By Isle of Wight Observer
The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is celebrating the success of a new pilot project aimed at helping young people make the transition from primary to secondary school.
Funded by the Isle of Wight Council’s Community Capacity grant, the Bridging Hooves programme was designed to help pupils build confidence and make new friends ahead of the new school year.
Participants worked alongside the sanctuary’s animals while learning new skills and taking part in activities linked to the transition process.
Working together, the young people, staff and volunteers also created a large willow donkey sculpture, which is now on display in the sanctuary’s central courtyard.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with one pupil describing the programme as “fun” and “an amazing experience”.
Teresa Brimble-Brennan, family and community project officer at the Isle of Wight Council, said: “It was wonderful to see how the activities and interactions were thoughtfully linked to the transition process. Thank you for providing such a positive and enriching experience.”
The pilot’s success rounded off a record-breaking summer for the sanctuary, which welcomed more than 33,000 visitors in August alone – its highest monthly total. Overall visitor numbers also reached an all-time high, providing a seasonal boost to donations and income as the cost of caring for more than 120 animals continues to rise.
General manager Stephen Tobitt thanked visitors, staff and the council, saying it had been “a summer to remember” and that seeing young people grow in confidence showed exactly why the sanctuary does its work.
