Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

A donkey-riding centre for children with special needs is inviting local people to support its Christmas Fair on Saturday 12th December from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

Admission is free and festive refreshments, seasonal gifts, Adopt a Donkey and various stalls will be available to help raise funds for The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST).

Children will be able to have a donkey cart ride to meet Santa in his grotto and receive a Christmas gift while adults can browse around the stalls and enjoy Christmas carols performed by Cornwood and Stowford Primary School.

Bob Venn, Principal of the centre says “Our Christmas Fair has become an annual fundraising event and it’s also great fun; the children get so much pleasure visiting Father Christmas in his grotto, whilst the adults can catch up over a coffee and warm mince pie.”

The EST centre in Ivybridge accommodates over 150 children with special needs and disabilities from 30 schools each week, all within Ivybridge and the surrounding area. It makes no charge to the schools, hospitals or parents whose children attend and staffing is strongly supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who help with the riding sessions.

EST has four adorable donkeys that the public can adopt which make a unique Christmas gift. The cost of each adoption is £16.00 and the money raised helps support the work of the charity.