## **The Romanian Community Centre in Edinburgh** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report** Period From1st of November 2024 to 31st of October 2025 **Charity contact information** The Romanian Community Centre in Edinburgh Scottish Charity Number: SC048786 Address: 123 High Street, Burntisland, UK Postcode: KY3 9AA Telephone number: 07492 299927 Email address: edinburgh@mitropolia.eu Website: http://www.roced.org.uk/ Facebook profile name: - The Romanian Orthodox Church in Edinburgh - The Romanian Community Centre in Edinburgh 2 ## **Charity Trustees** 1. Charity Trustee Dr Florin Florescu 2. Charity Trustee Mihaela-Roxana Nite 3. Charity Trustee Nelu Vasilica 4. Charity Trustee Silviu Constantin Visan 5. Charity Trustee Florin Pintilie 3 ## **Objectives and activities** To provide the means for the Romanians in Edinburgh and the surrounding area to practice their culture and religion including worship, ministry, philanthropic activities, community service, educational activities and the organising of religious pilgrimage To promote the integration of Romanian community of Edinburgh in the social and civil life of Scotland (including the promotion of civic responsibility and community development). To promote the Romanian arts and culture by providing support for conferences, exhibitions, performances, workshops and publications. To provide care and relief for those members of community in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or another disadvantage. Promoting the provision of information and support for Romanian community in Edinburgh. 4 **Structure, governance and management** Status Award Letter for the Romanian Community Centre in Edinburgh, 25/10/2018, OSCR Ref: RS/STA/18-0582 The Constitution of the Romanian Community Centre in Edinburgh ## **Trustee recruitment and appointment** No new trustees were recruited. 5 ## **Achievements and performance** ## **Activity Report (1 November 2024 – 31 October 2025)** The period from **1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025** has, in every respect, been the most successful year in the ten-year history of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Edinburgh. ## **Pastoral and Missionary Activity** The principal development during the year was the expansion of our pastoral, missionary and social work into **Kirkcaldy** , an area experiencing significant economic deprivation and home to more than 1,000 Romanian residents. This expansion became possible through the identification of a new place of worship at the former **Viewforth Parish Church** (Viewforth Terrace, KY1 3BW), generously made available free of charge to our community by a private owner. This venue ( _see pictures_ ) now hosts a weekly Sunday service for the Romanian community in Kirkcaldy and the surrounding area, celebrated by the clergy of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Edinburgh. New facilities for our **Sunday School** were also established for children in both Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy. All refurbishment work and equipment were funded entirely through donations from members of the local community. 6 In response to this expanded ministry, the number of clergy serving the Edinburgh parish increased through: 1. the ordination of a new priest; 2. the ordination of a new deacon, together with an assistant deacon (subdeacon) and a reader; and 3. the transfer of a deacon from the Romanian Orthodox Parish of Oxford to the Edinburgh parish. During this period, the Romanian Orthodox Church in Edinburgh was honoured to receive visits from the two bishops to whom it belongs canonically: - in **November 2024** , **Metropolitan Joseph** of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe (Paris); and - in **October 2025** , **Archbishop Atanasie** of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (London). More than **1,000 members of the Romanian community** from Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy attended these two major pastoral visits. **Edinburgh** 7 **Kirkcaldy** Throughout the year, the clergy of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Edinburgh continued an intensive programme of ministry, including regular worship services on Sundays and during the week, pastoral visits to Romanian families, spiritual counselling, practical and financial assistance, and support for families experiencing hardship. In accordance with the traditions of the Romanian Orthodox Church, each home is visited at the beginning of the calendar year, as well as on occasions such as the birth of a child, confession, social counselling, and other religious services. ## **Emergency Humanitarian Support** Public fundraising appeals organised throughout the year by our Foundation enabled us to provide emergency assistance to several families facing serious financial or personal difficulties. These included: - funeral support for the Mitria family, a single mother of three children who was also caring for their grandmother, who was suffering from cancer; - funeral support for Mr Victor Avisalon; - financial assistance for the Ionel family, who have four children, including a youngest child requiring long-term hospital treatment; - support for the Boyd family, who have been affected by illness and an inability to work; - financial assistance to enable overseas medical treatment for a child from the Soare family. Whenever families experiencing crisis situations are identified, they are visited by members of our team and, where appropriate, receive practical assistance, pastoral support, financial help, or are referred to specialist support services. 8 At both **Easter** and **Christmas** , dozens of food parcels, donated by members of the local community, are distributed to individuals and families in need. ## **Cultural Activities** Our cultural programme plays an important social role for the Romanian community by bringing people together around shared projects. These activities enable participants both to preserve their language and traditions and to share this cultural heritage with the wider Scottish society in which they live, work and raise their families. A particularly significant initiative is our **Traditional Romanian Embroidery Workshop** , organised and led by **Mrs Alina Andraș** , one of the volunteers of our church. Most of these activities have been organised in partnership with leading Romanian institutions, including the **Consulate General of Romania in Edinburgh** , the **Clyde Opera Group** , and the **Embassy of Romania in London** . Highlights during the year included: - **January 2025** – Romanian Culture Days in Scotland; - **March 2025** – a music event hosted at the Romanian Consulate, together with traditional _Mărțișor_ and Romanian embroidery workshops held at the church; - **April 2025** – Traditional Easter egg painting workshop; - **April 2025** – Traditional Romanian-inspired shirt workshop; - **June 2025** – Universal Romanian Blouse Day ( _Ia_ Day); - **September 2025** – Romanian cultural exhibition stand at **Morningside United Church** as part of the Open Doors Days programme. 9 ## **Pilgrimages and Community Excursions** The pilgrimages and community excursions organised during the year provided valuable opportunities for social interaction, appreciation of Scotland's cultural and natural heritage, and spiritual reflection. These included: - **June 2025** – community walk in the Pentland Hills; - **August 2025** – excursion to Ben Lomond; - **October 2025** – pilgrimage to the Chapel of **Saint Triduana** in Edinburgh; - **October 2025** – pilgrimage to **Mount Athos** . 10 **Financial review** Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves - No fixed assets. - All of Charity’s unrestricted funds are available as reserves to meet the future expenditures and costs (rent, insurance, equipment, ongoing activities etc.) and as a contingency against unforeseen costs. See Appendix 2, Receipts and payments accounts. Details of any deficit There is no deficit Donated facilities and services We have organised events for which our Church have asked for no fees. **Future plans** According to the Constitution of Charity. ## **Additional information** **-** 11 ## **Declaration** Signed on behalf of the charity trustees: Florin Florescu Print name Chairman Designation 16/07/2026 Date 12