Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

A donkey riding therapy charity based in Sidmouth is looking forward to receiving a donation of 20 Easter eggs from an Exeter supermarket on 29th March as part of their Easter Eggstravaganza celebrations.

Sainsbury’s in Pinhoe has kindly agreed to donate 20 Easter eggs which will be presented to staff of The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST) accompanied by Mary the donkey at the supermarket on 29th March at 11.00am.

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.

Sidmouth Saturday Club is an open visiting time when our special children are able to ride the donkeys with their brothers and sisters. It is also a chance to visit adoption donkeys, relax over a cup of tea/coffee, bring a picnic or have a snack and meet other parents, carers and supporters.

Saturday Club is held on the second Saturday of the month (with the exception of April and December, when we have some alternative seasonal activities).

Little Vijay had a very special trip to make on 16th December 2009. We loaded him up into our 'donkey van' and travelled to a lovely place called Little Bridge Children's Hospice in North Devon. They were holding their own carol service and had asked for a gentle donkey to be part of the service. As both of our specially trained small 'Outreach' donkeys were already busy visiting residential homes, we needed a star donkey who could step in at the last minute and carry out this very important visit. Luckily we knew just the right one…

After many years as a riding therapy donkey, we have decided to retire Daniel P. Daniel first joined the Slade Centre team in 1994, two years after being relinquished into the care of our sister charity, The Donkey Sanctuary. He has worked as a riding therapy donkey ever since and as he reaches 21, we feel that it is about time he started taking life a bit easier!