Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

Last week I joined EST Sidmouth on another Outreach visit to Holmesley Nursing Home in Sidmouth with Mary the donkey.

This is Mary’s first Christmas on the Outreach Team and she has been an absolute star according to Katrina, Outreach Co-ordinator, who says, “We start the Christmas visits at the beginning of November as otherwise we simply could not fit them all in before Christmas Day! Usually we take the Outreach donkeys out two or three times a week, but in the run up to Christmas we are out almost five days a week as they are so popular! The donkeys have been very sweet and patient; this is why we choose them to do this job.”

Mary shares the task of spreading the festive cheer with her co-donkey Tojo and between them they will have visited over 100 homes this Christmas!

It was a very festive visit, all the Holmesley staff had an impressive array of Christmas hats on, the lounge was beautifully decorated with a huge tree in the corner and Mary’s appearance in her seasonal outfit was warmly received by the residents and staff alike. I find the Outreach visits very moving, as some residents who are quiet or withdrawn before the donkey arrives, really seem to brighten up when faced with a real donkey next to their chairs or beds. Mary was so popular on this visit that she had to do two laps of the lounge!

Mary and Tojo will be taking a well earned rest over the Christmas break with their donkey friends at EST Sidmouth. Happy holidays!