Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

Our Saturday Club is for children with special needs who come to the EST centre at Sutton Park, or those who go to other special needs schools. They can come with their family, brothers and sisters and play, ride a donkey and picnic.

February Half Term begins 15th February 2010 for 1 week. EST Manchester is open Monday to Saturday 10am till 3pm, 5pm on Wednesday. During this week we have 2 days for children to book in for riding sessions these are Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th. Please contact EST Manchester to book a session.

Everybody is most welcome to come and visit the donkeys on any day (except Sunday). Come, relax, stay for a while, light refreshments available or bring a packed lunch, you will be most welcome.

Little Vijay had a very special trip to make on 16th December 2009. We loaded him up into our 'donkey van' and travelled to a lovely place called Little Bridge Children's Hospice in North Devon. They were holding their own carol service and had asked for a gentle donkey to be part of the service. As both of our specially trained small 'Outreach' donkeys were already busy visiting residential homes, we needed a star donkey who could step in at the last minute and carry out this very important visit. Luckily we knew just the right one…

EST Ivybridge will be holding an Easter Fair on Saturday 20 March 2010 from 10.00am till 3.00pm.

Free entry and parking, everyone welcome. Refreshments available through out the day. Lots to do including Easter egg tombola, games, stalls, adopt a donkey, help us to groom the donkeys, and also a craft area where you can design and decorate your own Easter gifts.

For more information please EST Ivybridge.

After many years as a riding therapy donkey, we have decided to retire Daniel P. Daniel first joined the Slade Centre team in 1994, two years after being relinquished into the care of our sister charity, The Donkey Sanctuary. He has worked as a riding therapy donkey ever since and as he reaches 21, we feel that it is about time he started taking life a bit easier!

Edward is five years old and started attending EST Leeds in September 2008. He rides on a weekly basis with three other children from Yeadon's Westfield Infant School. Edward has been referred to the Centre as a 'selective mute' and on entering school in September would not communicate in school. Since attending the Centre with his class mates on open days and coming along to the Saturday Club, Edward has begun to talk to adults and his peers.

A Sidmouth-based donkey riding charity for children with special needs and disabilities is calling on the fun loving public to adopt a donkey this Valentine's Day to help raise vital funds for its cause.

The centre is one of five located around the country run by The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys charity (EST), which provides riding therapy to over 750 children from locals schools and hospices every week.