Legacy Project
Casa Maria: Our Children’s Family Home in Romania.
Who we are
Children in Distress was born in 1990 from a dedicated volunteer service, where our team provided urgent assistance to children in need in Romania. These exceptional grassroots effort laid the foundation for our formal establishment, and since then, we have been committed to improving the lives of children and families facing many challenges. Through our grant giving, we provide essential wellbeing, education, life skills and support to local communities. With our focus on providing grant funding, we ensure that children can grow and develop to support a positive future.
Our Vision & Mission
Vision: We aspire to be the UK’s leading children’s charity, equipping young people with life skills to improve their overall wellbeing so they can have a brighter future.
Mission: We provide strategic grant funding to grass roots organisations that support the wellbeing of children across the UK.
Our History
The genesis of our organisation stems from the compassionate response to the crisis of care witnessed during Romania's transition from communism in 1989. Shocking images of abandoned children moved individuals like the Rev. Dr John Walmsley from St. Laurence Church, Barkingside to act. The Association for Helping Children in Romania was thus born, later evolving into Fundația Copii în Dificultate.
Over the years the charity has expanded its reach, establishing multiple centres which have set new standards in children’s care. The focus now in Romania is now on the legacy project, Casa Maria, a children’s family home which carries on the great work at St Margaret’s by providing personal care for children with neurological and physical disabilities.
Our Work Today
Our key grant giving priority is the legacy work at Casa Maria in Romania, which provides a children’s home funded through a structured grant model. Additional grants are also provided to small Romanian charities and UK organisations who support children and their families and communities to meet our pillars of wellbeing, education, Life/Work Skills and Community
We will provide, through grant giving, support to several community projects across the UK in key strategic areas of Hull, West Yorkshire, London and Birmingham. We will continue to support further projects across Romania where there is need.
