown donkey rests their head on her shoulder. — CAMHS team member with Pickle.

An image of two women stroking two white and brown donkeys in an outdoor paddock. — Two CAMHS team members with Rupert and Wizard.

An image of two women stood in front of a brown and white donkey in an outdoor paddock. — Two CAMHS team members with George.

“Simple mindfulness techniques like this can ease stress and anxiety, offering a calm space away from past worries or busy thoughts about what’s next.

“We spent time with the herd, allowing the donkeys to choose how and when they wanted to interact. On such a warm day, most of them preferred the cool shade of the yard and that’s where the group naturally gathered. We followed the donkeys’ lead, creating space for interactions to happen naturally and at their own pace.”

While the donkeys sheltered in the cool barns on the yard, the team continued with a peaceful walk back to the yard. There, they spent more time interacting with the donkeys, sharing quiet moments of connection, offering gentle scratches and chatting with our staff about the work we do.

Strengthening partnerships

The NHS staff support children in the community through both physical and mental health services. Their visit to the sanctuary was designed to support their own personal development through a mixture of interactions with the donkeys, mindfulness and coaching.

Tracey Brennan, Operations Manager for Children and Family Health Devon, says: “The support from the sanctuary staff enabled the team to have such an enjoyable day. Time among the donkeys and the mindfulness session ensured our day started well. What was lovely about our time with the donkeys was that we were entirely led by [them]. Thank you, we will be back.”

The team explored how these kinds of sessions could benefit the young people they support, learning more about how we can collaborate to offer similar experiences in the future.

An image of a women resting the back of her hand against the face of a brown donkey with a white nose. — CAMHS team member with Jonny.

Jenny, from the Children and Family Health Devon team, says “It’s such a beautiful location in which to spend time as a team and build connections to one another. Mindfulness with the donkeys was a really unique experience and a welcome addition to our day.”

Lauriel adds: “What better way to promote wellbeing and learn more about Donkey Assisted Activities than to experience first-hand how donkeys can help teach us to regulate our emotions and be in the present moment, just like they are. We look forward to future collaboration and supporting even more young people and their families.”