IOW Donkey Sanctuary First Rehoming Story

7 August 2023

Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary launches a donkey rehoming scheme.

On Thursday, 20th July the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary launched our donkey rehoming programme. Donkeys Dorothy and Katie needed to be rehomed after their owners could no longer care for them. We brought them over to the Sanctuary from Sparshalt and started on their welfare assessment.


We decided for Dorothy and Katie that it was in their best interest to find a suitable foster home. We were delighted to find a wonderful new home for them on the Island.


Although our donkeys at the Sanctuary are happy to live in their herds, many donkeys come from a home environment where they are used to care from a select few people and a lot of one-to-one attention.

Our rehoming programme helps donkeys who thrive in a family environment rather than living as part of a herd, and this enables us to care for our donkeys in a way that better suits their needs. The Sanctuary continues to offer full support to our Foster Guardians who look after our donkeys on our behalf.


The Sanctuary is indebted to our supporters and volunteers for enabling us to continue our vital work.

We will be sure to give everyone another update on their progress after they have settled in to their new home. To see the video of Dorothy and Katie going to their new home, visit our Fostering page.


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If you’re an HR professional looking to reconnect with the people side of your role, this is a wonderful opportunity to join our compassionate, values led team. At the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary everything we do is guided by a clear purpose: providing refuge, new beginnings and exceptional care for donkeys and other equines in need. We’re looking for someone who values collaboration and who brings warmth and integrity to their work. You’ll be excited by the opportunity to combine your HR expertise with building meaningful relationships across the sanctuary. By supporting our team of staff and volunteers you’ll be making a lasting difference for both people and animals. What you’ll be doing Build positive relationships with staff and volunteers, providing a warm, approachable first point of contact for people-related support and guidance Support the recruitment and onboarding, helping create a welcoming and engaging experience for new team members and volunteers from first contact onwards Coordinate meaningful inductions, training, and development opportunities that help people feel confident, connected, and set up for success Help foster a positive, values-led culture by supporting wellbeing, performance conversations, and people experiences across the organisation Work collaboratively with managers to ensure people processes are delivered smoothly, fairly, and with integrity Key Skills & Experience Level 3 CIPD qualification (minimum) Experience in HR administration and recruitment for a similar size organisation Strong organisational and time management skills Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities Knowledge of HR systems and employment compliance Ability to handle confidential information with discretion Why work with us? At the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, every day is a chance to make a difference — for our animals, our visitors, and our community. You’ll join a friendly, supportive team where kindness, connection, and care are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re helping someone settle into a new role, supporting colleagues, encouraging volunteer engagement, or building strong relationships across the organisation — your role will offer the chance to reconnect with the people side of HR while contributing to our vision of being a centre of excellence in donkey welfare. If this role is for you please apply on Isle of Wight Jobs .
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