Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

EST Belfast is holding an open Adoption Weekend on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th May from 10am to 3pm for the public to meet its group of donkeys and learn more about the work they do with Belfast’s children with additional needs.

The Donkey Sanctuary’s Templepatrick centre is also looking forward to celebrating its first birthday since being opened by The Princess Royal in June 2011. In the last twelve months, over 6,000 riding therapy sessions have been provided for children from across the province.

EST Belfast is appealing for more volunteers to help support its work. The centre provides riding therapy sessions that help those with physical disabilities to develop their strength, balance and coordination.

The charity relies on the help of volunteers who give up their spare time to help work with the children and the donkeys. Visits are made to local residential and nursing homes each year. The volunteers are involved in a wide range of tasks, such as grooming the donkeys and leading them through the corridors of the homes.

EST Belfast welcomes children from across County Antrim for riding therapy sessions. The team of staff were delighted to receive this thank you from a new family who have started coming to the Twilight sessions on Wednesdays. It's wonderful to have this reminder of the amazing difference that visits to EST can make.

On Saturday 29th October 2011 a team of staff and volunteers from EST Belfast, Larne Masonic Lodge and The Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice raised an amazing £3,000 pushing a bed 15 miles, from Carrickfergus to Larne and collecting donations locally at ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Super Value.

EST Belfast is inviting walkers and horse owners to take part in a sponsored event on Sunday 9th October 2011 at 10am.

The sponsored walk and horse ride will take place in the tranquil surroundings of Delamont Country Park in Killyleagh.

The walk is suitable for all ages and fitness levels and covers a maximum of six miles although shorter routes are available for little feet.

I attended the official opening of our Belfast Centre last week, 23rd June, and met two of our fantastic volunteers there.

Sheelagh and Charlie Feely made me feel so welcome and, like everyone that day, were very happy to be involved in the special occasion, attended by Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal.