Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

When I visited EST Manchester recently I met Freda and Marjorie, who are just two of the 93 volunteers who selflessly give up their time for this centre.

Freda has volunteered at the centre for five years, and helps out in the kitchen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays providing refreshments for the children, parents and carers. Freda is waiting for both her knee’s to be replaced and a hip replacement operation, she hopes that when she has had the operations she will be able to spend more time helping outside with the donkeys. But she nobly puts her own health problems aside to offer her services.

Freda first visited the centre to adopt Toby the donkey, she says “I fell in love with him and the place, its so magical here for everybody, I love coming here. The children get so much out of it and so do I, I forget my aches and pains here, and I have met lots of new people and made new friends too. All four adoption donkeys here are adopted by my local church.”

Freda has many fond memories from her time volunteering at the centre, she told me a story about a little girl who wouldn’t speak who one day tugged at Freda’s jumper and whispered that she was hungry and would like a biscuit. Its moments like those that make a volunteer’s role so worthwhile. She also informed me that donkeys are great listeners, she has poured her heart out to them many times, and they always listen to her problems without fail!

Marjorie has volunteered at the centre on Wednesdays since it opened in 2004, she also makes a special effort to come and help out at the spring, summer and Christmas fairs too.

Marjorie lives at the top of the road and remembers a time when the site was allotments; her father had an allotment here, and says she was made very happy by the sensitivity of EST, who kept his tree when the centre was built.

Marjorie says “Volunteering here helps make a difference for the children, EST makes them feel good. I used to volunteer outside with the donkeys but as time has gone on I found that hard, so I have moved into the kitchen, the staff here are very understanding to the volunteers needs. Volunteering is very social and good for making friends and it’s so nice to see the children progress each week”

I met several of the volunteers while I was visiting the centres and I was astounded by the kindness, generosity and sheer dedication that these good people put into helping EST. Without them the centres could not offer the safe and caring environment EST is proud of. Some of the children need two helpers to support them on the donkey and one person is needed to take full control of the donkey, so for three children to ride in the arena nine people can be needed to assist in addition to the Instructor. The ladies who help in the kitchen and shop help raise valuable funds needed to run the centre, as well as the social aspect that is provided for the parents and children by the on site café which has a range of scrummy snacks all available for a donation. The volunteers also help to care for the donkeys, tidy up when the children leave, gardening and site maintenance and generally assist in any way that they possibly can. Before my trip I certainly never realised how much these amazing people give to EST and I really do think they deserve three cheers!!