Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

EST Birmingham is holding its Christmas Fair on Saturday 11th December from 10.30am to 3.00pm.

Staff at the centre have been busy preparing a magnificent Santa’s Grotto which this year has an extra-special ‘Four Seasons’ theme and for just £3, children will be able to go through a winter wonderland to visit Father Christmas and receive a gift.

Admission to the Christmas Fair is free and visitors will be able to enjoy festive refreshments, Christmas carols from Sutton Coldfield Community Choir, a variety of games plus stalls selling seasonal gifts.

Meet our Regional Fundraising Assistant at EST Birmingham. Tracy Hawkins got involved with our centre in Birmingham 12 years ago when her own daughter had a bone marrow and liver transplant.

Tracy told us "My daughter Rebecca had riding therapy for two years which she enjoyed very much. I've been at the centre for nearly 4 years working as a fundraiser and enjoying it very much."

Pascoe retired eight years ago from his work as a riding therapy donkey for a charity in Birmingham, but he still wants to join in with the lessons!

Pascoe started work as a riding therapy donkey in 1989 when the Birmingham centre of The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST) first began to provide therapy for local children with special needs.

EST Birmingham tells how three-year old Jonah, who has Down’s syndrome, benefits physically and emotionally from donkey-riding therapy.

Seven months ago Jonah’s mum Jacqueline Nixon was given a list of activities for children with disabilities, one of them on offer being free donkey-riding therapy at the Birmingham Centre of the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST) located within Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield.

James has been visiting EST Birmingham since he was six months old, attending each week and for holiday clubs which are held during school holidays. James has Erbs Palsy in his right arm, which is a condition caused by birth trauma affecting the nerves which supply movement and feeling to the arm. James is unable to extend his right arm any further than his head.

Birmingham holiday club is for children with special needs who come to our centre at Sutton Park, or those who go to other special needs schools. The children can come with their family, brothers and sisters and play, ride a donkey and picnic.