The Donkey Sanctuary
The Donkey Sanctuary is a UK-registered charitable lottery operator, licensed by the UKGC since October 2024 to run society lotteries. It has a clean enforcement record and strong corporate governance. Its trust grade of B reflects its short licensing history rather than any compliance concerns.
Positive Signals
- No enforcement actions recorded by the UKGC
- Continuous licence held without interruption since October 2024
- Stability score of 100, reflecting a clean record with no suspensions or warnings
- Fully UK-registered charity with majority UK-based directors
- Company grade A, indicating strong corporate health and compliance
Concerns
- SSL grade D on the lottery website (win.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk), below recommended security standards
- Licensed since October 2024, so a limited track record with the regulator
Overview
Operator Type: Charitable lottery operator
The Donkey Sanctuary is a charitable lottery operator, licensed by the UK Gambling Commission since October 2024 to run society lotteries in support of its animal welfare mission. It's registered as a private company limited by guarantee, the standard structure for UK charities that don't distribute profits to members. The lottery arm is a fundraising vehicle for the wider sanctuary, which has operated from its Devon base for decades.
With a trust score of 78 (Grade B) and a clean record, The Donkey Sanctuary sits in solid regulatory standing for a relatively new licence holder. Its stability score is a perfect 100, reflecting an uninterrupted licence with no enforcement actions, suspensions, or warnings. The domestic score is equally strong, with all corporate activity registered in the UK and a majority of directors based here.
One area worth noting is the SSL grade on its lottery website, which currently rates at D. That doesn't affect the lottery's legitimacy, but it does mean the technical security of the site hasn't been fully configured to modern standards. The company itself scores an A grade for corporate health, reflecting its active status and well-structured governance.
Where Is This Operator Based?
Understanding where an operator is based matters for regulatory accountability. UK-based operators are subject to UK courts and consumer protection laws.
This operator is headquartered in the UK and registered with Companies House. They are fully subject to UK courts, consumer protection laws, and regulatory oversight.
Licence Details
The Donkey Sanctuary holds one active Society Lottery licence granted by the UK Gambling Commission on 25 October 2024. A society lottery licence permits a non-commercial society (typically a charity or community organisation) to run lotteries for good causes. The licence has no recorded expiry date and no conditions are noted. This is a non-remote licence category, meaning it covers lottery draws rather than online casino or betting activities.
| Licence Type | Status | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| Society Lottery | Active |
Enforcement & Compliance History
No regulatory actions recorded.
No enforcement actions recorded.
This operator has no public enforcement actions, financial penalties, or regulatory warnings on record with the UK Gambling Commission.
Corporate Structure
The Donkey Sanctuary is registered at Companies House under number 15150580 as a private company limited by guarantee (non-stock, limited exemption), incorporated on 20 September 2023. Its registered address is Slade House Farm, Devon, EX10 0NU. The company is active and has no recorded dissolution. It currently has 11 directors listed at Companies House, all of British nationality except one Nigerian-national director based in Nigeria. No persons with significant control (PSCs) are recorded, which is standard for guarantee companies without share capital. There are no parent companies or offshore ownership interests.
THE DONKEY SANCTUARY
Active- Company Number
- 15150580
- Incorporated
- 20 September 2023
- Registered Address
- Slade House Farm, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 0NU
Directors & Officers
| Name | Role | Residence | Appointed |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARTIN, Sharon | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 8 July 2025 |
| METCALFE, Lucy Victoria Alice | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 8 July 2025 |
| REED, Karen Elizabeth | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 8 July 2025 |
| UYOH, Edemekong Sunday | director | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 8 July 2025 |
| TERREY, Karen Ann | secretary | — | 4 July 2025 |
| TERREY, Karen Ann | secretary | — | 4 July 2025 |
| HOLE, Vivienne | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 12 July 2024 |
| BACK, Lucy Marie | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 20 September 2023 |
| BARAI, Ajay | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 20 September 2023 |
| LUNN, David Paul | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 20 September 2023 |
| MITCHELL, Thomas, Dr | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 20 September 2023 |
| SHELDON, Elizabeth Cecilia | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 20 September 2023 |
| STRINGER, Andrew, Dr | director | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 20 September 2023 |
Associated Domains
The Donkey Sanctuary operates one registered lottery website, win.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk, which has been active since July 1998 and is licensed by the UKGC. The SSL certificate is graded D and issued by R13, with a validity date running to April 2026. The site does support HSTS but doesn't use TLS 1.3, which accounts for the low grade. No Trustpilot reviews are recorded for this domain. A www-prefixed variant is also registered but carries no separate SSL or hosting data.
| Domain | Brand | Status | Site Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| win.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk | The Donkey Sanctuary Lottery | Active | Other |