West Country Donkey Sanctuary facing closure sees volunteers fury at bosses' huge wages

Campaigners fighting to save an endangered Donkey Sanctuary in Devon have expressed their "disgusted" upon discovering that charity bosses have been earning up to £130,000 a year. A group of eight volunteers at the Ivybridge sanctuary have penned a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and initiated a petition in an effort to prevent the facility's closure by the charity that operates it.

Dawn Blatchford, one of the campaigners, was appalled when she discovered from The Donkey Sanctuary's accounts that 14 employees were paid more than £60,000 in 2022. She stated: "It's disgusting. The animals should come first. They are a charity for animals."

Miss Blatchford, hailing from Plymouth, along with seven other unpaid volunteers working at the Ivybridge sanctuary, have sent a strongly-worded letter to Marianne Steele, chief executive of The Donkey Sanctuary based in Sidmouth, pleading for the sanctuary to stay open. In their letter, the campaigners question why there are plans to close sanctuaries in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Ivybridge, with the possibility of downsizing one in Belfast. as reports Plymouth Live. The main Sidmouth site is unaffected by the changes.

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The activists have accordingly penned letters to Mr Sunak, Labour leader Keir Starmer, Government ministers, and Plymouth MPs including Johnny Mercer, Luke Pollard, and Sally Cresswell. They've raised queries as to whether there has been any assessment of senior management positions that don't extend to the care of donkeys and if there's any potential for streamlining in these areas.

It comes after Donkey Sanctuary accounts published with the Charity Commission showe one executive earned between £120,000 and £130,000, and another between £100,000 and £110,000, with three paid more than £90,000 and four more earning above £80,000. Miss Blatchford said donations from the public should go for animal welfare and said: "People pay money for the donkeys, but it's going to bosses. At an animal charity the animals come first, second and third."

The accounts revealed the Donkey Sanctuary, one of the largest equine charities in the world, had an income of £57.395m in 2022, of which £51.65m came from donations and legacies. The charity spent £35.95m on its charitable activities, but banked £7.66m for future use.

The campaigners have started a petition on Change.org to Keep the Ivybridge Donkey Sanctuary Open. The petition said: "This sanctuary is an invaluable resource for our community, providing therapeutic benefits to many individuals who struggle with mental health issues. Losing it would be devastating not only to the animals but also to those who rely on its services."

Miss Blatchford, a dedicated volunteer at the Ivybridge Donkey Sanctuary for seven years, shared her routine, and said "I go there every weekend. We volunteers do mucking out, grooming and health checking."

The charity responsible for the sanctuary announced last week that the Ivybridge site is closed to visitors as it faces potential closure due to financial strains. The organisation explained that the decision is part of an effort "to make best use of our donors' money and to ensure we continue to achieve our core mission of improving the welfare of donkeys in the UK and around the world".

Currently, 57 employees are facing redundancy consultations, with 11 of those based in Ivybridge. Home to 21 donkeys, the Ivybridge Donkey Sanctuary, nestled in Filham Park, is hopeful that all animals will find new homes should the centre shut down.

The main hub in Sidmouth remains untouched by these cost-cutting measures. Following their statement last week, the charity has opted not to comment further or engage with the ongoing campaign.

Established in 1969 by Elisabeth Svendsen in Devon and officially registered as a charity in 1973, The Donkey Sanctuary now supports over 760 staff members and manages more than 300 donkeys.

With its headquarters at Slade House Farm in Sidmouth, the charity coordinates international efforts from this base. To date, the charity has cared for over 14,500 donkeys across the UK and Ireland.