My Mission
I may also promote additional rescues throughout the year on my Social Media pages, particularly if they're in desperate need at the time.
See my Shop page for a small selection of the items I produce, and follow me on Facebook for occasional sales of hand-made gemstone, crystal jewellery and accessories.
This year’s chosen charities are below, with some background info and lovely photos. If you’re not drawn to buy any items, you may feel inspired to donate instead? Many thanks. x
Durham Donkey Rescue
I am a hands-on volunteer at Durham Donkey Rescue, which means I actually get my hands dirty (VERY dirty, since donkeys LOVE to dust-bath!) Every week you will find me mucking out field shelters, clearing paddocks, grooming and walking donkeys. I also help with our events for the public, our Wellness Wednesdays (where I might lead the meditation in our beautiful woodland before relaxing with our donkeys) our Walking and Hugging days and Open Days, as well as helping with the website and Facebook page – and even sometimes helping build field shelters!
Do you love donkeys? We love donkeys too! That’s why here at West Edmondsley Farm in County Durham we have spent the last few years expanding what began as a time-consuming community organisation into a life-changing and lifetime commitment.
Our mission is to provide rescue space and a happy, carefree and comfortable home for donkeys in need.
We are a small rescue, offering all our donkeys the space to graze and the space to shelter, rest and play. We will be here to offer a home for any donkey that can no longer be cared for, whatever the reason.
We are dedicated to providing a safe home for any donkeys in need, whether as the result of neglect, cruelty or because their owners can no longer take care of them. One of our main aims is for all donkeys to have a home with at least one of their own kind.
We are not a visitor centre, nor are we open to the public on a daily basis. This is mainly because it would be too stressful for the donkeys, and we don’t have the staff to be able to accommodate unplanned visits or people dropping in. But mainly we need to put all our efforts into the daily care and welfare of the donkeys themselves.
We operate with a small team of dedicated volunteers and ALL funds received go directly to the donkeys’ needs.
www.durhamdonkeyrescue.co.uk
registered charity: No. 1201801.
Homes4Hens
HOMES4HENS
Homes4Hens rescued all the beautiful hens that have been part of my family – including 6 ex-battery hens from the old-style cages, barn hens and “free range”. Those little girls brought great joy, love and colour into our lives and I bless the day I discovered this rescue. I promote hen welfare tirelessly on my Facebook page and have written articles about their plight, the huge cost of “cheap eggs” the fallacy of commercial “happy eggs” and the joy of rehoming retired hens.
Founded in 2010 Homes4Hens was inspired after Kathryn and Michael Vogel collected 6 hens to keep as pets from a battery farm. They were shocked to see the condition of the hens and saddened that they went to slaughter at such a young age, barely 18 months old.
Homes4hens Rescue C.I.C. exists to give commercial laying hens a future after farming. Our aim is to inspire you to provide a free-range retirement for ex-laying hens otherwise destined for slaughter. Homes4Hens has rescued and re-homed thousands of hens and created a network of collection points, run by volunteers across Scotland and Northern England. We are committed, dedicated and passionate people who hope to bring joy to people’s lives whilst helping hens that deserve a happy ending.
Homes4Hens Rescue CIC reg no. SC567846
EASY HORSE CARE
Cuddles with Rosie on our last visit
EASY HORSE CARE
My sister lives in Spain and had attended a charity fund-raiser for an amazing local horse rescue, and I was determined to visit them on my next trip. We attended our first of many Open Days hosted at the charity and I was incredibly impressed at the fantastic facilities and care they offer their beautiful horses, donkeys and mules – in addition to various other stray, unwanted or abused animals including cats, dogs, chickens, a turkey and a pig! Their love and care for these animals who had some of the worst lives imaginable is palpable on every visit and they truly do an amazing job against great adversity.
Founded in 2008, our non-profit rescue centre saves neglected, abused and abandoned horses, ponies and donkeys across Spain’s Costa Blanca region.
Our mission is to rescue and rehabilitate abused, neglected and abandoned horses, ponies and donkeys, while campaigning for the better treatment of animals across Spain. We are a no-kill foundation and provide each rescued animal with a safe and loving sanctuary – either here at our centre or via rehoming – for the rest of their lives.
We began with one horse, Luceiro, a two-year-old stallion we found locked in a filthy and dark stable, his left eye badly injured and rotting, hurling himself repeatedly against the bars of his stall as flies drove him crazy.
Unable to walk away from such a distressing case of animal cruelty, we brought Luceiro home to our own finca – and unwittingly created a much-needed horse rescue centre. We now care for more than 90 horses, ponies and donkeys saved from abuse and neglect.
We are the only officially registered horse rescue centre foundation in Spain (Registered Foundation Number G54674098, Inscription Number 030006 in the Registration of Foundations with the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food). All donations to support our work are tax deductible.