Meet The Minidonks!

I had an email from the coordinator at Voluntary Norfolk. Could I do an extra session at the Hospital on Tuesday? The donkeys were coming and more helpers were needed. It turns out that the Minidonks visit hospitals, care homes and schools, to promote health and wellbeing. The company was founded by Sarah, who realised how much her elderly parents, suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's, benefitted from interaction with the gentle beasts. It is called Minidonkeys for Wellbeing 

Some patients were brought outside in wheelchairs, others looked through the window of the day room. Then it started to rain a little. Everyone - including Millie [aged 6] and sister Pixie [9] came inside. They trotted up and down the corridors and went into the 4-bed bays. Many of the patients grew up on farms or had close links with Norfolk's agricultural past - they loved seeing and stroking the girls. 

You will notice the last with the bucket [she has a pair of the rubber gloves in her right hand] You can guess what her job is! What a joyful experience for those people in bed to be visited by these animals. For many it brought back childhood memories. They were telling us stories from 50, 60 and 70 years ago. A good afternoon all round. Heehaw!