About the Charity

Who we are
Children in Distress is a small UK charity officially founded in the UK in 1990 and registered with the OSCR (Office of Scottish Charity Regulator), number SC039383. We are directly associated to the Romanian charity of the same name, Fundatia Copii In Dificultate, which is located in Bucharest, Romania. Prior to 1990 we operated for one year as a volunteer unincorporated association, providing critical urgent response in Romania with a group of dedicated volunteers.
We celebrate 35 years in 2024.

What we do
We raise funds in the UK to help the most vulnerable children in Romania and provide specialist hospice care, educational community outreach and respite care for children, their families, and carers in Romania through our sister charity Copii in Dificultate.

Our purpose
Our work in Romania has grown over the last 34 years. Our initial focus of caring for children with HIV/AIDS has evolved into provision of respite, palliative and end- of-life care, and we have developed some of the best-trained and most experienced pediatric nurses in Romania.
Until 2022, our flagship centre, St Margaret’s Hospice has provided specialist care to infants and children with arrange of complex neurological needs, physical disabilities, and those who need a little extra support to overcome discrimination, disadvantage, and an opportunity to change their future.
The good work has evolved and continues in a new family and community style environment. We opened Casa Maria, our new Children’s Family House in Romania that provides care for children living with the most severe disabilities. It builds on the legacy of our flagship St Margaret’s Hospice and Children’s Centre.

www.childrenindistress.org

E: simon.errington@childrenindistress.org.uk