Select Relationship Manager for Santander, Suzie Norman, nominated The Donkey Assisted Therapy centre for this year’s Santander Community Plus Grant.
Suzie explains, “Just before Christmas I adopted donkey Toby from The Donkey Assisted Therapy centre in Manchester. Everyone at the centre was so helpful, informing me of the work they carried out for donkeys, children with additional needs and the elderly. I couldn’t stop thinking about the fantastic work that the centre offers. I explained to Santander about the charity and my findings, asking for a grant to help raise awareness of the charity to the local community. I wanted to help the centre continue their amazing work helping children and the elderly with Donkey Assisted Therapy. The grant would also help the charity to look after further donkeys that may have been abandoned by their owners. I was overwhelmed to hear that Santander had chosen my nomination out of hundreds, deciding to give the centre in Manchester a grant of £5000!”
Debbie Coombes, manager of The Donkey Sanctuary’s Donkey Assisted Therapy centre in Manchester says: “From everyone here at the centre we would like to thank the Santander Foundation for their kind donation. They have provided us with generous financial support so we can continue to remain at the forefront of the local community. Receiving a monetary award which supports us so we are able to carry out our therapeutic work is brilliant and so important. Suzie is a supporter with inspirational enthusiasm for our work and her love of donkeys, especially Toby, is greatly appreciated."
Around 200 local children with additional needs and disabilities visit the Manchester Donkey Assisted Therapy centre each week for therapeutic riding sessions. The charity also provides outreach visits with donkeys to residents of nursing homes, hospices and care homes.
If you are interested in raising funds for the charity then please contact The Donkey Sanctuary on 0161 301 4051 or visit its website http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/view/fundraise
