My Volunteering at The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge DAT Branch

EST Ivybridge Donkey Quiz Night – For Humans

The PFA (Parents and Friends Association) who support the Ivybridge Branch of the Elizabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST) with their  fundraising and fun events throughout the year organised the  annual Quiz Night which was held on Saturday 3rd March 2012 which was the first event for 2012. It took place in the indoor arena at the centre.

Myself, my husband and two of our friends, Jock and Heather,  decided to have an evening out for some brain workout and the four of us formed a team.  There were around 20 teams who took part and we were sat at table number 13!!!  Was it lucky or unlucky for us – please read on. [Read more…] about EST Ivybridge Donkey Quiz Night – For Humans

Pancho the Singing Donkey

I helped at a birthday party down at the EST centre in Ivybridge on the 25th January 2012.  The centre is available for birthday parties for children with special needs where the staff and donkeys are provided for riding and the family provides the food for the children.  This is a very popular service that we offer and many children have had a great party.

One of the donkeys used for this party was Pancho, and although I shouldn’t have favourites he is definitely one of them.  He a large donkey but I have to say I didn’t realise he had a talent until standing in the arena with him during this particular party.  He was standing for a few moments and suddenly started to bray, except it was nothing like a normal donkey bray, but it sounded as if he was singing as it was in a very high pitched melodic sound. [Read more…] about Pancho the Singing Donkey

EST Ivybridge Donkey Volunteer’s Lunch

The annual EST Ivybridge Branch held its volunteers lunch on the Friday 16th December. It is where the centre’s staff lay on a 3 course Christmas lunch as a way of saying “thank you” to all the volunteers who give up their time during the year to help down at the centre. There are now over 100 volunteers at the moment and without our help the centre would not be able to function.  A member of staff was sat at each table and they  become waiters and waitresses for the day to serve the volunteers with their lunch. [Read more…] about EST Ivybridge Donkey Volunteer’s Lunch

Christmas Donkeys at Tesco

I decided to put my name down to help with a promotional stand at Tesco on Thursday 8th December 2011.  Although not bag packing this time, myself, two members of staff and two of the donkeys Garth and Vicky  from the EST (Elizabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys) Ivybridge Branch set up our stand at the Tesco store at Lee Mill, near Ivybridge,  to raise some money for the Centre. [Read more…] about Christmas Donkeys at Tesco

Carol Service at EST Ivybridge

The yearly carol service was held at the EST Centre in Ivybridge on Wednesday 7th December 2011.  Numbers are never known until the actual date and as previous years it was another bumper attendance, with many having to stand, as there were not enough chairs.  It is held in the indoor arena which is very festive with a huge Christmas tree and all the other Christmas decorations, as this is where all the Christmas parties for the schools are held and where the children come and meet Father Christmas in his little grotto. [Read more…] about Carol Service at EST Ivybridge