88-Year-Old Islander’s Love Of Donkeys Leads To Special Day At Sanctuary

An 88-year-old Islander has enjoyed a very special day with some four-legged friends after a casual conversation with her befriender turned into a memorable trip to the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary.

Betty Dixon regularly meets up with volunteer Sharon Newnham through Age UK Isle of Wight’s Gift of Friendship programme, which pairs older Islanders with volunteers for companionship, conversation and days out.

During one of their chats, Betty mentioned how much she loves donkeys.

Sharon remembered — and contacted Age UK Isle of Wight to see if they could make something happen.

The charity then teamed up with the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, which arranged a special visit for Betty.

She was welcomed to the sanctuary with Sharon and members of the Age UK Isle of Wight team, where she got to meet three of its residents — Thomas, Major and Frankie.

Betty was able to spend time with the donkeys, stroking them and finding out more about them from the sanctuary team.

For Age UK Isle of Wight, the visit is also an example of how seemingly small moments can make a significant difference.

Maria Bunce, Chief Officer at Age UK Isle of Wight, said the story demonstrated the value of befriending.

She said:

“It all started with a normal conversation.

"Betty mentioned something she loved, Sharon listened and remembered it, and because they had built that relationship, we were able to turn it into an experience that meant a great deal to Betty.

“That is what makes befriending so valuable. It isn’t about doing anything extraordinary every week.

"It is about giving somebody your time, having a conversation and building a genuine friendship.”

Sharon said seeing Betty with the donkeys was particularly rewarding.

She added:

“Seeing how much Betty enjoyed meeting the donkeys made the whole day really special.

"It was lovely knowing that something she had mentioned during one of our conversations had led to this.”

Age UK Isle of Wight says every Gift of Friendship arrangement is different.

For some people, it might simply involve sitting down for a chat over a cup of tea, while others might enjoy going out for coffee, exploring the Island or sharing a particular hobby or interest.

The charity is now encouraging more Islanders to consider becoming volunteer befrienders, stressing that no specialist skills or huge time commitment are required.

Maria Bunce added:

“We would love to hear from more people across the Island who might be able to give some of their time to an older person.”

Age UK Isle of Wight has thanked the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary for helping to make Betty’s visit possible.

A video capturing her day with Thomas, Major and Frankie has also been produced and is available on the charity’s Facebook page.

The Gift of Friendship programme is one of the ways Age UK Isle of Wight supports older people across the Island.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer befriender, finding out more about the programme, or helping the charity through volunteering, fundraising or donations can contact Age UK Isle of Wight.