A SUTTON Park-based charity is inviting locals to adopt a donkey for Valentine’s Day. The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust (EST) welcomes around 150 children with special needs and disabilities to its centre each week for donkey riding therapy. The ‘Adopt a Donkey’ scheme costs £16 for a 12-month subscription. EST spokesman Chris Phillips said: “Our donkeys are all adorable, so are guaranteed to make the heart melt, and the gift you choose will have great meaning as it enables us to bring children with special needs in contact with donkeys to have fun and to gain from the therapeutic benefits of riding, such as improved motor skills, hand and eye co-ordination and body posture.” EST Birmingham opened in September 1994 thanks to donations from The Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust, Birmingham City Council and Sutton Coldfield Municipal Charities. There are four donkeys in Sutton Park, Charlie C, Donk Dean, Moses and Oscar. The adoption pack includes a personal message, folder, certificate, details of the adopted donkey, a colour picture, an A4 pencil drawing and an update letter after six months. To adopt online visit www.elisabethsvendsentrust.org.uk/adoptions or call 01395 573034 | 
