59 Eastgate
North Newbald
York YO43 4SD

• To sustain the charity's work during a financially difficult period of huge price rises in Romania, in preparation of EU accession
• Fund a Romanian post to research funding strategies from within Romania. This is currently being researched voluntarily by Romanian staff and locals in their own time, but a salaried position is needed.
• 80 hospital residents still are without any daily activity support, we aim to provide funds for more teachers to fulfil this need and give hope. Their daily lives are eating, sleeping, rocking and washing.
  
  'The fact that 30 patients have the opportunity to attend a school is appreciable and must be supported' (Comment on Siret Hospital by the European Commission, Peer Review 2006, Mission on Mental Health in Romania, p. 26, 2005).
• We aim to raise funds to finance a minibus to provide valuable daytrips into the local community and beauty spots for the residents of the institution to provide new experiences, and support peer relations and community inclusion opportunities. Trips are currently supported by staff and locals with their own vehicles, time and money.
• In the long term, at the request of the hospital authorities we aim to try to raise enough funds to see the closure of the current hospital facilities and resettlement of the residents into permanent small family style group homes.
  
  'The physical conditions are dangerously deficient and the residents complain of the cold and lack of heat... in one room for girls, there were more residents than beds'
  (Comment on Siret Psychiatric Hospital by Mental Disability Rights International, in their report, Hidden Suffering, P. 12, 2006)
  
  'The main building is about 100 years old and in quite bad condition. The façade is weather beaten and characterized by huge rusty latticework which secures outside corridors and stairways and which create the impression of a big animal cage. At the inside the building is at least partly renovated but stairs, outside corridors and particularly the sanitary facilities are in an unacceptable condition.'
  
  'There are many indicators of staff efforts to make the living situation more comfortable for the patients but the success of this effort is limited by the constraints of the unsuitable building'
  
  'The old building seems completely unsuitable for a chronic psychiatric hospital and should be closed as soon as possible'
  
  'The group home project should be supported and extended to the majority of patients' (Comment on Siret Psychiatric Hospital by European Commission, Peer Review 2006, Mission on Mental Health in Romania, P. 26 - 27, 2005)
  
  Architect plans are in place, the local council will provide the land to build on, local health authorities will finance running of the homes, Scoala Pentru Viata and the hospital committee would oversee running through a joint committee. This would be under the guidelines of the Romanian National Mental Health Plan (Dec 2005) and WHO / EU recommendations for the current facilities in Siret. All that is now needed is the capital to fund the closure.
  
  Unfortunately EU and governmental funding is currently unavailable to follow through their recommendations.

Taking advantage of the good weather.

Group games with the students.

Dancing and games at the picnic!