cic annual report 2009

ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

30th September 2009

Charity No 1001327Scottish Charity Registration SC 039383

To cure, sometimes; to help, often; to comfort, always.

CHILDREN IN DISTRESS

CONTENTS

3 CHARITY INFORMATION

04-06 CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXCUTIVE’S INTRODUCTION

07-30 TRUSTEES’ REPORTCHARITABLE STATUSGOVERNANCE AIMS AND OBJECTIVESAREAS OF EXPERTISEHOW HAVE WE DONEFUTURE PLANS

31-32 THANK YOU LISTING

33-34 FINANCIAL OVERVIEWS

35 CONTACT US

36-37 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT

38 STATEMENTOF ACCOUNTS

39 BALANCE SHEET

40-53 NOTES ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

CHILDREN IN DISTRESS ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 30TH SEPTEMBER 2009

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Charity Information


PATRON UNITED KINGDOM PATRON ROMANIA

Rt. Rev and Rt. Hon ArchbishopDavid Hope, Lord Hope of Thornes KCVO PC

Tesca Barnett-Osman(Wife of HM Ambassador to Romania)

GOODWILL AMBASSADOR ROMANIAMrs Amalia Nastase Mrs Maria Popa

TRUSTEESCanon Chris Samuels (Chair) Board, Trustee Management Group, Ex-officio Committee member all charity committees

Alisdair Barron MBE Chief Executive Preşendinte Copii in Dificultate, Chair PositivPlus, Ex-officio Committee member all charity committees

Dr Victoria AmadiBoard

Robin DunnBoard, Advisory Group

Isabel Davis Administration & Sponsorship Manager

Christine Henderson-DochertyBoard, Trustee Management Group, Governance and Legal Committee

Allan Gallacher Charity Accountant (Part time)Finance and Audit

Alyth HughesBoard, Chair Advisory Group, Vice President Copii in Dificultate, Trustee PositivPlus, Governance and Legal Committee

Joyce Hutchinson Shop Manager – Shildon

June HurnBoard, Board Copii in Dificultate, Trustee PositivPlus

Joan Morrison Funding Development Manager - Scotland & Northern Ireland

Donald McPhailBoard, Trustee PositivPlus( resigned 30 September 2009)

Jane Russell Funding Development Manager - North England

Sir Neil Thorn OBE TD DLBoard, Governance and Legal

Sinita Salam Administration Assistant

Mrs Stephanie Lord (co-opted pending appointment)

Mr Cornelius McGill (co-opted pending appointment)

Catherine Wheeler Shop Manager – Guisborough

Gill Wilson Shop Manager – Kirkbymoorside

BANKERS

Suite 36/38 Ladywell Business Centre The Royal Bank of Scotland94 Duke Street 10 Gordon StreetGlasgow G4 0UW Glasgow G1 3P

LEGAL ADVISORS National Westminster Bank PlcBrechin Tindal Oatts 133 High Street48 St Vincent Street IlfordGlasgow G2 5HS Essex IG6 2BU

AUDITORS Barclays Bank PLCThe Kelvin Partnership 93 High StreetThe Cooper Building North Allerton505 Great Western Road Yorkshire DL7 8LFGlasgow G12 8HN

INVESTMENT ADVISORS PULIC RELATIONS ADVISORS (ROMANIA)Bell Lawrie White Next PR48 St Vincent Street Constantin Sandu Aldea 96Glasgow G2 5TS Bucharest Sector 1 Romania

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Chairman & Chief Executive’s Introduction

We welcome you to the Children in Distress 2008/09 Annual Report and Financial Statement

For a small charity, fast approaching its twentieth anniversary, still delivering its mission of paediatric, respite, palliative or end of life care, child development therapies, social welfare support, education and training, this financial year has been testing. Being heavily dependent on the generosity of individuals and grant making organisation; the world financial crisis has had a significant impact on our ability deliver our planned programmes of quality care services. The impact of the crisis could not have come at a more difficult time. The Charity has been informed that its main fundraising event organised on its behalf by The Hamilton Portfolio Ball Committee would cease in 2008 and the redevelopment and construction works already commissioned within St Margaret’s Children Centre’s Bucharest complex were behind schedule and substantially uncompleted due to the failure of the steel constructor and builder to fulfil their contract commitments. To complete the building works, include some much needed design changes and see the steel structure made safe, the building wind and water tight, the Charity had no alternative but invest additional funding to contract new builders and enter into prolonged litigation to try and recover some of the cost already expended and the additional completion costs required.

Against that background of financial insecurity, fundraising staff redoubled their efforts, strategy and priorities were swiftly reviewed and costs saving measures introduced to ensure that core care services were protected. However it was still possible to deliver some of the Charity’s key objectives on advocacy for those with autism and disabilities; the National Curriculum for Children with Autism originally developed and substantially drafted by the charity’s professional team was finally adopted by the Romanian Ministry of Education and will be rolled out nationally from September 2010. An amended education and training programme including the annual autism conference and bi annual medical and therapies conference and professional carer and parental counselling and insight workshops was delivered in partnership with the Primaria of Bucharest and of the City’s Sector 2, as master class events, with the assistance of Dr Sam and Mrs Janet Goldstein and Christine Barber and Yolanda Broek of The Bobath Centre, London.

Throughout the building work at St Margaret’s the professional therapy team delivered on site and on a peripatetic basis a full range of multiple therapy assessments and treatments to children in need of their unique therapy model of care. Their waiting list continues to grow through parental and professional referral. The St Nicholas Child Development Centre is one of only a few fully licensed to deliver multiple therapy treatment to children with disabilities as result of accident, infection, birth and genetic defects.

A tri-annual review of licensing of all of the Charity’s care services has been carried out by the Romanian National Authority for Child Protection and the Charity’s role as a Service of National Utility re-confirmed. It is intended to build on this to involve the National Insurance House in funding some elements of the care delivered in the both the hospices and child development centre.


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THE TRUSTEES’ VISION

These developments reflect the Trustees commitment to see Children in Distress and its

sister organisations Copii in Dificultate and Positiv+ as international paediatric care organisations dedicated to deliver efficient and cost effective, high quality professional care.

In this financial year the charity has some 885 infants and children in direct care, residential and community based programmes. Our successful mix of high quality palliative and intensive nursing and individually tailored multiple therapy programmes, continues to deliver spectacular improvements in the condition of the children in our care. Our community based social care programmes including the ‘Christmas Love in a Box’ project offers practical material support to a further 8500 children from deprived rural and urban areas whose families exist on as little as €25 per month. We have directly touched and changed the lives by advocating and championing the rights of over 20.000 young people living with autism, severe disability or HIV.

The Charity has its principal office in Glasgow and has an overseas office in Bucharest which it uses to support operation in the Balkans. The charity has a number of key partner organisations with which it co-operates to deliver programmes. Children in Distress also works in close partnership with the British Embassy, Romanian and Moldovan County Child Protection Departments, The Romanian Education and Heath Ministries and other National and International Authorities and Agencies such as UNCIF as well as other NGOs, Charities, Charitable Foundations, Paediatric Hospitals, Children’s Placement Centres and Schools.

The aim in doing so is to advocate best practice, promote social welfare and civil society, co-ordinate effective activity and effort and to influence longer term strategies to improve paediatric care, the rights of those with disabilities and relieve poverty in the countries in which we work.

The Charity raises funds through donor appeals, operates an E-bay charitable trading account, and three charity thrift shops operated as a wholly owned trading operation. The thrift shops sell second hand goods and equipment donated by the public and quality clothing seconds donated by manufacturers and retailers. The shops in Guisborough; Kirkbymoorside and Shildon provide are a foot step on their respective high streets to publicise the work of the Charity, collect donations, whilst returning a positive contribution to their local community.

THE PLAN

The Trustees approve and over-see the charity’s five year rolling business plan which is subject to regular review and update. The continued objective is to see Copii in Dificultate as essentially self funding is on target as part of the present Year 4 objectives in this financial year Romanian sources raised over 58% of local expenditure. The planned quality improvements in services and care determined by the Charity’s Advisory Group’s bi-annual quality audits and reviews have been achieved. We are pleased to share, that the numbers of children in care by each project and the costs per child determined by their business plans have been maintained, however the announced closures of wards and services and planned across the board redundancies in Romanian state health services patient demand pressures on the Hospices and Child Development and Therapy Centres means that added investment in trained staff will been required to provide addition dedicated therapy treatment in the year ahead.

THE VISION

The Trustees remain committed to the original vision articulated by our Founding Director Dr John Walmsley, that we should offer “help; hope and hospice care”, however they have determined that the Charity’s work should be increasingly preventative rather than remedial.


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The Charity supports the work of two other Romanian registered charities with direct grant and material aid and offer professional education and training opportunities to a number of partner NGO’s, local authority child protection departments and placement centres as part of the Charity’s plan for education and continuous improvement in the quality of care programmes

THE CHALLENGE

The recession affected Children in Distress as it has affected many other charities. In our case it has increased demand for bed and services and made it more difficult to engage donors to consider the Balkans and particularly Romania as meriting their support. We continue to work hard to build the capacity to engage with new donors and are grateful to the great many supporters who encourage us in our work We are confident the charity continues to develop a unique offering of comprehensive professional care as well as providing professional training for partner organisation in both the public and voluntary sectors. The recession is creating new and urgent challenges to the “forgotten” children and Romanian society at large arising from rising unemployment, poverty and the closure of even basic care services that continued to be problematic to those who have no voice the disadvantaged the vulnerable and the poor.

We are confident that demand for our services will remain strong and that they will increasingly be regarded as setting the standard for cost effective care.

OUR THANKS

All of our professional education and training programmes are delivered by specialists who on a pro-bono basis offer their time and the charities own continuous quality of care programme would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of the professional volunteers of the Charity’s Advisory Group.

We record our appreciation of the help and assistance of all of those who give other their time to advance the quality care and the services the charity is able to provide. We record our sincere thanks to the staff and volunteers of Children in Distress and Copii in Dificultate for their hard work and dedication, to Trustees, for their commitment and, above all, to all those in our family network of care, primarily our donors and supporters who enable our vital work and mission to continue.

Canon Christopher Samuels Alisdair Barron MBEChairman of Trustees Chief Executive


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TRUSTEES’ REPORT

The Trustees present their annual report and audited financial statement for the year ended 30th September 2009.

Trust and Charitable Company Status

The Charity is presently constituted as an international, non-political charitable trust and is governed by a declaration of trust signed in 1990, subsequently amended by a deed of trust in 1992. The Trustees have undertaken to contribute to the assets of the charity in the event of it being wound up during the time they continue to be a Trustee, or within a year after they cease to be a Trustee, such amount to meet the liabilities of the Charity. The Trustees implementing the recommendation of the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales have adopted a new memorandum and articles of association, which will allow the charity to be constituted as an incorporated charitable company limited by guarantee and having no share capital from the end of June 2009. The Trustees will then act as directors for the purposes of company law and their liability of the members in the event of the company being wound up is limited to £1.00.

Further information on the Trustees can be found on page 3

CHARITY REGISTRATION

Children in Distress is a charity registered with the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales with charity registration number 1001327 and operating in Scotland also registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator, the Scottish registration is SCO 39383.

The new incorporated charitable body, once in being, will continue to be registered as a charity with both the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Office of the Charity Registrar in Scotland and act entirely as a non-profit making organisation.

GOVERNANCE AND INTERNAL CONTROLS

The Board of Trustees has determined that its membership should be nine non-executive Trustees, who serve on a voluntary basis, they have elected to forego the reimbursement of travelling expenses, a few are funded by local independent support networks or subsequently make personal donations covering their costs. However, we record that those who are as project consultants, medical advisors or charity training consultants may opt to be partially reimbursed for travel expenses and accommodation in this capacity.

The Trustees meet as required however gather five times each year for board meetings to review strategy and performance with the Chief Executive and other members of the management team.

Trustees are normally elected to serve for three years before standing down and one third normally resign each year. They may be reselected for further terms of three years. The Board of Trustees select Board members with relevant knowledge skill and experience. An annual skills audit is carried out to identify any skills gaps within the Board. New Trustees are required to undertake a comprehensive structured induction including project visits and provided with all the information they require to fulfil their role, including best practice guidelines on the role of trustees and charity law. The present Trustees have served three years or more or have previous experience of being a charity trustee or hold similar public appointments.

Trustees receive comprehensive financial statements and management reports and full Board papers are sent to each trustee in sufficient time before Board meetings. Further papers and information is available to all Trustees on request.


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Board papers include minutes of committee and sub-committee meetings and the chair of each committee is normally available to offer comprehensive verbal report of committee proceedings at the full Board meeting if appropriate. Trustees take specific personal responsibility for monitoring key aspects of the Charity’s activity in specific operational areas, acting as chair or participating in subcommittees of the Board. The main board authorises all key expenditures and the Trustees’ Management Executive Group is a standing committee available for consultation bi-monthly or as required. The designated board sub committees meet at least quarterly to co-ordinate and review the performance of the Charity in their specified area of expertise. Each board sub-committee reports points for note or action on the Board meeting agenda and each committee and sub committee has its decisions ratified by the full Board.

INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS

There is an agreed list of matters the Board have formally reserved for itself for decision They include

• Approval of the Charity’s scheme of delegation

• Approval of the five year strategic plan and annual budget

• Regular consideration of financial results, variances for budgets, non-financial performance indicators and capital expenditure

• Approval of the Annual Financial Statement

• Board Membership

• Risk Management

• Health Safety and Equality

The roles of Chief Executive and Chair are separated. The Charity’s Chief Executive, when the Board is not in session, has direct access for advice to the Chair of the Board and the Board’s Management Executive Committee; the day to day management of the Charity is devolved to the Chief Executive and the management team. There is an agreed procedure for Trustee/Directors and the senior managers to take independent professional advice. The Chief Executive acting as Company Secretary is responsible for ensuring that Board of Trustees procedures are followed and that all Trustee/Directors have access to the information they require.

All Trustee/Directors bring independent judgement to bear on issues of strategy performance, key appointments and policies. Responsibility for certain matters is delegated to Board Committee.

BOARD COMMITTEES The Finance, Information Technology and Audit Committee reviews accounting principles, policies and practices adopted in the annual accounts and discusses with the auditors the result and scope of the audit. The members review the performance of the finance systems and the performance of the auditors. The committee meets at least once a year and the Chief Executive and accountant are ex-officio members. The chair of this Committee is currently vacant, it has two other members that are also members of the Board of Trustees, and their meeting is attended by the Chief Executive and the Charity’s Accountant. The independent external auditors have the opportunity to meeting the Finance, Information Technology and Audit Committee at least once a year and are able to meet without the management team being present.


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Responsibility for certain matters is delegated to other Board committees which are

• Management Executive Committee

• Governance and Legal Advisory Committee

• Fundraising and Public Relations Sub-Committees

The Board has benefit of the guidance and advice supplied by the Advisory Group comprising Trustees, expertise in their field. Consultants, Specialists and experienced professionals, who offer their expertise on a voluntary basis to further the work of the Charity.

IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENTOF RISK

The responsibility for the management and control of risk rests with the Board and as such their involvement in key aspects of the process is essential particularly in setting the parameters of the process and the review and consideration of results

To fulfil its responsibilities the Board of Trustees

• Ensures that the identification assessment and mitigation of risk is linked to achievement of the Charity’s strategic and operational objectives

• Ensures that the risk management process covers all identified areas of risk and in particular financial, operational and reputational risk, and is focussed on major risks being defined as those which , if they occur , would have severe impact on the performance, objectives or reputation of the Charity and which have a high likely- hood of occurring

• Ensure that the process seeks to produce a risk profile that reflects the board of Trustees’ view as to the acceptable risk levels

• Reviews and considers the principal results of risk identification, evaluation and management

• Ensures that risk management is ongoing and embedded in the management and operational procedures of Children in Distress and its sister Foundations Copii in Dificultate and Positiv+

The Finance, Information Technology and Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the establishment and maintenance of good practice in this area and reporting on it to the Board of Trustees; annually the independent auditors provide an independent view of the effectiveness of the risk management system and whether it is operating effectively through their work as part of the audit of the Companies Act audit.

On a day to day basis authority and management of risk is delegated to the Chief Executive and management team. A formal risk management process has been developed and implements risk management strategies.

Risk identification and assessment processes have been embedded within the normal operating activity of line managers, thus ensuring that risks are regularly reviewed monitored and reported.


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Key risks that have been identified and are being managed are

• The strong likelihood in the Romanian economy of severe spending and service cuts overwhelming hospice provision

• Significant falls in donor support or grant aid income due to economic crisis or changes in the United Kingdom

• The availability of committed trained professional staff and carers in projects and the likelihood of increased staff turnover due wage affordability

• Unaffordable capital project expenditure requirements to comply with interpretation of legislation as applied to NGO operations in Romania

The Trustees review, as required, the major risks under headings of Governance and Management, Operations, Financial, Environmental/External Factors and Compliance with Law and Regulations, which the Charity faces both within the UK and in the field of operations. All significant activities are subject to a risk review at part of any initial project assessment. A dynamic ‘At Risk’ register has been compiled using guidance provided by the Charities Commission. The resulting risks being assessed and ranked as to likelihood and impact.

The Trustees review and rank the risks on an ongoing basis and have satisfied themselves that existing or new control systems were then identified to mitigate each of these risks and were documented in the risk register. We constantly examine all operational and business risks faced by the Charity and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks; we are working towards adequate control actions and monitoring processes that will mitigate our exposure to major risks. Where appropriate and deemed affordable, risks have been covered by insurance. The Trustees recognise that in some areas of the Charity’s work there has to be an acceptance and prudent management of risk, to achieve the Charity’s stated aims and objectives.

All Trustees bring independent judgement to bear in the issues of strategy, performance, key appointments and policies and have in mind an ethos that is central to ensuring adequate risk assurance.

• Regular monitoring of key risks and the development of flexible action plans• Risk identification and assessment is inherent in the operational procedures • A clear structure of delegated control• Regular review of key systems and procedures through internal audit • Maintaining reserves in line with policy• Regular reporting on risk management to the Trustees


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STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ REPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires that the Trustees prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under the law, the Trustees have elected to prepare financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) The financial statements are required, by law, to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to

• Select suitable accounting policies and then applied them consistently

• Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP

• Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

• State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements

• Safeguarded the assets of the charity and made every effort to prevent and detect

fraud and other irregularities.

• Stated whether applicable accounting standards have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

• Prepare the financial statement on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue its activities.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate and proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities these include:

• Comprehensive financial polices practices and procedures which are kept under constant review

• An annual qualitative comparison of our procedure against the internal controls self checklist for charities

• A minimum twice yearly internal audit of cash handling and other financial procedures with the offices

• Comprehensive system of annual budgets approved by Trustees and quarterly financial reporting of actual against budget

• Regular forecasting of predicted budget and cash flow• Monthly monitoring of income, cash and reserves and periodic review of the

reserves policy

In so far as the Trustees are aware

• There is no relevant audit information of which the Charity’s auditors are unaware; and

• The Trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information


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The Trustees are also responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions In setting out plans and priorities for the work of Children in Distress, the Trustees have considered the guidance from the Charity Commission for England and Wales on public benefit. How the Charity delivers their principal charitable objective which is the provision of

• Palliative and respite care for infants and children with genetic or birth disorders or those touched by HIVAIDS

• Paediatric developmental care for infants and children with disabilities arising from accident, infection, genetic disorders or birth defects

• Advocacy education and training including public education and personal professional development and employee re-skilling identified by the annual appraisal review

• Social Welfare and support mainly poverty relief for families with children in direst need

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The public benefit that arises from the work of Children in Distress is implicit in its charitable objectives and the services it delivers.

These are delivered by our own staff in our own hospices and children care service complex or alternatively with and through partner organisations with grant making or training services provision. The work of our partner organisations is closely monitored and quality audited in line with internal standards and is particularly advantageous, where the charity can promote the delivery of cost effective quality services, without additional staff resources in other areas or sectors of the country.

In addition members of the Charity’s Advisory Group Audit Teams carry out partner audits ensuring services are delivered against the agreed and closely monitored objectives that are automatically reported on a monthly basis. The Charity has found this to maximise the value to every one involved.


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OUR MISSION OF CARE MISSION, MOTIVATION, OBJECTIVE AND APPROACH

Our ongoing mission of care was inspired by the Rev. Dr. John Walmsley, our Founding Director and the vision and commitment, “That every child diagnosed as terminally or incurably ill with HIV AIDS and other illness has the right to die with dignity, surrounded with kindness, consideration and love”.

That commitment to infants and children, with the poorest prognoses and limited lifespan or existing in the hardest realities is delivered by a new generation of dedicated professionals, who know only of the Charity’s commitment to best practice, its innovative therapies and treatment, the emphasis on quality and the highest standards of care, and the partnerships of enterprise and endeavour that also defines the Charity’s mission today.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to ensure those abandoned, infants, children and young people those excluded or vulnerable as result of genetic disorders, the severest disabilities or HIV infection, should have the right to life and equality, a sense of belonging, the opportunity to share their anxieties, fears and hopes and, ultimately, have a chance to be the best that they can be, still strongly underpins all that our young professional and volunteer carers do. OUR MOTIVATION

As a small dynamic child focused charity, registered in the UK, founded in the Anglican Communion; today we treat and care for infants, children and young people of all faiths and none. We aim to deliver high quality, child centred care and treatment in our hospices and tailored child development and social care in our child development centres, projects and associated community based programmes.

The Charity demonstrates what can be achieved on a relatively moderate budget; and aims to motivate, train and develop the necessary skills in our project’s care teams, who are thereafter encouraged to share their experience with peers, in partner organisations and local authority centres, across the Balkans.

Each of our “beacon projects” provide an environment where children and young people from diverse cultural, economic, racial and social backgrounds, whose needs are wide ranging, find a safe secure nurturing care environment, the love and support they need to develop and thrive. The challenges are complex and require commitment, dedication and unrelenting effort to achieve the best outcomes; however that is what our care personnel have learned to do best, as they support our children on their life journey from infancy towards adulthood.

OUR OBJECTIVE

Our objective is to reach out to the thousands of children across the Balkans in need of support or at risk, vulnerable, defined as “incurable” or “terminally” ill, shunned or abandoned, in unsuitable wards with minimal care; ‘relegated’ to placement centres to await placement with foster parents; with no prospect for socialisation nor familiarisation with normal family life.; at risk of self exclusion from school; vulnerable to crime; drugs or alcohol with the constant fallback prospect of a life on the streets.

Although they suffer in silence, many are isolated, vulnerable to abuse, deprivation or bullying in the family home. Many just need a little help and support by those who care during the initial steps of their journey of life.

In short our objective can be stated as, To cure, sometimes; To help, often; To comfort, always.


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OUR APPROACH

We aim to change lives. We demonstrate real solutions for children diagnosed as beyond help; we can show that even though their severest disabilities may exist, the perceived handicaps are man-made and can be overcome to allow most to enjoy a reasonable condition of life. Where that is not possible, we ensure that they spend what time remains in comfort and care, to die with dignity when the time comes.

All of our projects and programmes adopt the same belief that every child will be good at something and no child is beyond help and care. We believe that if you can work directly with a child you can engage, support and motivate them to direct their energy to be the best that they can be, making the most of life whilst acknowledging the limitations of their conditions.

It has been said that “Children in Distress does not do miracles - but it is amazing what tender loving care can do”.

Our Trustees consider that the best way to tackle current paediatric healthcare skill deficits in the healthcare services in the Balkans and Eastern Europe is by advocating and demonstrating the delivery of the highest possible standards of paediatric palliative, respite and developmental care; and sharing skills thought example, education, training and skill exchange. At present we concentrate our activities in Romania to enable the Romanian paediatric health care and social welfare communities to adopt the expertise on offer and to adopt practices and procedures that deliver a national solution to the challenge of delivering the most appropriate practices for those children who are terminally or incurably ill.

Our work continues to be delivered in partnership with our UK partner, Ely based Fund-a-Physio-for Children in Distress; through Copii in Dificultate and PositivPlus our main Romanian sister foundations and with the help of four strategic partners, the Child Protection Department of Argeş County, the Fundaţia Parachieva Cuvioasa, the Fundaţia Vasiliada and St Macrina’s Centre. All of these child centred organisations are assessed and annually reviewed as having the compatible and comparable child care aims, objectives and interests.

Children in Distress and Copii in Dificultate are highly regarded in throughout the Balkans as quality healthcare innovators, providers and advocates of best practice and the highest standards of care; they remain the only NGOs invited by the Ministries of Education, Labour and Health and the National Authority for the Protection of Children’s Rights, to assist the development of the National Curriculum for Children with Autism and Care Standards for Children with Disabilities. We welcome that Copii in Dificultate Foundation is one of the few NGO’s recognised as a Romanian Service of National Utility. The Foundation, this year, was accredited by the Romanian National College of Psychologists as the sole key training provider for ABA (applied behavioural analysis) training for the course it developed and delivered, in association with the Centre for Early Autism Treatment of Northern Ireland. This course leading to recognised certification in ABA techniques for teachers from the Ministry of Education will be delivered by the Foundation’s qualified psychologists and therapists attached to its St Michael’s School for Children with Autism, located in Bucharest. CID UK and CID Ro are also two of the catalyst NGO’s invited to participate in the recent intergovernmental initiatives on the rights of children and young people with disabilities, arising from the Romania and the United Kingdom Prime Ministers’ joint initiative on the civil society.

The Trustees welcome and record that this year all the complexes of services and projects run Copii in Dificultate were re-accredited and fully licensed by the National Authority of Child Protection Romanian and Ministry of Work.


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FLORIN’S STORY

Florin became a member of our Children in Distress family in November 2000 when he came to St Margaret’s. He was then only 7 months old and a very ill little boy. He had been born with miotonic dystrophy, heart murmur, stature hypotrophy, a swallow reflex disorder and clubbed feet. Florin’s mother abandoned him at birth, when the doctors first confirmed his medical condition. The Child Protection Department asked for Florin to be admitted, as they had neither suitable care nor the residential facilities to offer Florin. From the outset, the staff at St. Margaret’s fell in love with Florin. He charmed them with his beautiful dark eyes, his wonderful smile and his considerable infant charm and charisma.

Florin has been with us so long, he is now almost regarded as St. Margaret’s ambassador. Despite all the physical challenges and difficulties, he does his very best. We are all very proud of each little victory Florin has, not only against his illnesses, but also against prejudice in community. If we had asked a member of Child Protection Department, when they first brought him to us, “how do you imagine Florin will be in the next 10 years”, we know that no one would think he will be at school (he is now in 2nd grade), he would have friends, would be able to sing, dance, count or recognise the alphabet”. Florin has represented St. Margaret’s at so many events, meeting Romania’s former Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu, Ilie Nastase and his wife Amalia, and with the renowned former tennis player Ion Tiriac.

When Florin first came to us, we offered him a loving, nurturing environment, with all the love and care possible. Every year, we have visited Florin parents and try to persuade them to come to their son’s birthday party. We have also invited them to share their son’s milestone events; first day at school, and his end of year school festivities. We have tried sharing news of Florin’s success, hoping finally to have them spend a few moments at St. Margaret’s, just to see Florin. Sadly, all to no avail.

Our care staff at St Margaret’s are very thankful for all that Florin has given us in his short life, his love and affection and, of course, his boundless joy. He is a wonderful boy, a reliable friend and a role model to overcoming difficulties.


The Charity funds and co-ordinates the work of Copii in Dificultate in two complexes of multiple children’s care services within St Andrew’s Pitesti and St Margaret’s Bucharest. In an HIV Positive Adolescent Independent Living Centre at St Laurence, Cernavoda and the sheltered holiday centre at St Christopher’s in Curtea de Argeş.

Each delivers a range of specialism to meet the needs of the children in their care.

AREAS OF SPECIALISM AND EXPERTISE

PAEDIATRIC RESPITE, PALLIATIVE AND END OF LIFE CARE, LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR THE CHRONICALLY ILL ST ANDREW’S CHILDREN’s HOSPICE PITESTIST MARGARET’S CHILDREN’S HOSPICE BUCHAREST

Children in Distress opened its first children’s hospice in 1999 offering children diagnosed as terminally and incurably ill and with life expectancy of little more than three months, the opportunity loving care in life and dignity in death otherwise not available to those in the infants and children’s wards of state hospitals. Today the Charity’s two funded hospices have reputations second to none for the care of those with cerebral palsies, micro-cephalous, untreatable hydrocephalus, genetic conditions, neurological conditions or complex birth defects.

ST ANDREW’S HOPSICE PITESTI

St Andrew’s Hospice was formally opened October 2004, by Archbishop David Hope KCVO, then Archbishop of York, now Lord Hope of Thornes. Initially St. Andrew’s offered residential care services to children with chronic neurological conditions. Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, quadriplegia, spina bifida and other genetic conditions were admitted to ensure they had the proper medical care, assistance and complex multiple therapies.

Today 15 infants and children with chronic neurological and genetic conditions benefit of the services provided by its multi disciplinary team of:1xTeam Coordinator, 2xPhysiotherapists, 1xSpeech and Language Therapist, 1x Social Worker, 5xSocial Mothers and 1x doctor.


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Through their multi-disciplinary approach they ensure high quality care and nursing services to each of the children, regardless of their diagnosis, and that each child can maximise their potential. Above all the children receive the love and attention that allows them to flourish and the care, support and dignity at the time where there is no hope. Services provided at St. Andrew’s residential centre include

• long term residential care for the incurably ill• paediatric respite, palliative care nursing and end of life care• emotional care and support• specialist dietary and individually tailored therapy programmes• rest recovery and rehabilitation• socialisation and leisure activities• Family re-integration and support wherever possible

ST MARGARET’S HOSPICE AND COMPLEX OF CHILDCARE SERVICES, BUCHAREST

The team at St Margaret’s continue to deliver the most comprehensive and diverse mix services provided by Children in Distress, St Margaret’s has evolved to address the capital-wide demands for care services in Bucharest, however also meets the specialised needs of others from elsewhere in Romania and across the Balkans, who travel to access its services. Initially opened as a street children’s project, the team were was almost immediately overwhelmed by the demand for a range of other care services for children otherwise not available within the care service mix offered by the capital’s health service and local government social work services.

The Hospice section opened in early 1999 aims to improve the quality of life for 15 infants and children with chronic genetic or complex degenerative neurological conditions.St Margaret’s addresses the need for services which otherwise do not exist in the Romania’s Paediatric Hospitals, State Institutions or within the service provision of Child Protection Departments.

The Child Protection Departments of Bucharest and adjacent Ilfov County request admission for children invariably abandoned by their families as result of their diagnosis. Over the last 11 years caring for children; many have exceptionally difficult social and family backgrounds involving alcohol or drug misuse; single parent families; parental imprisonment or simply abandonment where parents are unknown, invariably these infants are from the poorest families whose parents simply cannot afford to offer a chronically ill child adequate care and medical attention.

The highly experienced and professionally qualified hospice care team involved in working with children with the severest chronic neurological disorders include; a consultant pediatrician, seven nurses, a physiotherapist, a social worker and five social mothers.

Using a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach they provide the following range of services:

• long term residential care for the chronically ill• pediatric respite, palliative care nursing and end of life nursing care• emotional care and support• specialist dietary and therapy programmes• rest recovery and rehabilitation• education socialisation and leisure activities• Family integration and community support wherever possible


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CHILD DEVELOPMENT MULTIPLE THERAPY

ST NICHOLAS’ CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, BUCHAREST ST NICHOLAS’ THERAPY CENTRE, PITESTI

Our therapy work is mainly delivered in partnership with Ely based Fund-a-Physio-for Children in Distress, with the assistance of volunteer consultant therapists and advisors who donate time on a pro-bono basis.

ST NICHOLAS’ THERAPY CENTRE, PITESTI

The St Nicholas’ Therapy Centre within the St Andrew’s Complex of Child Care Services has provided a comprehensive child development, multiple therapy and counselling programme to some three hundred and ten patients in its therapy suites and in homes throughout the hinterland of Argeş County.

Most importantly, the Centre’s family counselling programme actively encourages and empowers parental and family participation in all aspects of their child’s rehabilitation process within the centre and at home.

ST NICHOLAS’ CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, BUCHAREST

St. Nicholas’ CDC opened in 2006, its mission is to rehabilitate children with inherited or acquired neurological or physiological conditions, which affect their mobility, speech and language, using a professional multi-disciplinary approach to afford the child opportunity to maximise their developmental potential.

The CDC team provides specific therapeutic services (physiotherapy, speech and language, occupational, behavioural therapy and psychological assessment and counselling) for children between birth to 16 years of age with disabilities or with developmental delay. St. Nicholas Child Developmental Therapy Centre this year assisted over 108 children with general developmental delays, neurological-motor syndromes, speech developmental disorders, language developmental disorders, intellectual disabilities, genetic syndromes, complex disabilities and finally orthopedic and muscular disabilities the following services:

• speech and language therapy• physiotherapy• occupational therapy• aqua therapy

• hypo-therapy (riding for the disabled)• behavioral modification therapy• group therapy services• individual and group child and parental counselling;• Multi-disciplinary assessment services


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SARA’S STORY

Two years ago, Sara came to St Nicholas’s as a last hope. Her parents were convinced that the doctors they had consulted were right: Sara was diagnosed as autistic.

At 4 years old, she was hyperactive, she didn’t understand what she was told, she was withdrawn and would never mix or play with other children. It was impossible to integrate her into normal kindergarten and she was confrontational. Her parents were frightened, without hope and clinically depressed.

The multi-disciplinary team at the CDC disagreed with the diagnosis of infantile autism, and after a review assessment, the therapists amended the diagnosis to congenital aphasia. Together with the family, the team decided to start with three sessions of speech therapy a week, continued daily at home supporting the advice and treatment given by the speech therapist. Given the key role of the parents, they had to participate, in an active way, in treatment sessions and thereafter at home continuing the exercises recommended by the therapists.

Today, after two years of working with both specialists from CDC and her parents, Sara is fully recovered. From a speech therapy view, Sara speaks clearly, she uses sentences in speaking, and she has a rich vocabulary. With regard to the other aspects of her life, she is now successfully integrated into a normal kindergarten, her mother is no longer her personal carer and has returned her professional career, and Sara’s age specific skills are now well formed or developed.

Sara’s parents are very happy with her progress, with the fact that now she speaks, she interacts with children around her, kisses them and plays with them. Their hopes of having a normal child have come true, perhaps even more than they expected.


COMMUNITY SOCIAL WELFARE

ST ANDREW’S EDUCATION AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

The St Andrew’s complex houses a gradiniţa, school classes and the Coremi Project, of tailored sheltered education, child development and socialisation programmes for groups of young people excluded from mainstream education as a result of disability, ethnic origin or HIV AIDS, or those at risk of just falling into a life on the street.

Uniquely, “Copii Pentru Copii”, the PHAB (physically handicapped able bodied) Project, based in the complex, each year changes the perception of disability for all the thirty plus young people for the local high school involved, as they learn to help those less able than themselves lead a more normal life.

ST ANDREW’S WHEELCHAIR AND MOBILITY AIDS LEND-LEASE SERVICE

Because of the large storage areas in the roof space of the main building in the St Andrew’s complex continues to store wheelchairs, standing frames, walking aids and therapy equipment shipped to Romania for use, but not immediately allocated to hospice residents or those in the charity’s community programmes. This stock of equipment is available on loan and over 250 aids have been placed on rotating loan or freely transferred to individuals, hospital patients or those in the care of other organisations, care centres or local authorities where such equipment is at a premium or almost nonexistent.

ST MACRINA’S STREET CHILDREN AND EDUCATION PROGRAMME

St Macrina’s Centre operated by Father Gabriel is home to over 40 children abandoned or excluded from the family home or exposed to the potential risk of life on the streets of Bucharest. Funds permitting, all aspects of the centre’s work are supported by St Margaret’s Complex.

Children in Distress, specifically funds the education of fifteen street children. The programme provides tutors, books and meals but primarily offers the opportunity of a last chance access to high school education and subsequent prospect of good employment. The educational programme’s main purpose is to prevent school dropout and family alienation for children coming from families with socio/financial difficulties; to involve each child in different extra-curricular activities including extra-tuition and encourage them to directly participate in the educational process using a multidisciplinary psychological, social and educational professional approach. The children between 7-17 years of age come from socially excluded and financially disadvantaged


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MARIA’S STORY

Maria came at St. Macrina’ in September 2009. She just started school in the second grade. Her mother was the one who wanted her daughter to be admitted to our educational centre. After the initial discussion with Maria’s mother, we found out that they are traditional Roma, confronting both poverty and social exclusion.

Maria’s mother is illiterate and she told us that, for her, it is extremely important to see her daughter reading. Her dream now is to ask her daughter to read her something in the evening. She told us: “I want my daughter to be able to write down her name and read, unlike me”.

Since last September, Maria has had the benefit of the services provided at St. Macrina’s. At the end of the school day she attends the extra-tuition classes. We spoke to Maria’s teacher who says she is ambitious and wants to learn as much as possible. She has also made a lot of friends during the social events organised throughout the school year. She improved her social skills and her independent life skills.

The real problem she has to face is lack of money. As her mother is illiterate, she cannot work. Her father also faces tremendous difficulties in finding a job because he only completed primary school education.Maria’s parents understand the importance of education and attendance at school, and it is extremely rewarding for them to see Maria’s enthusiasm in her school work and in making new friends.


groups such as single parent families, or those whose families have low educational levels of interest or attainment and or unstable employment.

At St. Macrina’s we provide the following services:

• extra-tuition

• socialising and leisure activities

• counselling for parents, and also to children

• ensuring school basic supplies and equipment to each child

In 2009 the education and socialisation programme was so successful that everyone involved passed their junior school graduation exam at the first sitting and were ensured access to the Bucharest high schools of choice.

ST MARGARET’S WELFARE PROGRAMMES

St Margaret’s Complex is the main goods received and distribution centre for the vast majority of equipment and goods donated and shipped by the Charity for use in projects and to benefit the destitute children of Romania. Handmade knitted good, blankets, quilts, clothes, toiletries and medicines donated are distributed through our own projects or to other NGOs, through churches of all denominations and to paediatric hospitals throughout greater Bucharest and across Romania, Albania and the neighbouring Moldovan Republic.

St MARGARET’S SCHOOL 62 RETENTION PROGRAMME

Run in association with one of the Bucharest schools dealing with poorest families, this programme encourages education and application at school by providing basic education educational materials and equipment as well as treats by way of treats as an incentive for those who have succeeded. The initial results are impressive and the project has attracted the attention of the Commercial Bank and Kinder Surprise which are interested in sponsorship and other similar initiatives

ST MARGARET’S SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES

Over the last few years the social workers at St Margaret’s have increasingly been involved with impoverished children and families in Călugăreni, Giurgiu, originally involved through the Christmas Shoebox Appeal, the desperate need of the poor rural families become increasingly evident. The GIURGIU PROGRAMME has involved the distribution of welfare packages of donated clothes shoes and winter woollies to infants and children who otherwise would have gone cold and would have been unable to attend school.

THE DISABILITY PLUS PROGRAMME

This programme focuses mainly on the distribution to housebound disabled children and adolescents of incontinence pads and larger size nappies not normally available to those living in the community but outside the Hospital network this programme and a sister programme offering mobility aids, adult nappies and donated nutrition products has allowed the Charity to assist patients in the St Irene Hospice in Bucharest, for adults patients in the terminal phase of cancer.

THE MOBILITY AIDS PROGRAMME

Constrained by storage and supply rather than demand, this programme is slightly smaller that the programme operated from St Andrew’s Hospice but none the less essential. This mobility aids programme provides, again on a lend lease basis, walking aids and wheelchairs for children who otherwise would be housebound. Some referrals come from the staff of St Nicholas CDC and relate primarily to children with severe motor problems. The wheelchairs improve mobility and increase contact with the CDC. Other referrals come


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from paediatric hospitals and clinics that are unable to supply wheelchairs to meet the specific or specialised needs of children with severe disabilities.

SENIOR CITIZENS PROGRAMME

Focussing primarily on the aged parishioners on the local All Saints parish this programme assists wherever possible with the administration of “Gifts from the Heart” donations and other in kind donations that are more appropriate or senior citizens than the Foundation’s normal care group. Food welfare packages, adult clothing, incontinence pads, adult nappies and warm outerwear donated are in turn are passed to Father Gheorge, the local parish priest at All Saints for use in the senior citizens in the attached residence or the church’s Sunday lunch programme.

The team at St Margaret’s also co-ordinate the distribution for the Children in Distress Christmas Shoebox Appeal

This year over nine thousand infants and children benefited from the generosity and practical help shown by the donors and supported of Children in Distress

The Trustees would like to express their appreciation to the individual corporate and parish donors who make these generous donations possible and record some the beneficiaries as:

Budimex Marie Cure Hospital Fundaţia ScheherazadeColintina Hospital Bucharest

Romanian Orthodox Parish of All Saints Bucharest

School 62 BucharestFundaţia Vasiliada CraiovaEpiscopia SeverinFundaţia Sf DemitrieFundaţia Sf MacrinaGradiniţa 256Gradiniţa Sector 2

Romanian Orthodox Parish of St Nicholas, BuzauPrimaria Călugăreni GiurgiuRomanian Orthodox Parish of the Ascension, TitanRomanian Orthodox Parish of St Nicholas Bucharest

CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX APPEAL “LOVE IN A BOX 2009” The Trustees recognise the achievements of the Christmas Shoebox team led by Roy Wheeler and Eddie Errington who once again made sure that over eight thousand five hundred of the poorest of Europe’s children in Romanian and the Moldovan Republic were not forgotten at Christmas. The dynamic and hardworking volunteers group with the active support of the Charity’s management team started the collection campaign earlier and Mission Relief the charity’s logistic partner collected delivered and distributed some 8500 boxes before November 2009.

Individual donors, schools, local businesses, Rotary and Lions Clubs throughout the United Kingdom were involved in this exceptional project. This initiative generated over £8000 to fund additional related projects. However, the actual donations and contributions generated by the team included thousands of pounds of gifts in-kind, donated by way of warehouse space, transport vehicles and fuel the exceptional gifts of in-kind donations from a range of commercial sponsors all of which if not donated without cost would have cost well in excess of £25,000.

ST CHRISTOPHER’S SHELTERED HOLIDAY CENTRE, CURTEA DES ARGES

Since opening in August 2003, St Cristofor’s a small sheltered holiday centre, has offered unforgettable holidays for children with HIV AIDS, ambulant but with severe disabilities or special healthcare needs. Its mission is to provide children with wide range of different


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conditions disorders and or the poorest socio-economic backgrounds with the opportunity for a vacation in the countryside, but also provide children from local families with financial difficulties with a range of education, socialisation and leisure activities. The Centre offers groups of up to twenty children and their carers a holiday of a lifetime in the beautiful and scenic foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Over the last eight years staff at the St Cristofor project have organised innumerable camps and expeditions and visit to the historic churches and monasteries across Arges County for holidaying groups of children from all over the country.

The multi-disciplinary team of a social worker, psychologist, and teacher at St Cristofor’s provides the following services to each beneficiary:

• extra–tuition for children from families with financial difficulties• social counselling for children and their parents• psychological counselling• education, socialisation and leisure activities

LEAVING CARE HIV ADULT INDEPENDENT LIVING

St Laurence Children’s Centre, Cernavoda Delivered through POSITV+

St Laurence Children’s Centre was opened in March 1992 as a hospital for HIV positive infants and children whose illnesses were in the terminal phase. Its mission was to insure to these children a loving and caring environment in which to spend their lives no matter how short. The Centre staff cared for some 350 children. Unfortunately, the majority succumbed to the virus and its complications, and well over forty transferred to other the care of other foundations or were reintegrated in their natural families.

Today St Laurence Independent Living Centre, run by Positiv+ our sister organisation, is home to sixteen, body positive, young people who have grown to adulthood there, having been placed there when it was the only hospice offering shelter to infants and children with HIV or AIDS . The young residents, with changes in HIV treatment and care, are in the main in their early twenties and would not normally be regarded as candidates for the care and support of Children in Distress. However the Trustees have acknowledged a continuing moral responsibility to offer a safe, secure, supportive and caring environment during their education and training and whilst these young people to find their own future as confident young adults.

Eight of the young residents have learning difficulties, epilepsy, or quadriplegia and motor handicap in addition to their HIV status, of this group four require continuous intensive support and have for a lifetime known only the St Laurence’s enlightened philosophy of care and would be unlikely to survive in the alternative identified adult care institutions. It is accepted that for this group St Laurence may be by necessity a home for life. For the majority of the young residents, the current programme, with its emphasis on supported and independent living where young people are taught the essential skills they require for life in the community, is proving exceptionally successful. By any measure St Laurence and its philosophy of care is outstandingly successful. Some fifty young adults have or are graduating from the Centre’s all encompassing care to an ever increasing independence in homes on site, in the local community or with new found family in their home community.

The Trustees have worked towards a new future both for the young people and the facilities in Cernavoda and as part of the process set up our sister organisation Positiv+ to continue the care for those who can no longer be considered as children in terms of the charity’s own deed of trust. Positiv+ is a Romanian registered charitable foundation and will continue to be responsible for helping all the young people at St Laurence, where possible, to ever


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increasing independence or where that is not possible to appropriate longer term adult care.Some grant aid will be required from both Children in Distress and Copii in Dificultate may be required until PositivPlus can generate funds to fulfil its commitments.

The ongoing challenge for the Trustees of Children in Distress

not only to assist Positiv+ in tailoring a diminishing support programme to the needs of the young people bought up in its care, but is to find a new role for the existing centre, once its flagship project, facilitating a new future and a new relevant mission for today which addresses the needs of children in distress in Constanta and adjacent counties.

St. Laurence provides the following services:

• independent living accommodation• daily care in a loving supportive environment• medical assistance in accordance with individual

diagnosis• reintegration planning and support into family and

into community• professional counseling• developing/improving teenagers independent life

skills• psychological counseling• integration in mainstream school or technical college• Engaging each teenager in differing socialisation and

leisure activities in which they can develop their socialising skills

PARTNERSHIPS

Partnership funding and support is made available to a number of strategic partners, all organisations with similar care philosophies, aims and objective as Children in Distress, which deliver financial and community based educational and social care for children and young people with HIVAIDS and other terminal, chronic or incurable illnesses. The Trustees consider this an effective and efficient means of delivering jointly agreed programmes. Our partners have expertise, resources and facilities in their immediate area and are better placed to deliver identified care needs. The partnership grant policy is reviewed as necessary and grants are made in relation to the priorities and focus of activity agreed as part of the Charities corporate plan.

Applications are not invited, however once approached Trustees assess the efficacy of a partnership approach or direct involvement. Where a partnership approach is regarded as beneficial, a contractual agreement is negotiated clear objectives and report procedures are determined prior to the commencement of any project, however once agreed phased payments are not subject to sanction.

FUNDATIA COPII IN DIFICULTATE


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DANIELA’S STORY

When you first meet Daniela, you may be tempted to believe that she is just 12 years old but you couldn’t be more wrong. Despite her fragile appearance, Daniela will be 18 years old this year. She was the first resident of the Independent Life Skills Unit.

She came to St. Laurence in 1995 from Bistrita Nasaud, a small city in the north of Romania. As you can imagine, Daniela was extremely scared because she was far from her hometown and also frightened of her illness - then thought to be a death sentence. Until the age of 14, Daniela was not sociable, she had little self confidence and verylow self esteem. The C-change in Daniela came about when she entered the Independent Living Unit, where she was the youngest of our “independents”. Here she found support from colleagues; she was able to develop sincere and beautiful friendships with them. Being the youngest, they offered Daniela all their love and affection.

This caring environment helped Daniela discover her own identity, to become aware of all her qualities and, more importantly, Daniela became a fighter.Unfortunately, despite all the efforts of the staff and the other young “independents” had made, for Daniela it was tremendously difficult to face the separation from her St Laurence family and friends. She was the only one from the first Independent Living Group who couldn’t reintegrate into her natural family perhaps primarily because of her parent’s difficult medical and financial situation. She was forced to come to terms with the feeling of being abandoned. It was difficult for Daniela to overcome, but it proved to be the much needed impulse to finally become a very pretty bright, intelligent, independent young woman.

Since then, there isn’t a single day in which Daniela isn’t battling to overcome her illness and to be the best she can be.


The Charity’s operating arm and increasingly our principal strategic partner in Romania is Copii in Dificultate (CIDRo). We continue to foster this Foundation’s increasing independence and initiative as part of our longer term strategy that seeks to see the foundation as an equal, fully self funding partner by 2010.

The centralisation of CID Ro’s administration and the development of appropriate office accommodation and the introduction of quality computer hardware and software systems at the Foundation’s main centre at St Margaret’s in Bucharest have continued to drive efficiency and effectiveness of administration through the centralisation of financial and administrative controls. This effectively liberates individual project teams allowing them to concentrate on improvements in care services and the development of treatment, education and welfare for children in residential and respite care and living in the community as part of community based palliative nursing or community based support initiatives. CID Ro is recognised by the Romanian government as a Service of National Utility, and the leading provider of best practice in paediatric palliative nursing, developmental therapies and education for those with autistic spectrum disorders; a token of which is the team’s unprecedented involvement with and access to the Senior Ministers and Secretaries of State in the Departments of Education, Health and Labour and Social Protection. The ongoing help and visible support of Mr Robin Barnett, Her Majesty’s Ambassador, officials of the British Embassy and members of the expat community, which has played a significant part in developing the Foundation’s credibility and profile is gratefully acknowledged. As part of a wider strategy to develop recognition with the Romanian public, the Foundation accepted the pro-bono services of the Next Public Relations Agency, which has driven public recognition through a comprehensive press and broadcast media campaign.

The Trustees acknowledge all that Mrs Tesca Barnett–Osman, Mrs Maria Popa, Amalia Nastase and Jennifer Crestol have achieved as Copii in Dificutate’s Patrons and Goodwill Ambassadors, together with the impact to their selfless representation of the Foundation and its work. It was hoped that this will result in increasing financial support from individuals via Romania’s 2% personal tax programme and industry and commerce sponsorship. In May 2010 it was announced the CIDRo had indeed achieved a breakthrough and was recognised and fourth in the 2% tax Campaign 2010, however since that announcement the Government has intervened and has questioned the pre-completed forms submitted by all organisations as part of the campaign for 2009/10

Indication of the Copii in Dificultate Foundation’s local funding appears as a note elsewhere in the accompanying financial review.

POSITIV+

With the changing age profile of young people at St Laurence Cernavoda, it became self evident that the time was right to set up an Romanian registered charitable association designed to specifically focus the Charity’s experience and expertise in dealing with adolescents, teenagers and young people who, having grown up in care, would still require some support in their journey to fully independent adulthood.

Positiv+ was set up to share the skills of independent living and support young people in their journey to an independent life in their home community. The knowledge gained from the successful programmes offered at St Laurence is readily transferrable to other groups

and Positiv+ is now involved in the planning phase of a project outlined by the Secretary of State for People with Disabilities that might see an expended independent living project.


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FUND-A-PHYSIO FOR CID UK ELY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Fund-a-Physio for Children in Distress based in Ely is a dynamic local group which works on a local basis to generate interest and raise funds to facilitate the development of therapy services in the charity’s hospice and development centres. The Charity’s Consultant therapist is directly supported by their activity which promotes and supports best practice in all aspects of the full range of therapies. In addition this group has funded education and professional training bursaries, access to consultants, the supply of equipment and the development of treatment facilities.

Without the drive, motivation, help and inspiration of this key partner the significant improvements in the condition of health and development of many of the children in our hospices and child development centres achieved in the last five years would not have been possible.

The Trustees acknowledge with the most profound gratitude the help and support of the hardworking leadership and supporters of Fund-a-Physio and the Consultant Therapist input they provide. The grass roots activity of this successful and dynamic little group is an inspiration and provides a benchmark for supporters elsewhere in the United Kingdom willing to develop local interest in the work of the Charity.

FUNDATIA VASILIADA, CRAIOVA

St. Mungo and St. Dimitrie Children’s Day Centre in Craiova run by Fundaţia Vasiliada, the social care arm of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Craiova, cares for 130 children by HIV AIDS or with disabilities, who are resident in the counties of Dolj, Gorj and Mehedinți and those children with a high risk of family and school abandonment also benefit from the education, employment skills and rehabilitation and socialisation and leisure activities services it provides

FUNDAŢIA PARASCHIEVA CUVIOASA, SLOBOZIA

This Foundation, has received funding support from Children in Distress. The Braila Community Project compliments the Foundation’s children’s placement centre in Slobozia that was originally founded and run by Children in Distress as St Thomas’s HIV Hospice. From that base, the Fundaţia Cuvioasa Parachieva team actively supports twenty-five young people living with HIV or HIVAIDS or who are simply terminally ill at home in the poorest rural counties of Braila and Ialomita. The young people supported by the Fundaţia Parachieva come from the very poorest and deprived homes where they require not merely medication and nursing care but almost all of the basic necessities of life particularly in the winter. Discretionary funds from Children in Distress are also used provide winter fuel allowances, food supplements and assistance as funds allow wherever possible.


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AUTISM AND ADVOCACY FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITY

St MICHAEL’S SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS

St Michael’s School evolved from a pilot programme, which addressed the multiple challenges facing children and families living with autism. Because of the increasing number of children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and also because of the lack of state institution for children with this diagnosed, it became clear that the opening of a centre for children with autism was absolutely necessary. Today, the school addresses the needs of fifty five enrolled infants and children with a full range of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In partnership with Education Ministry we insure education and recovery therapy for children with age between 3-20 years. There are kindergarten classes for children aged between 3-9 years; school primary classes for children aged between 7-15 years and school classes for teenagers aged between 12-20 years.

A highly qualified multi disciplinary team of specialists; a psychologist, teachers and tutors are trained to apply the techniques and methodologies in the education and development of children with ASD. Each child is given a full psychological assessment. This assessment takes 3 days and has as the following objectives obtaining comprehensive information about each child’s disorder history; the appropriate and adequate methods for the intervention in reducing maladapted behaviour. They then tailor highly intensive, individually personalised, one to one based programmes using applied behavioural analysis (ABA), picture exchange communication systems (PECS) and (TEACCH) to communicate and get the best from children with autism. This intensive one to one educationally based service is unique in Romania and perhaps even the Balkans, and parents aware of the benefits have even moved to the capital solely to ensure that their children can be enrolled in the school’s programme. The services provided at St. Michael include the following:

• behavioural therapy• speech and language therapy• physiotherapy• hypo-therapy• occupational therapy

Counselling services provide counselling to child’s parents. There are organised educational and support group for them, also counselling and family therapy. Staff also provide counselling for home therapy.


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TEO’S STORY

Teo is 6 years old. When you first meet him, it is very easy for you to think he is just a restless boy.

But the truth of Teo’s life story may surprise you. When he was 3, he was diagnosed with a delayed language disorder. The initial diagnosis of his doctors was: language developmental disorder, and the prescribed medication.

Although his parent’s followed the doctor prescription; Teo’s language developmental disorder didn’t improve. So the parent’s decided to go to another specialist from Alexandru Obregia Hospital. This doctor correctly diagnosed Teo’s autism spectrum disorder. When he was 3½ years old, he started ABA therapy at St. Michael’s Centre. After only a year he has made spectacular progresses despite his diagnosis. He has improved his vocabulary; he uses complex sentences, even recites poems to his parents.

During the period in which Teo was included in St. Michael’s therapeutic services, his family has faced severe financial problems. His parents couldn’t stop asking themselves Why us? Why Teo? Fortunately Teo’s parents have begun to realise that it was more important to ask themselves “What can we do to help Teo?” Having CID’s support, they do their best to offer to him all the love and care he needed so he can develop properly. One of the real disappointments for Teo’s parents is the fact that there isn’t any State institution for children with autistic disorders so they are extremely worried about his future. Teo’s progress and his developmental potential has motivated his parents to fight for their child and to hope he will overcome his condition.

Teo has integrated into mainstream kindergarten, initially assisted by a therapist, but now he is able to integrate in his classroom and also we prepare him to become independent and soon Teo won’t need therapy. In the autumn, Teo hopefully will be integrated in first grade at a mainstream school.


EDUCATION AND TRAINING

INTERNATIONAL AUTISM CONFERENCE PROGRAMME 2009

The conference and workshop programme which has been an intrinsic part of the St Michael Autism Programme has been significant in raising the profile of autism as a condition across Romania and, with greater understanding, has come governmental commitment to improved services.

In 2009, as result of this year’s conference and the associated publicity, the Romanian cabinet finally approved the National Curriculum for Children with Autism which will be major step forward in ensuring that children have access to education treatment and care.

The influence and importance of this major education and training event, as part of a cycle of medical educational and training conference and workshop programme presented by the charity, cannot be underestimated.

Professor Sam Goldstein presented a three day master class programme focussed on ADHA and Resilience in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to address the interests and aspirations of both parents and clinical and care professionals. His wife Janet Goldstein also offer a workshop programme on Speech Defects and Therapy for Children with Autism dealing with the challenge of communication in those with autistic spectrum disorders.

BI-ANNUAL MEDICAL AND THERAPIES CONFERENCE

The 2009 Conference focussed specifically on therapy issues and the organisers were fortunate to obtain as guest speakers the Chief Executive and Speech Therapist of the Bobath Centre in London. The programme of lectures and practical workshops addressed the need of both carers and professional therapists and the delegate interest exceeded expectation to the extent that the venue had to be rearranged at a late date to accommodate the additional demand. The Trustees record their specific thanks to Christine Barber and Yolanda Broek of the Bobath Centre and the Child Protection Department of the Bucharest Town hall who made the superb venue of the graduation hall of Nicolae Kretzulescu” Superior Commercial School one of Bucharest’s most famous and historic high schools available.

Working with government agencies and national embassies, Children in Distress executives and managers have also hosted and or participated in workshop programmes and overseas exchange visits offering insight to best practice social care provision and rights for those with disabilities intended to facilitate changes in legislation and the devolution of service management and funds, to create a more responsive and child focussed welfare and social care service in the future.

The Charity in association with Fund-a Physio also sponsored a series of resuscitation workshops and therapy training exchanges for care staff and professional therapists both in Romania and the United Kingdom and Germany these provided staff delegates with insight and practical experience to enhance their skill and care services. The Trustees record their thanks to those supporters who offered accommodation and hospitality to make these training events possible.


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HOW DID WE DO?

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE IN 2009

This had been a challenging but positive year for the Charity, the deepening international recession has worsened considerably the prospected for alternative care services for our core care groups and diminished donor income had been reflected in our ability to improve and deliver all the services the charity planned. These factors are reflected in the positive statistics for some of our projects

The Charity has however continued to make excellent progress in the delivery of its mission and despite early concerns about donations the decline in donor income was considerably less that anticipated. In project reviews have re-focussed activity on core services and allowed slight expansion in respite and palliative care admissions. The management teams have taken increasing responsibility for raising the profile of the organisation in Romania with considerable success and we record our appreciation of NEXT PR in Bucharest, where the staff have greatly assisted in raising the awareness through press and broadcast media exposure.

The Copii in Dificultate have been enterprising in their approach and have successful participated in a series of consortium bid applications for European Union funding that in the year ahead will help stabilise funding issues. The consortium will also deliver much needed care initiatives over the next three years as the grant aid is provided.

Children in Distress remains committed to supporting in care, those infants and children, whose needs are the most complex and who face the greatest challenges in their society today. The development of state funded and NGO delivered care and advocacy services particularly in Romania is therefore central is therefore central to the Children in Distress5 year action plan Children in Distress and its alter ego Copii in Dificultate continue to gain recognition and paediatric care charities with real expertise in caring and working for Europe’s forgotten children those least able to seek for themselves the sick the disabled and the impoverished.

To reflect on and review performance the Trustees take into consideration

• the continuous quality improvement targets indentified by the bi-annual the external audit process supported by medical members of the Advisory Group;

• the achievement of project targets outlined in their annual action plans including the targeted numbers of children touched by project activity and lives sustained or improved in each project

• a continued improvement in the quality of care sustained by the personal

professional development and training plan for all staff

• the commitment to implementation of new practice and procedures

• a number of key financial indicators and targets determined as part of the annual baseline project and charity wide budget process

• Achievement of individual project achievement targets set and cascaded down as part of the performance appraisal process

The increasing number of children touched by the work of the charity, the increased demand for service indicated that there has been a clear sustainable increase in number of lives improved as individual programmes develop or expand and evolve to meet newly identified needs.


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ACHIEVEMENTS 2009

• Copii in Dificultate was re-registered as a Romanian Public Utility Foundation• All projects were re-accredited and licensed by the National Authority of Child

Protection and the Romanian Ministry of Work, Family and Social Protection and received all available state subsidies

• Recognition by the National College of Psychologists as the nationally accredited trainer for Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) training programmes leading to nationally recognised certification

• Continued operation of all programmes and projects despite the worldwide financial recession

• Adoption and promulgation of the National Curriculum and National Care Standards for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders drafted by CID RO staff

• Successful operation of the private public partnership with Argeş County Council for the management of St. Andrew’s child service complex

• Christmas “Love in Box” Appeal 2009 the joy of Christmas to over 8500 of the poorest children from Bucharest, the Counties of Argeş, Buzau, Constanta, Giurgiu and Ilfov, the cities Curtea de Argeş, Craiova, , Piteşti, Turnu Severin, Slobozia and the Republic of Moldova

• Providing 280 wheelchairs, mobility aids and other essential therapy equipment in the community in Argeş, Buzau, Ilfov and Bucharest

• Provided 650 paediatric hospitals in-patients infants and children in Bucharest with clothes quilts, knitted blankets and toys

• Over 86 children in the poorest communities were helped with books and educational materials

• 6th International Conference and Workshop Programme on Autism and Resilience delivered to 250 delegates by Dr Sam and Mrs Janet Goldstein

• 3rd Bi-annual Therapy Conference and Workshop Programme delivered to 250 delegates on Speech Therapy and for the Disabled and modern best practice in Bobath Therapy

• All Audit Group quality improvement action points delivered within three months • All operational project budget financial and key performance indicators achieved

The Charity delivered the planned St Nicholas Child Development Therapy suite extension after considerable delay and additional cost. Although this was out with their control the management team present their regrets and apologies to the children needing care and the donors who helped fund the redevelopment activity.

FUTURE PLANS 2010-2011

The Board of Trustees continue to believe strongly that the future prospects of the charity are positive and opportunities in Eastern Europe, particularly Moldova and the Ukraine, are infinite. This belief and been reinforced by a recent UNICEF recommendation of Copii in Dificultate to a joint parent/government agency working groups on Autism from the Republic of Moldova

There is a deal of clarity as to the Charity’s areas of expertise, its mission and service delivery strategy, the best organisational and operational structure to deliver that mission in an efficient and cost effective way. The best management structure and the existing capacity to deliver high quality care in each of the presently funded projects.

The impact of the world wide economic crisis resulting in local service rationalisation, the move to the contracting of specialised child care service, and the continuing public demand for better services offer further opportunity to build on the Charity’s existing expertise and skills base. The Charity’s continuing focus on service quality improvements and cost efficiency in the provision of quality service care support and infrastructure, positions the Charity well as a potential mainstream provider of choice for a number of care services by local and national authorities.


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At least one proposal is already prepared to see the creation of a cost effective and high quality contracted care service providing hospice care is actively under consideration.

IN THE YEAR AHEAD

• We intend to increase the number of trained and qualified therapy specialists in all of our therapy services and involve the National insurance house in Funding personalised therapy treatments for those who are unable to consider therapy plans.

• Staff will continue to develop the partnerships with the authorities, business community and apply for European Funds in order to increase local Romanian income streams

• We will assess the benefit and demand for to a palliative care unit with St Laurence in Cernavoda to be funded by the National Health Insurance House

• We will work with the Ministry of Education to identify and develop a school and training centre for children and teachers working with children with disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders to ensure and facilitate there integration in normal school

• We will script and share a manual of good practice in palliative care (in residential centres and care homes)

• We plan to develop a wider and more inclusive programme for children in community.

• Together with the Secretary of State and staff from the National Authority for People with Disabilities it is planned to assess, develop and expand the independent living provision for young adults with HIV at St Laurence.

Over the next 12 -36 months as part of our Corporate Plan:-

• We will begin to redevelop and upgrade the infant ward area to provide even better treatment and care facilities at St. Margaret’s complex of children’s care services.

• Fund permitting we will begin to redevelop and upgrade the independent living accommodation to provide even better home environment at St. Laurence’s, Cernavoda.

• We will to raise public awareness and support for the work of the Charity and CID Ro Foundation at local and national levels and seek to increase financial assistance and tax aid generated by Gift Aid and the “Romanian 2% tax campaign”.

• We plan to further develop a national network of Romanian supporters.

• We intend to move towards fully independent funding of projects in Romania.

• The Charity will develop partnership with local and national authorities within the Republic of Moldova to offer assistance to children and young people living with autistic spectrum disorders.

• The charity will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its foundation.

• The Charity will survive to continue to deliver costs effective help hope and hospice care.


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THE CHARITY IS NOTHING WITHOUT YOU

Thank You to our Volunteers

For some years we have debated how best to record the exceptional contribution that volunteers make to the work of the charity and without which this Charity would never thrive. We have considered but rejected trying to express in monetary terms the contribution volunteers make, having found that both difficult and inappropriate. We therefore record the hours of selfless time donated in our thrift shops; in promoting the charity in churches, chapels, schools and colleges across the UK; in all aspects of our Christmas “Love in a Box” and other special appeals; in medical, nursing and therapy guidance, advice and assessment; in teaching and training and generally making this little charity the powerhouse of care that it has become.

Specifically, with regard to the advocacy, education training personal professional development aspect of our work particularly in Romania; we particularly record our appreciation of the exceptional support in time donated by medical consultants, specialists, therapist and educationalists as part of the conferences and training workshop programmes delivered by the charity throughout the year

We have calculated that we have had generously donated over 27.000 volunteer hours, or approximately 3 years of volunteering which this year contributed greatly to the success of our mission of care and which would have been far beyond the means of so small a charity if funds had been required cover the assessable costs.

TRADING

The main commercial activity of the Charity focuses on its three thrift shops where volunteer staff led by a staff manger continues raise local financial support and generate interest in our work. The thrift shops also play an active role in their Guisborough, Kirkbymoorside and Shildon communities offering value for money support to those on a tight budget. For the thrift shops it has been a very challenging year with the economic climate, management changes, a range of increased operating costs, rising shop rental values and ever increasing competition in the high street, all of which continues to make a significant impact on the trading viability of the shops. Therefore, we closely monitor their performance and, despite a great deal of hard work from managers and volunteers, the net financial contribution to our work has been minimal.

Plans are in place to revive the fortunes of the shops and the Trustees, particularly note a significant improvement in trading in Guisborough and the encouraging early performance of the Kirkbymoorside shop, they record our grateful thanks to the thrift shop managers and the considerable dedication of the volunteer teams who continue to make the shops economically viable.

The charity has also had some success in e-commerce and the development of festive card sales and the charity’s successful ‘Gifts from the Heart’ gift catalogue all of which have made their contribution to funding the development of additional social care services. The charity will continue to encourage enterprise and a range of innovative commercial initiatives where they can with limited risk foster funding streams.


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THANK YOUR TO OUR DONORS To Corporate Donors To Trusts and Grant Makers

Ana Holdings, Romania The Ashworth Charitable TrustAviva Scotland Children’s Aid ScotlandThe Balmoral Hotel The Frances Crabtree Charitable TrustBDL Management The Jane Durell Charitable TrustBell Truck Sales Ltd The Fulmer TrustInternational Women’s’ Group in Grace Dieu Manor SchoolBank of Transylvania Help the HospicesBella Romania Impex SA The Philip Henman TrustBioforce UK Limited The Peter Birse TrustBRD Sogelease IFN SA The Lloyds TSB FoundationCredit Euro Bank Meeting Industry NeedsEli Lilly Romania SRL The Moffat Charitable TrustErnst & Young SRL Fund A Physio ElyFarmexim The Oakdale TrustFerco Steel Export Import The Orr Mackintosh FoundationGarantibank International NV The Monica Rabagliati TrustGastro Group SRL The Sunday MailGastrom International Catering The Roger Vere FoundationThe Hamilton Portfolio The Lewis Ward TrustHBJ Gateley Wareing The Woolf Charitable TrustHBOS Ltd Mrs Sue Goldby & Patricia AllenAlison Hayes Romania SA Ms Morag McIlwraithLG Electronics Romania SRL Mr Barry VoyceOpere UK Limited Mrs J Catton Ms Monica Wisker

To In Kind DonorsLockheed Martin Bioforce UK LtdLondonderry Garages Cameron CommunicationsMedicarom Central College GlasgowMobexpert De Silva RTHMotorola Romania SRL Digital Office EquipmentNegro 2000 SRL Enable ScotlandNews Outdoor Romania SRL Euroworld Wines LtdNext PR Agency Bucharest Taylor FergusonNorth Eastern Tyres and Exhausts Gamba and Derek MarshallNorthgate Commercials Glasgow City Council Education DeptOrange Romania SA and Social Work DepartmentPreston’s of Potto Grant ManagementRaiffeisen Bank SA William Grant & SonsRanbaxy Laboratories Ltd HMP KirklevingtonRomelectro HMP Frankland High Security, DurhamThe Scottish Sunday Mail Motability ScotlandStarconstruct’97 EximUrgent CourierUNICEFVerso Corporation RomaniaVodafone RomaniaWashington E&C Romania SRLHalewood Wines, Romania


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To General Donors In Memoriam Donations in The Name of

Churches Together Chislehurst Mrs Doreen AshworthSt Michael’s Highgate Mr Gregory AllenSt Andrew’s Parish Church Oxsted Mr Allan BanfieledSt Mary’s Charities Group Maxine CarlisleHungerford Big Wheel Mrs Julia ClarkeMotherwell Football Club Mrs Joyce Heal

Edith HeaseldonMr JamiesonAvice LongMiss Joan PearceBetty PerrittCanon Ronald PoilWalter Herbert PyeA friend of Mrs Jean ReeveAnne ThorpeLady Cordelia TroupJessie Louise White

To Medical Consultants and Advisors

Andy Cobley Dr Victoria Amadi Dr Dominica WilliamsDr Iuliana Dobrescu Dr Frances ApplebyDr Sam Goldstein Dr Marianne ClarkeDr Janet Goldstein Dr Robin DunnChristine Barber Alyth HughesYolanda Broek Colleen LockstoneStephanie Lord Dr Derek LockstoneDr Rene MacDannel Dr Jeremy WalkerSerge PapiernicDr Evelyne Soyez

To Medical Staff Romania

Prof Dr Demitrie Dragomir Dr Rodica Matusa

Dr Mirella Jancu Dr Alina Mindroiu


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Financial Review 2008/09

INCOME

Not unexpectedly in a year of financial crisis, general donation income and the value of donated good and gifts in kind from the United Kingdom have fallen approximately £13,500 and £35,000 respectively; this was not quite as much as was anticipated this year, however over all UK income is down by £9,800. It should be noted that legacy income has increased over £30,000 on year.

The thrift shops have seen improved performance and footfall and their turnover has increased to over 34% to £63,744 with profits at £17,669, it is anticipated that with an additional shop and favourable trading conditions this trend will continue in the year ahead. With reducing bank balances and downward changes in interest rates the returns on investment have fallen considerably and stand at little more than £1,055 sterling.

EXPENDITURE

Prudently anticipating falls in income, the Trustees approved a series of cost reductions in addition to the ongoing efficiency savings programmes, direct charitable expenditure reduced by over £146,000; however much of that change represented the completion of capital construction costs for the additional facilities at St Nicolas CDC in Bucharest. There were commensurate saving in charity support costs of approximately 43% to just over £9,965 and governance costs, much of which are determined by the provisions of the Charity Commission regulation and effective and efficient financial control and reporting, reduced by slightly over 8% to just over £22,945.

PENSION COSTS and FRS 17 PROVISION The charity makes a financial contribution to private personal pensions for eligible employees based in the United Kingdom. Others have waived their rights to stakeholder pension provision; therefore disclosure of FRS 17 pension liability provisions is not applicable in this financial statement.

ETHICAL INVESTMENT

The Trustees closely review but maintain the charity’s ethical investment policy and strategy which identifies the most appropriate and financially efficient means to invest funds in stocks and shares of organisations whose aims and objectives are not at variance with the ethical values of the charity.

The Trustees are guided and advised in these matters by independent qualified investment analysts and banking professionals.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The financial instruments used by the Charity are cash, cash deposits and working capital. The management of these provides finance for the charity’s operation. The main risks arising from this are cash flow risks and liquidity risks. The Trustees review and agree the policy and practice of managing these risks particularly in the light of the banking crisis.

The Charity’s principal asset is cash and cash deposits. As result of the crisis in the banking sector the Trustees have decided to use all of the financial institutions (the Royal Bank of Scotland; National Westminster Bank and Barclays Bank PLC) already involved in the placement of cash and cash deposits to reduce the overall credit risk to the Charity.


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In addition to the cash deposits in the balance sheet there are negligible deposit accounts in the Commertz Bank (Germany) and the Raiffeisen Bank (Romania). Our partner Foundation Copii in Dificultate holds an operating balance to cover over one month’s operations costs in and accessible reserve.

LIQUIDITY RISK

The Charity seeks to manage financial risk by ensuring sufficient funds are available to meet foreseeable needs and to invest cash assets safely and profitably. The Charity has no borrowings.

INTEREST RATE RISK

The Charity’s cash reserve is held on deposit to achieve the highest possible interest rate return within the constraints allowed by its liquidity and credit policies.

EXCHANGE RATE RISK

The Charity is involved with monthly inter country credit transfers and manages these transfer in way that maximises the benefits of exchange rate fluctuations seeking professional guidance and advice wherever possible.

RESERVES

The term “reserves” (in accordance with the SORP 2005 definition) is used to describe our income funds that are freely available to help us meet our objectives. In this case “free reserves” are represented by the “total funds” under our control less “restricted funds” and “tangible assets” as per the balance sheet contained within this report

The reserves policy reaffirmed by the Trustees in May 2008 remains in place, however they have long expressed their intent to see a full six months operational costs held in a financial reserve. Realistically, with limited interest returns, and little real investment in our bank reserves, earmarked funds and continuous project developments, this reserve available in account in the with the charity’s bank in both the United Kingdom and Romania may be closer to four months and we have yet to achieve the Trustees’ aspirational reserves objective in this financial year.

The Trustees continue to recognise the importance of building a buffer in free reserves in order to secure uninterrupted care for the children we support. This also remains a priority, however they will continue to act with prudence and discretion but remain primarily committed to answer the needs of children in distress drawn to our attention wherever possible.

AUDITORS

A resolution to reappoint The Kelvin Partnership will be put to the Trustees at their Annual General Meeting to be held 2010.

By order of the Board

Christine Henderson-Docherty Canon Christopher Samuels Trustee, Chair Trustees Finance and Chairman of Trustees Accounts Committee


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HOW YOU CAN CONTACT US

The Children in Distress and Copii in Dificultate Websites

The Children in Distress website has been updated and improved. The site reflects the changing nature of our work and can be found at www.childrenindistress.org.

A new website has been launched in Romanian and reflects the continued success of Copii in Dificultate our Romanian partner and operating organisation. This can be found at www.cid.org.ro.

FURTHER CONTACT DETAILS

Children in Distress Suite 30, Ladywell Business Centre94 Duke StreetGlasgow G4 0UWTel: 0044 (0) 141 559 5690 Fax 0044 (0) 141 559 5694E-mail: [email protected]

St Andrew’s Complex of Child Care ServicesB-dul. Petrochimistilor nr.18, Piteşti, ArgeşTel: +40-(0)248 25 11 32; Fax: +40-(0)248 25 11 12 E-mail: [email protected]; www.cid.org.ro

St Laurence Children CentreStr. 1907 nr.10; Cernavoda, ConstantaTel/Fax: 0241 23 75 15 E-mail: [email protected]

St Margaret’s Complex of Child Care Services16, Radu de l’Afumati st. Tel/fax: +40-(0)21-210 31 21 E-mail: [email protected]

St Michael’s School for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders5, Neatarnarii rd. Sector 1 Bucharest Tell/fax: +40-(0)21-667 64 33 E-mail [email protected]

St Nicholas Child Development and Therapies Centre16, Radu de l’Afumati Tel/fax: +40-(0)21-210 31 21 E-mail: [email protected]


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mailto:[email protected]




http://www.cid.org.ro/


http://www.cid.org.ro/

http://www.childrenindistress.org/


REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We have audited the financial statements of Children in Distress for the period ended 30 September 2009 on pages 38 to 53 which have been prepared in accordance with the financial reporting standard for smaller entities (effective April 2008), under the historical cost convention and the accounting policies set out therein.

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Section 43 and 44 of the Charities Act 1993. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND AUDITORS

As described on Page 11 the charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom accounting standards. (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in accordance with the relevant legal and regulatory requirements and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland).

We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true, fair view and are properly prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 1993.

• We also report to you if, in our opinion, the Report of the Trustees is not consistent with the financial statements.

• If the charity has not kept proper accounting records.• If we have not received all of the information and explanations we require for our audit.

We read the Report of the Trustees and consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements within it.

BASIS OF OPINION

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the trustees in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the charity’s circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed.

We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all of the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation and information in the financial statements.


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Opinion

In our opinion• The financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with United Kingdom

Generally Accepted Accounting Practice of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 30 September 2009 and of its incoming resources and application of resources in the year then ended and,

• The financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 1993.

C M Fotheringham CA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf ofThe Kelvin PartnershipChartered AccountantsRegistered AuditorsThe Cooper Building505 Great Western RoadGlasgow G12 8HN Date: 02 June 2010


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Income and Expenditure Account Incorporating Statement of Financial ActivitiesFor The Year Ended 30 September 2009

2009 2008Restricted Unrestricted Total TotalNotes £ £ £ £

INCOME AND EXPENDITUREIncoming resources Donations, legacies & gifts in kind 2 10,775 839,166 849,941 868,888Other incoming resources from operating activities

- Charity Shops income 3 - 63,744 63,744 47,370Investment income - 1,055 1,055 8,282

----------- ------------ ------------ ------------Total incoming resources 10,775 903,965 914,740 924,540

----------- ------------ ------------ ------------

Resources ExpendedCost of generating funds 4 - 266,195 266,195 241,304

Charitable expenditure - Direct charitable expenditure 4 9,275 624,216 633,491 780,065- Support costs 4 - 9,965 9,965 17,644

Governance 4 - 22,945 22,945 24,853----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Total resources expended 9,275 923,321 932,596 1,063,866----------- ----------- ----------- ------------

Net movement in funds for year 1,500 (19,356) (17,856) (139,326)

Total funds brought forward 7,924 78,521 86,445 225,771----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Total funds carried forward 9,424 59,165 68,589 86,445======= ======= ======= =======

CONTINUED OPERATIONS

None of the Charity’s activities were acquired or discontinued during the current or previous year.


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Balance SheetAs At 30 September 2009

2009 2008Notes £ £ £ £

Fixed assetsTangible fixed assets 7 7,555 10,917

-------- ---------7,555 10,917

Current assetsStocks 2,750 2,750Debtors 8 18,649 29,096Cash at bank and on hand 68,948 92,511

----------- ----------90,347 124,357

Creditors : amounts falling due in one year 9 (29,313) (48,829)

---------- ----------Net current assets 61,034 75,528

---------- -----------Total assets less current liabilities 68,589 86,445

---------- ----------Net assets 68,589 86,445

---------- -----------

FundsRestricted 11 9,424 7,924Unrestricted 12 59,165 78,521

---------- ----------68,589 86,445

---------- ----------68,589 86,445

======== ========

Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:

.............................................…… Canon Christopher Samuels, Chairman of Trustees

..............................................….. Christine Henderson Docherty, Trustee

Date: 02 June 2010


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Notes to the Accounts For The Year Ended 30 September 2009

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

ACCOUNTING CONVENTION

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities. In preparing the financial statements the charity follows best practice as laid down in the Statement of Recommended Practice Accounting by Charities (“SORP 2005”).

Incoming resourcesDonations are accounted for when received by the Charity. "Donations receivable under Gift Aid are recognised only when honoured by the Donor." Income Tax recoverable on covenanted or gift aid donations is recognised when claimed. Legacies are included in the year in which they are received.

TURNOVER OF CHARITY SHOPS

The turnover of charity shops represents sales of donated goods.

GIFTS IN KIND

Gifts of clothing etc received and given to overseas projects are included in the financial statements at market value at the time of export. Items donated for resale are included in shop income when sold and no value is placed on stock at the year end. Donated services are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included.

GRANT GIVING

Funds transferred to Romania are now shown as grants payable to the projects. This reflects a change in the approach to supporting operations in Romania where an agreed monthly transfer is now made to be administered locally across the projects. This gives more independence and reflects the actual position of the charity and Romanian operation.

INVESTMENTS

Investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date. The Statement of Financial Activities includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluations and disposals throughout the year.


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ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

RESOURCES EXPENDED

Resources expended are included in the statement of financial activities on an accruals basis inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered.

Head office expenditure has been apportioned to cost categories as follows:

Wages and salaries Dependent on employee activity

Legal and professional fees 100% support costs

Bank charges 30% cost of generating funds60% direct charitable expenditure10% governance


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Book-keeper 100% governance

Audit and accountancy 100% governance

Telephone 30% fundraising costs50% direct charitable expenditure10% support costs10% governance

Hotel and travel expenses 10% fundraising costs 80% direct charitable expenditure10% support costs

All other expenditure 80% fundraising costs10% support costs10% governance

COSTS TO GENERATE FUNDS

The costs charged under this heading are in respect of advertising and printing costs together with the costs of running the two charity shops, together with head office costs which are apportioned on an estimate of the proportion of time spent by staff.

SUPPORT COSTS

Support costs comprise all services supplied centrally, identifiable as wholly or mainly in support of the projects and include an appropriate proportion of overheads. The overheads are allocated to direct project charitable expenditure on the basis of estimated staff time with the aim of ensuring the costs remaining within administration related to the management of assets, organisational administration and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

TAXATION

The Charity is a registered charity and as such is exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. The recoverable VAT is excluded from the cost of those items to which it relates.


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TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Fixed assets incorporated at cost have been depreciated at the following rates to write off assets over their estimated useful life.

Fixtures, fittings and equipment 20% per annum reducing balanceMotor vehicles 25% per annum reducing balanceOffice equipment 33% per annum reducing balance and

33% per annum on cost

Expenditure is capitalised where appropriate at a value of over £500.

The expenditure of a capital nature in respect of buildings not directly owned by the Charity for relief work overseas is written off as incurred.

STOCK

The donations of second hand goods to the charity shop for resale are not valued and recognised as stock.

Other donated goods in kind which at the year end, have not been utilised by the charity, are valued on the basis used for income recognition for gifts and services in kind and are carried in the balance sheet at that value.


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FINANCE AND OPERATING LEASES

Rentals applicable to operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities over the period they are incurred. Assets obtained under finance leases are capitalised as tangible fixed assets. Obligations under such leases are included in creditors net of finance charge allocated to future periods. The finance element of each payment is charged to the Statement of Financial Activities so as to produce a constant periodic rate on the net obligation outstanding in each period.

PENSIONS

Pension payments represent contributions to personal pension schemes. Such payments are recognised in the accounts, as and when incurred.

FUNDS

General funds represent the funds of the Charity that were not subjected to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purpose of the Charity. These include funds designated for a particular purpose by the Trustees. The purpose of any restricted fund is noted in the accounts.

2. DONATIONS LEGACIES - GIFTS IN KIND 2009 2008

Restricted Unrestricted Total Total£ £ £ £

Legacies - 43,512 43,512 14,000General donations, Gift Aid etc 10,775 611,384 622,159 635,688Gifts in kind - 184,270 184,270 219,200

---------- ---------- ---------- ----------10,775 839,166 849,941 868,888

---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

3. CHARITY SHOP INCOME 2009 2008

£ £Sales 63,744 47,370Overheads (46,075) (43,886)

---------- ----------Contribution 17,669 3,484

---------- ----------


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4. RESOURCES EXPENDEDCosts of DirectGenerating Charitable Support Total TotalFunds Expenditure Costs Governance 2009 2008

£ £ £ £ £ £Printing, appeals, advertising publications and exhibitions 43,146 - - - 43,146 31,325Shop expenses -Wages and salaries 17,760 - - - 17,760 19,122Rent and rates 15,705 - - - 15,705 15,602Heat and light 3,772 - - - 3,772 2,405Repairs, sundries and telephone 206 - - - 206 394Motor expenses 8,632 - - - 8,632 6,363Gifts in kind - 145,145 - - 145,145 220,300Grants - 418,069 - - 418,069 476,507Romanian wages - - - - - 7,955Travel and Subsistence - 7,610 - - 7,610 10,585Carriage and general Transport - 7,191 - - 7,191 6,484ABA training - 27,865 - - 27,865 22,642Wages and salaries UK 61,191 17,483 - 8,742 87,416 84,822Pension costs 6,844 - 856 855 8,555 13,898Wages – fundraising 34,405 - - - 34,405 33,638Expenses – fundraising 3,282 - - - 3,282 1,325Rent and rates 17,446 - 2,181 2,181 21,808 20,562Staff recruitment 1,660 474 - 237 2,371 -Website development 3,027 - 378 378 3,783 2,410Insurance 2,560 - 320 320 3,200 2,476Postage, stationery,copying, advertising and computer costs 11,642 - 1,455 1,455 14,552 16,347Motor expenses 3,725 - 466 466 4,657 4,727Transport andwarehousing 16,120 - - - 16,120 21,150

--------- --------- --------- -------- ---------- ---------Carry forward 251,123 623,837 5,656 14,634 895,250 1,021,039


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4. RESOURCES EXPENDED CONTINUEDCosts of DirectGenerating Charitable Support Total TotalFunds Expenditure Costs Governance 2009 2008

£ £ £ £ £ £Brought forward 251,123 623,837 5,656 14,634 895,250 1,021,039Telephone 1,240 2,480 413 - 4,133 5,416Legals - - 1,665 - 1,665 798Equipment leasing 6,089 - 761 761 7,611 9,241Hotel and travelexpenses 573 4,588 574 - 5,735 6,014Trustees expenses - - - 594 594 1,615Audit and accounts - - - 5,200 5,200 5,000Bank charges - 2,877 - 860 3,737 3,969Sundry expenses UK 4,480 - 560 560 5,600 5,041Sundry expensesRomania - (291) - - (291) 245Loss on sale of vehicle - - - - - 997Depreciation 2,690 - 336 336 3,362 4,491

--------- --------- ------- -------- --------- ----------266,195 633,491 9,965 22,945 932,596 1,063,866======= ======= ===== ====== ======= ========

The operations in Romania are supported with an agreed and consistent monthly transfer of funds from the United Kingdom to Bucharest. These funds are independently administered among the projects at a local level and as such are treated as grants. The monthly transfers are all sent to the main bank account of Copii in Dificultate in Romania to support the various projects (see note 5).


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5. GRANTS IN ROMANIA: COPII IN DIFICULTATE

The following is an abstract of the income and expenditure for the year ending 30 September 2008 for Copii in Dificultate. This incorporates the income and donated goods and services from Children in Distress in the UK to show a complete picture of the financial activity for the period. The only exception to this is that Copii in Dificultate meet the salary costs for the project at St Michaels. The rest of the costs of this project are met by the project partner and are not shown here.

2009 2008£ £

Income from the UKIncome from Children in Distress UK 418,069 476,507Goods and services donated from UK 145,145 220,300

Self generated fundsFrom Government bodies 94,452 109,669Individual donations from parental contributions 116,915 56,239Sponsorship from companies and other funders 115,633 90,228Income from insurance claims 242 -Bank interest received 2,912 15,269Other income 13,390 7,612

---------- ----------906,758 975,824---------- ----------

ExpenditureSalaries and taxes 326,822 374,520Professional services and donated goods and services 147,143 266,456Food consumables, medicines and funeral costs - 76,707Establishment costs, utilities and vehicle costs 160,224 90,793Office and conference materials, publicity, travel and transport 31,182 52,954Sundries 56,229 13,499Donations to other NGOs and projects 522 36,507Depreciation 60,833 25,862

---------- ----------782,955 937,298======= =======

Surplus/(deficit) 123,803 38,526======= =======


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6. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

No remuneration or expenses are paid to the Trustees of the Charity.

While Children in Distress may organise travel for Trustees, it is current practice that Trustees are personally responsible for the costs of travel in the United Kingdom, travel costs for Trustees involved in projects visits or participating in training events in Romania may be legitimately met by the charity. In the year reported travel costs were paid on behalf of two trustees (Dr Robin Dunn & the Rev June Hurn) carrying out audit reviews as a member of the charity's advisory group and as a trustee of PositivPlus, assisting with and advising on mobility aids respectively.

7 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

TotalOffice

EquipmentFixtures

& FittingsMotor

Vehicles£ £ £ £

COST

At 1 October 2008 57,770 42,270 4,000 11,500Additions - - - -Disposals - - - -

---------- ---------- ---------- ----------As at 30 September 2008 57,770 42,270 4,000 11,500

====== ====== ====== ======DEPRECIATION

At 1 October 2008 46,853 38,723 4,000 4,130Provided 3,362 1,522 - 1,840Eliminated on disposals - - - -

---------- ---------- ---------- ----------As at 30 September 2008 50,215 40,245 4,000 5,970

====== ====== ====== ======NET BOOK VALUE As at 30 September 2009 7,555 2,025 - 5,530

====== ====== ====== ======

As at 30 September 2008 10,917 3,547 - 7,370====== ====== ====== ======


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8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2009 2008

£ £VAT 169 513Prepayments and accrued income 18,480 28,583

--------- ---------18,649 29,096====== ======

9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2009 2008

£ £Trade creditors and accruals 26,028 46,190Social Security and other taxes 3,285 2,639

--------- ---------29,313 48,829====== ======

10. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS Restricted Unrestricted Total

£ £ £Tangible fixed assets 7,555 - 7,555Current assets 31,182 59,165 90,347Current liabilities (29,313) - (29,313)

------- ---------- ----------9,424 59,165 68,589

====== ======== ========


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11. RESTRICTED FUNDSBalance

at 01.10.08 Incoming Outgoing Transfers

Balanceat

30.09.09£ £ £ £ £

Lloyds TSB Foundation - - - - -Child Development Centre Bucharest - 200 200 - -St Laurence Centre Cernavoda - 3,625 2,125 - 1,500Fund a Physio - 4,500 4,500 - -Catalogue Gifts 1,924 - - - 1,924Bernie Boultby and Friends - - - - -Lostock Christian Fellowship - 250 250 - -The Moffat Charitable Trust 4,000 - - - 4,000Opere Limited UK - 1,200 1,200 - -Churches Together Chislehurst - 1,000 1,000 - -Rozelle Trust 500 - - - 500The Ruffor Maurice Laing Foundation 1,500 - - - 1,500

--------- --------- --------- -------- --------7,924 10,775 9,275 - 9,424

======= ======= ======= ====== ======


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12. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

In the year the Trustees have reviewed the general reserves position of the charity which exists to cater for fluctuations in the income of Children in Distress from year to year. The Trustees have decided upon the following desired provision:

2009 2008

£ £Core costs (6 months provision) 250,000 300,000

Deficit/surplus (181,411) (213,555)---------- ----------

General fund balance 68,589 86,445====== ======

The Trustees are considering ways to increase the general free reserves to a position where designated requirements are able to be met and the provision for core costs is increased to six months.

13. EMPLOYEES 2009 2008

£ £Wages and salaries 128,052 134,025Employer’s NIC 11,527 11,512Pension costs 8,555 13,897

---------- ---------- 148,134 159,434

====== ======

The average number of employees employed during the year was as follows:-

2009 2008

Administration support and management 4 4Direct charitable - 1Fundraising 4 4

---- ----8 9

=== ===


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EMPLOYEES CONTINUED

No employee earned £60,000 per annum or more.

The Trustees would like to acknowledge with thanks the contribution made by the large number of volunteers, the value of which is impossible to reflect in these financial statements.


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14. FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS

At 30 September 2008 the Charity has annual commitments under non-cancellable leases as follows:-

Land andBuildings

£Expiry date Less than one year 13,540Two to five years -Over five years -

---------- 13,540

======

15. INDEMNITY INSURANCE

Trustee’s liability insurance was taken out by the Charity at a cost of £650

16. RELATED PARTIES

The Chief Executive (Alisdair Barron) and Trustee Alyth Hughes hold appointments as directors on the board of Copii in Dificultate and Positiv+, key strategic partner and sister organisations, which manages projects supported by Children in Distress.

In addition, Trustee, June Hurn joined the board of Positive+ in the reported year.

53

cic annual report 2009

Documents

financial statement

financial overviews

financial year ending

small charity

financial year h

chair positivplus

trustee management group

chair advisory group