Join us for the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Autumn Fete

5 September 2024

Autumn Fete update

We are very sorry, but due to the very heavy rain forecast over the next few days, we have made the sad decision to cancel our Autumn Fete on this Sunday 8 September.

For large events we use our precious paddocks for car parking. We cannot risk damaging our vital winter grazing paddocks which we rely on during the colder months.


Thank you for all your support – we’re so disappointed to have to cancel.



Date: Sunday, 8 September

Time: 11am to 3:30pm

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary’s Autumn Fete is a fun-filled day out for all the family including four legged members! Our arena will host displays throughout the day, including our grand finale Dog Show.


Outside of the arena you’ll find a wide variety of stalls, Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Hedgerow Gin tasting, live music in the courtyard and horse and carriage rides. Our café will be open, serving up delicious treats to keep you fuelled throughout the day. Don't forget to visit our shop, offering a range of unique gifts for all ages including our 2025 calendar, and dare we say it…Christmas cards and gifts!


Our adoption hub will also be open, so if you’re thinking about welcoming a new member of the family, come along and chat to our friendly team. Every adoption on the day will get a free Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Souvenir Guide.


Our Autumn Fete is free to enter! Come and stroll through the sanctuary, meet our herds, and learn about our mission to provide refuge and care for donkeys and other equines in need. All donations and profits on the day will go towards the care of our much-loved animals.

 

Arena running order


Please note all timings are approximate and may change.

11am Welcome from our chief executive Susan McCall

11.05am to 11.25am Meet our mini Shetlands. Find out more about our gorgeous gang of mini Shetland ponies and discover how we care for them.

11.30am to 12pm TrackaDog demonstration. Discover how this fantastic local voluntary organisation helps find missing pets on the Island.
11.30am to 1.30pm bring your dog along for some tracking training.

12.15pm to 12.30pm Meet our donkeys. Join a member of our yard team as they introduce some of our donkeys and tell you all about our enriching donkey therapy visits.

12.45pm to 1.15pm A display of dancing with the Rainbow Group from Starlight Academy.

1.30pm to 2.00pm Resident sheep display. Find out all about the sheep we have at the sanctuary.

2.00pm to 3.30pm Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Dog Show
All dogs welcome – there’s a class for everyone to enter, so please do bring your pooch along!

£2.50 entry per class on the day.

Classes:

  • Prettiest bitch
  • Most handsome dog
  • Best puppy (age 1 and under)
  • Golden oldie (age 7 and over)
  • Waggiest tail
  • Dog that looks most like its owner
  • Best in Show (wins a donkey adoption)


3.30pm Thank you and goodbye.


Save the date!

We can't wait to welcome you to our Autumn Fete on Sunday, 8 September, for a day filled with fun, laughter, and plenty of donkeys! See you there.


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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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