Staff and Trustees

Valentina, is a graduate in social work from the Theological Faculty of the prestigious University of Bucharest, who joined Children in Distress in 1998 to lead the Charity's 'Street Children' project, she graduated with a master’s degree in Third Sector management from Sheffield University in 2017. Vali, is the powerhouse and inspiration for many of CID's projects and programmes delivered from St Margaret's Centre for Children's Care Services. In her wider role as Executive Director CID Ro, she was instrumental in achieving full registration from the National Authority for Child Protection for all of Copii in Dificultate's projects and in the past she organised the Charity's acclaimed International Autism Conference programme. She sponsors the drive to develop programmes that meet the need of the terminally and incurably ill, children who are destitute and disadvantaged and works tirelessly to champion their cause. Vali, would welcome your call on 0044212193121 or you can email on vali@cid.org.ro Valentina has accepted the challenge of further co-coordinating the work of the charities which make up Children in Distress Charity Alliance and will become lead manager for both CID UK & CID Ro from January 2019

Alisdair had a career as an HR professional and Director in industries as diverse as brewing, avionics, premier league football and the NHS in Scotland. Throughout his career he maintained an interest in the care, education and development of disadvantaged children and young people with disabilities, particularly Autistic Spectrum Disorders. He is the longest serving member of the juvenile justice system in Scotland and the Vice-Chair of the Board of City of Glasgow College the newest and largest college of further education in Scotland. He inspires the teams delivering innovative care projects for thousands of Romanian children abandoned, chronically, incurably or terminally ill, touched by HIVAIDS or living the daily challenge of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. In 2006, Alisdair was honoured for services to the "forgotten" children of the Balkans.

A graduate economist and highly experienced finance director, latterly business entrepreneur and consultant, Paul had an exceptional career and played a key role in the modernisation and development of the power generation industry in both Romania and Iran. In 1990, he first set his talents to ensuring the success of Children in Distress projects and was instrumental in delivering projects in Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia and in Romania. Without Paul and his network of contacts and exceptional administrative ability Copii in Dificultate would not be the success it is today.

Tina joined in September 2015 having returned to work after surgery and a long period of post recuperation. Previously, Tina’s career has included working in the banking industry and with social work services. In her most recent post she spent seven years as an administrator for another community based children’s charity near her home in Glasgow. She has bought a wealth of knowledge in administrations and is blessed with a high attention to detail and is never deterred from learning the operations of new computer software. Since joining the charity she has honed her skills by quickly picking up the intricacies of the charity’s donor database system and revamped the charity’s child sponsors newsletter and acquired new design skills using Publisher and Adobe design.

You may just recognise our newest member of staff from previous posts on our website. Lesleyann Connelly has been volunteering for Children in Distress for the past 2 ½ years and more recently helping with the administration in the office. A qualified nursery school teacher, Lesleyann brings a wealth of knowledge on all things Child Protection and the latest GIRFEK legislation. (Getting it Right For Every Child). Lesleyann would welcome your call on 0141 559 5690 or by email: lesleyann.connelly@childrenindistress.org.uk