About Us
Simply put, we devote our energy to passionately help the Under-Represented members of Romania & the United Kingdom.
Our Mission
To provide young people with the essential items that will enable students and teachers to focus on what’s important: learning and creating a sustainable future out of poverty.
Founded in the memory of Aura, who tragically lost her life at the age of 23 in a plane crash over the Romania Western Carpathian Mountains on January 21st 2014.
Inspired by her desire to change the world, her sister Mariana setup the charity in 2015 bearing her name to continue Aura’s dedicated passion for helping others in the hope we act as a catalyst for uniting people to become leaders in service to humanity and inspire others in her memory.
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Aura Ion Foundation is a registered Charity in England and Wales;
charity number 1168492 | Company No 09544768
Our work and impact
Our work began in April 2015 with our founder, Mariana Ciuca who established the charity to continue helping the less privileged initially set out by her sister Aura.
We continue to honour her vision in giving every child the best possible educational start in life and today, therefore we are support many projects within the United Kingdom & Romania.
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The projects we run cover many of the avenues required to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement and we can draw on a highly motivated and dedicated team of more than 200 volunteers who support our vital work.
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Since our creation in 2015 we helped improve the lives of more than 10,000 children and young people, parents and elderly.
School Backpacks
Enabled 4,000 children to attend school with fully equipped school backpacks
Christmas Giftboxes
Our Annual ‘Christmas Gift Box’ appeal has given over 5000 ‘Shoebox’ size Giftboxes to children during magical Christmas events.
Pieces of Furniture
Supported 15 rural schools, providing over 4000 pieces of furniture which included vital replacements of chairs & desks to pedestals, dedicated Computer desks.
Computers & Tablets
Delivery of 500 refurbished computers into rural schools, also supplied 350 urgent need for cellular based technology (tablets, laptops) due to COVID-19
Donations
Transported from Bristol to Romania over 20,000kg of food, toys, books & clothing supporting thousands of children, young people and families with vital relief.
Books
Installed a library (Aurelia Ion Library) within a school in Teleorman, Romania with over 2000 books.
COVID-19 Support
Since Covid19 we have supported over 12 charities from Romania to organise fundraisers online to continue supporting their beneficiaries. Total amount has reached over £70,000.
House Rebuild
Fundraised over £6000 to purchase the construction materials to rebuild the house of a family who lost their home during a fire.
Electric Wheelchair
Fundraised over £2500 to buy an electric wheelchair for a boy with a disability, living in rural area of Romania, to enable him to reach school.
Meet Our Directors
We’ve already achieved a lot, and we have exciting ambitions to make an even greater impact in providing every child and young person the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Mariana Ciuca
I am incredibly proud to lead a charity which has that ethic at the heart of its purpose: which believes all children, with the right help and support can overcome trauma and adversity to achieve a positive future.
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Thank you to everybody who continue to support us in our journey, whether financially, by taking action or through volunteering with us.
CEO & Founder
Pete Knight
I am extremely passionate in providing every child and young person the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
My role is very diverse, responsible for conceptualising, developing and delivering projects that allows us to meet our ambitious goals.
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Operations Director
How we are funded
We are reliant on the generosity of our supporters to fund our educational programmes.
95% of our income comes from either individuals who kindly raise money on our behalf or directly to us, 5% from trusts and grant providers funding specific projects.
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We pride ourselves on the transparency, honesty and respectfulness of our fundraising.