A CARING couple who have dedicated themselves to providing animal therapy for children with special needs are being supported by the CLA Charitable Trust.

Roger Staniland and Penny Crisfield set up the HART sanctuary from their home in Hawkswick, North Yorkshire three years ago. Since that time the couple has helped hundreds of children cope with difficult situations such as illness, disabilities and bereavement by spending time with their collection of mini-donkeys, alpacas, hens, ducks and rabbits.

Now, thanks to a grant of £1,000 from the CLA Charitable Trust towards the cost of a new trailer to transport the animals to local schools and events, Penny and Roger are set to be able to help even more children.

Roger said: “Getting out and about in the community is a vital part of our work but our old trailer was literally falling apart. It was only capable of transporting one or two animals at a time whereas the new trailer will allow us to take a much wider selection.”

The sanctuary is primarily funded by Penny and Roger, who both also have day jobs, with the support of charitable donations. Penny said: “For a long time we’ve been very aware of the power of animals to help sick children and unhappy children.

“We’ve taken the donkeys to hospices, and it’s not just sick children who can benefit, it’s bereaved children, siblings of ill children. We’ve had an autistic child here recently and the power of animals working with children with autism is extraordinary.”

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “It is incredible the way in which Roger and Penny have been able to grow the sanctuary and support so many children with very limited time and resources. We are delighted to be able to support such an altruistic venture.”

For more information, please visit: www.hartminidonkeys.org