Volunteering

Could you be a Sathya Sai Sanctuary Trust for Nature Volunteer?

We have always had wonderful volunteers at the Sathya Sai Sanctuary Trust for Nature and we are always looking for more! Please get in touch if you have a few hours a week where you could help us out.

Our team of volunteers provide much needed help with the mucking out/cleaning of sheds, feeding, grooming, and a myriad of other small jobs throughout the year, in all weathers. This often involves a lot of manual labour but there's always time for petting, cuddling and talking to the donkeys/horses and giving them treats; their favourites are ginger biscuits.

You can volunteer for any day of the week and for any amount of time; mornings between 9.30am and 12.30pm are always much appreciated as this is a busy time of day.

Having your own transport is desired as we are situated 4kms up a very large hill from the main bus route at Castlebaldwin. A lot of the work is outside so warm, and preferably weatherproof, clothing is advised; especially wellies or other waterproof footwear.

A cuppa and biscuits are provided at mid-morning break but please bring your own food if you wish.

Our Aims and Objectives

• To offer a place of peace and refuge for old, injured, unwanted, abandoned, neglected and abused donkeys, ponies, horses and mules in Ireland.

• To provide care and a safe environment for them to live their lives free from suffering, cruelty, sickness or loneliness.

What's Required (or what skills can you offer us?)

As Sue once wrote, "Volunteers have come and gone, each putting in their own personal energies and leaving legacies from websites to donkeys sheds, from painted gates to ragwort free fields". The list of tasks is endless. It's not just mucking out, sweeping yards, or moving heavy bags of feed or bedding, but we do need these things doing too!

We need people who care about animals, who are willing to help where needed.

People with Trades, Operative or Manual skills are always welcome; as are people who can drive a tractor or a quad.

A basic level of english language and understanding is needed.

Over 18 years only please if you use the Volunteer form.

If you are under 18 years and wish to volunteer, please contact us for more information.

Benefits You Will Receive as a Volunteer

Training in your volunteer role.

The chance to work with a variety of animals who all have their own personalities, including likes and dislikes. This may also include working with animals that have health problems, or injuries, or animals being treated or recovering.

You will also be able to meet and work with different, interesting, people in the great outdoors, in a beautiful part of County Sligo, and enjoy a lovely cup of tea /coffee when the work is done.

Please note, there is often a lot of manual labour with this role.

Sue Paling 2006 "If our children can understand a world that allows places of hope and healing for animals, then maybe, just maybe, they will grow up with a vision for a world full of hope and healing for us all."