Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

A local charity is today launching an appeal to find more volunteers to help support its work, providing donkey therapy to children with special needs and nursing home residents throughout the Sidmouth area.

The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust (EST) provides donkey riding therapy to around 150 children each week from 41 local schools and desperately needs more volunteers to help support its Saturday club riding sessions. These sessions take place on the second Saturday of each month and help children with special educational needs and disabilities develop confidence and riding skills using the donkeys.

The charity also makes visits to over 200 local residential and nursing homes each year and relies on the help of volunteers to carry out a wide range of tasks, including grooming the donkeys and leading them through the corridors of the homes.

Lauriel Harris who runs the centre says: “The use of animals, including donkeys, as a form of therapy is widely recognised for the invaluable benefits it can bring. Volunteers have played a vital role right from the start – and without them, we just could not continue.

“We need to find more volunteers who would like to assist with our Outreach visits and our donkey riding therapy. Volunteers must be fit, sympathetic and have a keen interest in donkeys.”

If you feel that you could volunteer for the EST charity in Sidmouth or you would like further information, contact the centre manager Lauriel Harris on 01395 573009.