Donkey centre handed a funding boost by Show (From Wharfedale Observer)
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Donkey centre handed a funding boost by Show
1:00pm Monday 23rd April 2012 in News By Newsdesk
Otley Show secretary Janet Raw with Evie Mitchell – on William D – and an instructor at the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust For Children And Donkeys' Leeds Centre
A donkey centre that provides riding therapy to thousands of children each year is celebrating receiving a funding boost from Otley Show.
The show has chosen the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkey's Leeds Centre at Eccup as one of four groups to benefit from the proceeds of last year's event.
Show secretary Janet Raw was greeted by the donkey centre's manager, Cathryn Williams, and co-ordinator, Caroline Armstrong, when she visited on Monday to hand over a cheque for £100.
She said: “The centre does such great work for so many children, and they also bring along some donkeys to the show each year, so we're more than happy to support them.”
Free riding therapy for young people from across Leeds, who have physical or learning disabilities, is provided at Eccup where the donkey sessions help the children's co-ordination and exercise their muscles while boosting their confidence.
About 180 children a week from 33 schools are seen during term times, and the centre relies on fundraising to keep its activities going.
To find out more about the Eccup centre's work, or about ‘adopting’ a donkey for £16 a year, call 0113 261 9249 or visit elisabethsvendsentrust.org.uk.
Some of the proceeds from the 2011 Otley Show have also been donated to The British Heart Foundation, in memory of one of the show's stewards, who died earlier this year.
Further donations have been made to the Caring For Life café and farm at Cookridge, which helps disad-vantaged youths, and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
