From Strictly to Sanctuary – Flavia's day out with the donkeys

From Strictly to Sanctuary – Flavia's day out with the donkeys

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Flavia Cacace quickstepped her way back to The Donkey Sanctuary recently when she spent the day at its Sidmouth site.

The Donkey Sanctuary was thrilled to welcome back the professional dancer and animal advocate to spend time meeting some of the charity's long-eared residents and to learn more about its important work caring for donkeys, both in the UK and around the world.

Flavia first visited the sanctuary in March 2023 with her husband, actor Jimi Mistry, as part of a birthday celebration. The couple described the experience as "amazing" and "the perfect day out."

Since that visit, Flavia has continued to show her support by engaging with The Donkey Sanctuary's social media posts, including one that was shared on International Day of Friendship, when she highlighted the importance of donkey pair bonds. Inspired by her ongoing interest in the charity's work, she was invited for a behind-the-scenes look.

Flavia said: "I have danced for most of my life and I've been fortunate to be able to have a wonderful career doing something I am passionate about. But I see myself as a multi-faceted person, and it's been so liberating in recent years being able to tap into something else I am equally passionate about – and that is my love of animals.

"Over the last five years I've had the pleasure of having rare breed sheep and lots of chickens and have even experienced lambing. I have a strong connection with all animals, and when I visited the sanctuary back in 2023, I knew I wanted to support their work in any way I can."

Her visit was choreographed to showcase various aspects of The Donkey Sanctuary's work, both in the UK and as a global leader in donkey welfare.

During her time at the sanctuary, Flavia met some of the resident donkeys up close and spoke with members of the team. She also gained a deeper understanding of the charity's key areas of work, including rescue, rehabilitation and lifelong sanctuary care for donkeys who cannot be rehomed. The team explained how the Rehoming Scheme helps free up vital sanctuary space and how devoted Donkey Guardians provide loving, forever homes for donkeys in need.

Flavia also discovered how the charity's Donkey Assisted Activities (DAA) programmes create enriching experiences for both donkeys and people, helping them build confidence and develop valuable life skills.

Maxine Carter, Farm Manager at our Sidmouth sanctuary, said: "It was great to support the Flavia's visit, whose compassion and love for donkeys shone through. Two donkeys, Ellie and Honey, who came into our care through a large-scale rescue called Operation Dawn, made a real impact on Flavia as they enjoyed some hands-on time. It was lovely to share our history, from the very beginning to today, reflecting on how far we have come and how special The Donkey Sanctuary continues to be."

Finally, Flavia discovered more about The Donkey Sanctuary's international work to protect donkeys, including its campaign to end the cruel and unsustainable donkey skin trade.

There may not have been glitterballs or sequins, but the visit was filled with warmth, compassion, and naturally lots of donkeys. The Donkey Sanctuary thanked Flavia for taking time out of her busy schedule to visit and learn more about its work. The charity looks forward to future opportunities to work together to support donkeys both in the UK and around the world.

Reflecting on her visit, Flavia said: "I want to thank everyone who made my visit so special – I had the best day. I've only ever met one or two donkeys at a time before, so it was wonderful to be surrounded by so many."

She added: "I'd love to come back and learn more about the New Arrivals Unit and the assessment process, to hear more of the donkeys' individual stories, and to understand more about the Rehoming Scheme for those donkeys currently looking for their forever home."

www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk