ASSOCIATIONS, SOCIETIES AND CLUBS
Is there an English-speaking association, society or club not yet listed here, but catering to the British Community where you live in France? If so, we’d like to hear from them. Why not ask their Chairman or a committee member to contact the British Community Committee by e-mailing us on britishinfrance@gmail.com
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh in France
The Association A.U.E.F. is open to graduates, former students, students, staff and friends of the University of Edinburgh.
President - Pamela Lintingre
55 chemin de la Croix Rouge, 91800 Boussy-St-Antoine
01 69 00 49 91
06 89 94 88 97
pamela.marr@wanadoo.fr
www.dev.ed.ac.uk/clubs/france
Association France – Grande-Bretagne
The Association, formed in 1916 to promote exchanges between France and the UK, generally emphasizes Franco-British co-operation. It organises lectures and debates and arranges group tariffs for visits to British cultural events.
President - Jean-Marie Le Breton, former ambassador
Honorary Secretary - Laurence Peyraut-Berthier
Information - Gérard Hocmard
02 38 62 06 51
Secretary - Mrs Dominique Letellier
c/o Barclays, 24 avenue Kléber, 75116 Paris
01 44 17 89 70
01 55 78 71 71 messages
01 45 00 89 70 fax
www.france-grandebretagne.org
Association Franco-Ecossaise
The Paris Branch of the Franco-Scottish Society was founded in 1895. Its aims are to promote good relations between Scotland and France, principally by the exchange of goodwill visits, lectures, research work in the historical and cultural, as well as economic, relationship between the two countries, etc., and to welcome Scottish students.
Honorary President - Georges Dickson OBE
President - Jacques Leruez CBE
65 rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris
Information - Pierre de Baecker
01 42 22 30 78
Catherine Valaster
www.franco-ecossaise.asso.fr
The British and Commonwealth Women’s Association
The BCWA was founded in 1962 and has clubrooms conveniently located near to the Etoile. There is an extensive library of English books. Lunch is served Monday to Friday inclusive.
Hours of opening: Monday to Friday, 10.30 am – 3.00 pm.
The BCWA offers both cultural and social activities in and around Paris. These range from guided museum visits to group activities. Full details can be found in the monthly newsletter or on our website.
157 rue du Faubourg St. Honoré, 75008 Paris
01 47 20 50 91
www.bcwa.org
British Conservatives in Paris
British Conservatives in Paris provides a forum for Conservative Party supporters. Our brief is to further the aims of the British Conservative Party and give members the opportunity of supporting them. We arrange political and social events involving British and sometimes French politicians, giving our members opportunities to debate political issues and to meet visiting British parliamentarians, including MEPs. We represent members’ views to the Party via the political discussion programme and the Party Conference and we encourage qualified British subjects to register to vote in the UK, while campaigning vigorously for an extension of this limited right to vote.
Chairman Christopher Chantrey
12 rue Papillon, 75009 Paris
01 42 46 24 92
christopher.chantrey@sfr.fr
www.conservatives-paris.org
British Freemasons in France
Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal and charitable organisation. It seeks to teach morality and ethical standards of behaviour, and to encourage kindness in the community, honesty in business, and thoughtfulness for others.
Membership is open to all men regardless of race, colour or creed, on the condition that they believe in a supreme being and are of good character.
A regular Constitution recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England has existed in France since 1913, and includes several English-speaking Lodges, mainly in the Paris, Nice and Geneva regions, Lille, Brittany, Normandy, the Auvergne and Agen, Montauban and Narbonne in the South-West.
Guy Walt
01 45 80 39 48
guywalt@hotmail.com
The British Luncheon (1916)
Founded in 1916, the “Advisory Committee Lunch”, consisting of members of the Ambassador’s Advisory Committee on Exemptions from National Service, changed its name in 1935 to The British Luncheon (1916).
Membership, by election only, is currently limited to 83 plus 22 privileged members including Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service officers. Luncheons are held on the third Tuesday of every month at the Cercle Interallié, with an annual Christmas luncheon, to which guests are invited.
Honorary Secretary - C M Wicker
The Retail Consulting Group
103 bd Haussmann, 75008 Paris
01 43 12 95 00
The British Rugby Club
The British Rugby Club of Paris was formed in 1923 by English Ex-pats living and working in Paris playing "Friendlies" and touring. The Club suspended its activities during the Second World War then restarted soon after the War and joined the Corporate League in the Ile de France section of the Federation Francaise de Rugby. The teams have been very competitive in this competition and won top honours a number of times.
The club regularly fields a 1st XV side on Saturdays that competes in the Corpo League with other teams in Paris and suburbs. There is also a "folklorique" side that plays several fixtures during the season on a much less competitive basis, the emphasis being on the "troisieme mi-temps". The BRFC also regularly hosts "touring sides", particularly during international match weekends. The atmosphere in the club is excellent as both playing and social level.
The British Rugby club provides a sporting and social focal point for many British Expats each year in Paris.
BRFC President Robert Wielgosz
25, allee du val de cruye
78620, L’etang-la-ville
06 77 17 79 41
www.brfcparis.com
rwielgosz@bipm.org
bfrcinfo@bfrcparis.com
Charente Limousine Exchange
Our membership includes over 200 families living in the Charente (16), Deux-Sevres (79), Vienne (86) and Haute-Vienne (87). The majority of our members are from Britain, the Netherlands, the USA, Germany and France.
We offer a wide range of activities for our members such as seminars on taxation in France, Quiz evenings and fund raising. The garden group arranges garden visits.
We have also recently developed CLE CONNECT. This is a new service set up to offer emotional support to members of the Charente Limousine Exchange who feel isolated or vulnerable because of a drastic change in their personal circumstances.
www.charente-limousine-exchange.comclexchange@charente-limousine-exchange.com
The Caledonian Society of France
The Society was founded in 1922 originally with a view to bringing together Scots in France. Its main activities are centred around the celebration of St. Andrew’s Day in late November/early December, and of Burns’ Night, held as close as possible to January 25th. Another regular feature is the ‘Afternoon of Scottish Music & Dancing’ held in the Shakespeare Garden (Bois de Boulogne) on May Day. The Society also organises ceilidhs on an occasional basis in order to support deserving charities based in Scotland.
Anyone, whether Scots-born or not, who has an interest in the preservation of Scottish culture and traditions, may apply for membership.
President - George P Mutch
25 rue Castagnary, 75015 Paris
01 48 28 38 69
Secretary - Margaret Mandron
18 rue de la Grange-Batelière, 75009 Paris
01 47 70 67 71
www.caledonian-society-france.org
The Cambridge Society of Paris
The Cambridge Society of Paris, an association under the Law of 1901, welcomes all members of Cambridge University, past and present. It has a regular programme of events including an annual dinner with a speaker from or connected to the University, usually held in January or February, and two to three smaller, informal dinners. An open evening is held on the first Wednesday of each month from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm, currently at The Bowler Pub, rue d’Artois, 75008 Paris (but check our website for this and other activities). Other pub evenings are also arranged specifically for the younger members to meet up. Parties are organised for concerts and theatres of interest to Cambridge graduates, to which other Paris-based alumni organisations are often invited. The Society combines with the Oxford University Society in various social and sporting events.
Edward Archer
01 45 03 11 37
earcher@noos.fr
members@camsocparis.org
www.camsocparis.org
The Clan MacLeod Society of France
The French Clan MacLeod Society was founded in 1981 and is the oldest branch of the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies in continental Europe, with members living in France and Belgium.
Broadly, the aims of the Society are to foster research into the role played by the MacLeods in France, where they have been present and active for over 500 years, to conserve and make available family records, to distribute the magazine issued by the worldwide ACMS with a French supplement, and to encourage social activities amongst members.
Membership is open to all, whether called MacLeod, descended from MacLeods, attached to the Clan or simply interested in joining.
Secretary - Alain MacLeod
18 rue du Parc de Clagny, 78000 Versailles
01 39 55 03 01
The English-Speaking Union France
This international organisation (55 member countries) has its headquarters at Dartmouth House, London W1. The worldwide President is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Its aim is to build worldwide understanding and trust using English as a shared language. ESU France has branches in Paris, Anjou, Strasbourg and Bordeaux. The Honorary President of the French Branch is Monsieur Pierre-Christian Taittinger. Anyone interested in joining and coming to the meetings (talks, excursions, dinners featuring a speaker) may write for information to: The English Speaking Union France.
National President - Béatrix de Montgermont-Keil
21 rue Michel Ange, 75016 Paris
01 46 51 55 24
www.esu.org/branches/branch.asp?b=611
Paris President - Luce Loussouarn
8 villa de Ségur, 75007 Paris
ljloussouarn@free.fr
www.esu.org/branches/branch.asp?b=666
Loire Valley President - Margaret Coleman
53, Grande rue, 49400 Saumur
02 41 38 54 24
www.esu-loire-valley.fr/
Bordeaux President - Florence Cartigny
24 rue d’Audenge, 33000 Bordeaux
06 10 10 48 51
Strasbourg President - Erik Harremocs
4 rue de l’Ablette, 67000 Strasbourg
03 88 31 64 03
www.esu.org/branches/branch.asp?b=667
MESSAGE Mother Support Group
MESSAGE is an organization of 1600+ English-speaking families and parents-to-be living in and around Paris. All nationalities are welcome to join, and Dads too! MESSAGE provides a network of contacts, support and information. Activities include events for expectant parents and children from newborn to primary school age; family outings; meetings of parents of adolescents and working mums; and speaker events covering such topics as bilingualism, workplace issues and pre/post-natal fitness. MESSAGE members also enjoy the quarterly magazine and a website rich in parenting resources and online discussion forums. The MESSAGE publication ABCs of Parenting in Paris, the essential guide to thrive and survive as a family in Paris, was published in May 2006.
01 58 60 00 53 (9 am – 4 pm weekdays)
info@messageparis.org
www.messageparis.org
The Oxford University Society
The Oxford University Society of Paris meets at 18.30 on the first Wednesday of the month at the Bowler, 13 rue d’Artois, 75008 Paris, 01 45 61 16 60, métro St Philippe du Roule (best), George V or Franklin Roosevelt. Other pub evenings are also arranged specifically for the younger members to meet at Carr’s, 1 rue Mont-Thabor on the third Thursday of the month. The Society organises an annual conference and garden party (with Cambridge), dinners and “business breakfasts” with distinguished speakers and various sporting occasions (golf, pétanque, etc.) Forthcoming events are on the website.
Membership - Secretary Harry Seydoux
01 47 22 47 34
harry.seydoux@wanadoo.fr
Secretary Julia Makris
jmakris.ousparis@gmail.com
www.oxfordinparis.com
The Paris Welsh Society - Cymdeithas Cymry Paris
The Society was founded in 1890 to foster knowledge of Wales, its language and culture, and to celebrate Welsh anniversaries. The annual Noson Gwyl Ddewi Sant/St. David’s Day celebration is held on the nearest Saturday to 1st March with entertainment by Welsh artists, and an Owain Glyndwr evening is held in late September with a lecture by a guest speaker from Wales. Lunches and several other events pertaining to Wales are organised during the year. There is also a regular pub evening, and a Welsh-speaking group meets once a month. There are several non-Welsh members in the Society, and all are welcome who are interested in Wales. Croeso i bawb sydd â diddordeb yng Nghymru a’r Gymraeg.
President Ceri Davies
cerirhys@yahoo.fr
www.pariswelshsociety.org
The Royal Society of Saint George
The Paris Branch of the Society was founded in 1937 and organises various social occasions for English people and their friends. In the course of the year, the Branch organises the President’s cocktail party; a golf match followed by a dinner open to non-golfers; an AGM at the Chancery of the British Embassy with a cocktail party on the terrace afterwards; a picnic at Longchamp racecourse, and other functions.
Proposer and seconder normally required.
President - Charles Spencer Bernard
18 rue Barbette, 75003 Paris
01 42 71 30 02
The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
ABRSM is the world's leading provider of music exams and assessments. Each year over 630,000 candidates take our exams in more than 90 countries around the world. ABRSM also runs professional development courses, workshops and seminars for teachers and publishes a wide range of supporting music books and CDs.
Practical graded examinations at all levels, with no age limit, are held in Paris three times each year (March, May and December) at the British School of Paris. These exams are open to all. Theory examinations are held three times a year. Syllabi, fees lists and entry forms are available:
Mr Steven CALVERT
British School of Paris
38 quai de l’Ecluse 78290 Croissy sur Seine
01 34 80 45 94
06 15 65 36 73
steve.calvert@britishschool.fr
www.abrsm.org
Dear Conjunction Theatre Company
Dear Conjunction (see Shakespeare's Henry V, Act V) has produced over 40 plays ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan, through Molière to Pinter and Beckett since it was founded in 1991. The company is composed of bilingual, professional actors, directors and writers, resident in Paris. Their aim is to present plays in English and in French, using essentially the same actors in both languages. For the last seven years the company has been performing at the Sudden Theatre (Paris 18e), and touring in France and Europe. It organises rehearsed play and poetry readings, and can be commissioned for specific events and special occasions (like Remembrance Day, Christmas, etc.)
Les Clack
01 42 85 09 57
dearconjunction@wanadoo.fr
The English Cathedral Choir of Paris
The Choir was founded by counter-tenor and former Salisbury Cathedral chorister Christopher Wells under the patronage of Sir David Willcocks. The Choir sets out to promote English cathedral music and train children to sing the repertoire of English trebles. They are backed by altos, tenors and basses, some of whom have been cathedral choristers in England and/or sung in Oxford and Cambridge college choirs. The Choir sings on French radio and TV, and frequently tours France singing in music festivals, religious ceremonies and particularly in its home parish of St Denys du St Sacrement in the Marais, where rehearsals are on Saturdays. The children come from various schools in and around Paris and membership of the Choir in no way interferes with their normal school curriculum.
Odile and Christopher Wells
01 42 72 73 76
pepysmusic@hotmail.com
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Paris Branch
The Paris Branch of the Society was created in 1984 in order to promote Scottish Country Dancing and to offer the opportunity to learn and practise Scottish Country Dances in France. The Branch organises classes; half-day schools for beginners, intermediate or advanced dancers. There is a dance every Saturday night from 7.30 to 9.30 pm, and occasionally a ball on Friday or Saturday night. Everybody is warmly welcome.
Mme Jean Dardet
01 45 27 82 31
secretary@rscdsparis.org
www.rscdsparis.org
Paris Decorative and Fine Arts Society (PADFAS)
The Paris Society, a Member Society of NADFAS (UK), offers a series of 8 monthly lectures which are held on Thursday afternoons in the Théâtre Le Ranelagh, 5 rue des Vignes, 75016 Paris. These lectures, illustrated by slides, cover major art exhibitions in Paris as well as general fine arts subjects, and are given by experts of international reputation. The lectures are followed by light refreshments to allow members to meet and enjoy each other’s company. In addition, there are occasional private visits to museums and places of particular artistic interest, many of which are not normally accessible to the general public, musical evenings encouraging young musicians, special day outings in or around Paris, and a two/three day trip in the spring to explore an interesting area further afield. The annual subscription, which includes all lectures, is €80 or €140 for a couple. To receive a programme or further information, please contact:
Ghislaine Elliott
delliott@dbmail.com
www.padfas.com
Honorary Secretary: Douglas Wells
douglas.wells@free.fr
Royal Academy of Dance
The Royal Academy of Dance exists to promote knowledge, understanding and practice of dance internationally.
The Academy is a worldwide educational, examining and membership organisation founded in 1920 to advance the standard of teaching in classical ballet.
With over 17,000 members, the Academy’s influence has spread to over 80 countries and its operations are supported by a network of international offices and representatives. Our Registered Teachers provide standards of excellence in ballet and dance teaching, entering some 175,000 students of all ages and abilities worldwide.
For information about the Academy’s work in France, and for names of Registered Teachers in France, please contact the Administrator for France and the Benelux:
Mme Jacqueline Spence
21 cité Joseph Bech, L-6186 Gonderange, Luxembourg
J_Spence@compuserve.com
(+352) 787 225
(+352) 787 217 fax
SPRINT
A professional organization for children with special needs.
SPRINT is a non-profit organization founded in Paris in 1986. It is a group of English-speaking and bilingual professionals who work with children of all ages with special needs.
WITHIN THIS GROUP ARE:
- Clinical Psychologists
- Educational Psychologists
- Family Therapists
- Speech and Language Pathologists
- Learning Disability Specialists
- Special Educators and Tutors
- Psychomotor Re-educators
- Occupational Therapists
- Social Workers
- Art Therapists
- Music Therapists
- Osteopaths
- Alternative Therapists
SPRINT's aims are two-fold. It offers the Anglophone community information and referral services and presents specialists with an opportunity to network.
sprint.france@free.frsprint.france.free.fr/
The International Players
This amateur theatre group has been active in the west of Paris for 28 years, putting on two English-language productions of a high standard each year, which cover a range of very different styles – from musicals and pantomimes to serious plays and comedies – including very successful productions of a pantomime “Sleeping Beauty” and “Dancing at Lughnasa” in 2006, “Oklahoma!” and “Roleplay” in 2007, and “April in Paris”, “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole” in 2008-9 and “The Lady in the Van” in 2010.
The International Players are an energetic, friendly group of over 80 members from the UK, Ireland, the USA, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany and France. There are members of all ages with a variety of talents from acting and singing to designing sets and costumes.
The group rehearses and performs mainly in St-Germain-en-Laye and Le Pecq. New members are always welcome, even if in France for a short time.
International Players
Maison des Associations
3 rue de la République, 78100 St-Germain-en-Laye
Chairman - Cecily Spiers
chair@internationalplayers.co.uk
www.internationalplayers.co.uk
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge offers on-the-ground support to non-professional theatrical groups from outside France bringing English language theatre to Paris.
While our objectives permit us to offer such support to any such groups, our priority is giving practical assistance to the Tower Theatre Company, who come to Paris every summer to present a Shakespeare play in the open-air Théatre de Verdure du Jardin Shakespeare at the Pré Catelan in the Bois de Boulogne.
Information - Robin Baker
01 45 20 67 30
chairman@towerbridge.fr
www.towerbridge.fr
Monaco
British Association of Monaco
Established in 1935, the British Association of Monaco is one of the most active Associations in the Principality of Monaco and is an integral part of the Monégasque community.
The primary focus of the Association is to promote the well-being of British and Commonwealth citizens residing in Monaco and the surrounding areas. Practical help and moral support is provided by the Community Support Team.
BAM is entirely self-funded and is managed by an elected Committee of volunteers. There is an exciting diary of events and activities throughout the year which includes twice monthly Happy Hours, excursions, talks, cocktails, charity walks, dinners, workshops and fund-raising galas.
BAM also has close links to the Monégasque Chamber of Commerce and is actively involved with assisting new residents settle into the Principality.
A lively and informative monthly Newsletter and website (www.bam-monaco.org) keep Members informed of BAM events and what is happening in the region.
Secretary - Aisling Launder
+377 93 50 19 52
bam@monaco.mc
www.bam-monaco.org
Normandy
Amicale Culturelle Européenne
The association was formed in Basse-Normandie in 1996 under the law of 1901. Its aim is to promote friendship amongst British residents in Normandy and to encourage them to integrate with French and other European nationals living in the area.
To this end, ACE promotes classical concerts with British artists, and organises monthly events: visits to museums, one or several days’ leisure excursions, country walks, trips to other places of interest, and occasional luncheons.
President - Ron Dinsdale
5 La Durandière, 50150 Brouains
ronald.dinsdale@orange.fr
Information - Tom Hegarty
La Noblerie, 50560 Blainville-sur-Mer
hegarty.thomas@wanadoo.fr
Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Centre Culturel Britannique - British LIbrary in Lille
The Centre Culturel Britannique is an independent, non-profit making organisation run by a team of dedicated and friendly volunteers. The library houses over 7000 books, both fiction and non-fiction, a large DVD collection, as well as up to date English newspapers and magazines. We have a wide range of resources for students and teachers in our English Language Teaching section and an extensive collection of British literature, poetry, drama, history and geography. The CCB is a cultural and information centre which, offers a warm welcome to Anglophile residents in the region.
There are English Conversation Groups every day we are open, which are all led by an English native speaker and cover a wide variety of everyday and useful topics of discussion. They are held in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and a basic level of English is required. We also run a regular French conversation class for those wishing to practise and improve their French.
We hold a Story Time Club for 3-6 years olds as well as a Junior Club for older children and teenagers. The Book Club for adults meets on a regular basis and enjoy discussing the short stories selected. The Cinema Club meets at a local cinema whenever topical or British films are showing and then enjoy a social get together and discussion of the film afterwards. The CCB hosts a number of "Apero Chats" throughout the year and members meet to listen to a presentation and then discuss the subject in hand.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12.00 – 17.30 Thursday 17.00- 20.00
Closed during school holidays
Centre Culturel Britannique 3 rue Jean Bart, Lille 59000
03 20 54 22 79
ccb@nordnet.fr
Facebook The British Centre in Lille
International Singers, Lille Métropole
Our aim is to provide a high quality English-language vocal group centred on the Région Nord in France as an outlet for those who love to sing. The singers work on a repertoire that is based upon the very best of traditional English music, musical theatre and middle-of-the-road ‘standards’, but can also extend to music such as traditional part songs, close harmony and religious music.
Membership is open to anyone able to attend rehearsals and sing in English. Experience of chorale singing would be a distinct advantage but is not essential. Applicants may be asked to undertake a short audition with the Musical Director and the Principal Musician. Full rehearsals are held approximately every 3 weeks on Saturdays usually at the EABJM International School in Marcq-en-Baroeul.
Chairman and Musical Director - Simon Fletcher
2 allée des Hêtres, 59420 Mouvaux
03 20 98 95 34
direction@international-singers.eu
www.international-singers.eu
Rhône-Alpes
Association France – Grande-Bretagne – Lyon & Rhône
The Lyon & Rhône branch of the Association France – Grande-Bretagne now has around 150 members. It offers a wide range of activities including talks by visiting speakers, a book circle, English-speaking luncheons and restaurant evenings, cinema outings to see films in English and a video club, conversation groups, activities specifically for younger members, trips to the U.K., and group bookings for cultural events, concerts, theatre and exhibitions of a British nature. A new activity: poetry evenings. Full details of our programme can be found on our website.
President Margaret Marret
04 78 50 89 48
contactus@fgb-lyon.org
www.fgb-lyon.org
Franco-British International Business Association (FIBA) - Lyon
What we offer: To be the principal contact and representative body for the Franco-British business community in the Rhône-Alpes Region of France.
As a member, you will have access to a network of services, which can help develop your Franco-British and international business activities through:
- a diverse network of members
- a member’s website database
- regular seminars, meetings and events
- business information, promotion and training
- investment opportunities.
In addition we offer to put you in contact with persons outside the Association for help, advice or accompaniment.
Chairman - Peter J Watson
04 74 00 24 85
peterjameswatson@orange.fr
www.fibalyon.org
Grapevine
Grapevine is an association of anglophones and anglophiles founded in 1992, in Aix-les-Bains, It promotes the use of the English language and culture.
Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month from 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm. At Espace Sabaudia, Batiment “Lestal” 1, rue Jean Monard, 73100 Aix-Les-Bains.
President Claire Delorme-Pegaz
04 79 35 49 81
Secretary A.J. Davey
04 79 88 94 91
Monday Club, Lyon
The Monday Club is open to all English-speaking people, meets on a regular basis and has a variety of cultural and social activities for members, their families and friends. We also welcome and assist newcomers to the Lyon region and invite members to make full use of the 4,000-volume Monday Club library (mostly fiction and children's books) at our regular meeting place, Les Mains Ouvertes, 127 bis rue Servient, 69003 Lyon. We publish a monthly Newsletter with information about our activities and those of various other clubs in Lyon, articles, etc., etc.
We normally meet on the first Monday afternoon of the month. We have a speaker or discussion, followed by tea and homemade cakes. It's a good opportunity to meet other English-speaking people and - for those who have just arrived - to get help and advice with problems caused by the complexity of the french "system", language, etc. Events include a reading group, restaurant evenings, wine and cheese evenings, occasional coffee mornings or afternoon tea parties in members' homes, an annual Chritmas party, picnics, and quite a lot more.
Chairman Jayne Azzopardi
jayneplaisted@numericable.fr
themondayclub@ymail.com
The British Association Alpes Maritime
The British Association of the Alpes Maritimes is a registered 1901 charity which has been in existence for over 50 years. It is run solely by volunteers and aims to help British residents in (and visitors to) the Alpes Maritimes, providing help to those new to the area and for those who encounter unexpected problems such as illness, accidents, bereavement or financial difficulties.
Chairman of the British of the Alpes Maritime - Richard Davison
chairman.alpesmaritime@britishassociation.info
Cannes Branch - Chairman James Buchanan Jardine
chairman.cannes@britishassociation.info
Secretary Lesley Joines
secretary.cannes@britishassociation.info
Nice Branch - Chairman John Fordyce
chairman.nice@britishassociation.info
Menton Branch - Chairperson Birgitt Nordbrink
chairman.menton@britishassociation.info
Monaco - British Association of Monaco
www.bam-monaco.org
The English Speaking Mother's Group, Lyon
The English Speaking Mother's Group is a support group for English speaking families and their children living in the Lyon area. Our group aims to provide a supportive, relaxed and friendly environment for English speaking parents and their children. We meet regulerly to let our children meet and play with other children in English, help newcomers to Lyon, give support, exchange information.
It is run by a small committee of parents who organise activities with the help of named "coordinator" members, although most members organise outings or host events for the group. Our "base" is a twice monthly playgroup and get-together-held in a hall attached to a garden in Lyon 8em. These "playgroups" ara always held on the first and third Wednesday afternoons of each month, from 2;30 pm to 5.30 pm. Toys are provided and an activity is organised at most meetings for the older children. Refreshments are provided, together with a children's library containing over two hundred books in English.
Other activities and events are regularly organised such as : an over 6s club called 'Magic Key Club', music groups for children, coffee mornings, baby group, English book, exchanges and outings for children, parents or the whole family.
info@english-mums.com
www.english-mums.com
Royal Scottish Country Dance Sociey (Lyon Branch) - Scottish Chanterelle
The object of RSCDS Lyon Branch is to preserve and further the practice of traditionnal Scottish Dancing as it danced today; we are mainly involved in Scottish Country Dancing, but also hold occasionnal classes in Highland Dancing. We have a weekly class on Friday nights, with 3 levels (beginners, intermediate, advanced); we also organise ceilidhs, balls, social dancing, day classes (usually 3 times a year on Saturdays) and weekend schools (usually twice a year), with live musicians whenever possible. We accept beginners all year round, come and join us !
President Christiane Orgeret - 04 72 34 66 03
www.scottish-chanterelle.org
South West France
Bordeaux British Community
The Bordeaux British Community is a long-established social club for English speakers in the Bordeaux region. We organise a full programme of varied activities for Bordeaux expats where you will be able to meet people and get to know the are.
Christmas dinner, Burn’s night, children’s parties and sports day are annual activities. Others, such as lunches, golf, canoeing and visits take place monthly.
Despite the name we are not all British expats and do not all live in Bordeaux. Expats of any nationality can join and members live in all parts of the surrounding region from the Médoc to the Landes and inland to the Dordogne. What we all have in common is the English language and what most people appreciate is the opportunity to relax and chat whilst appreciating good food and wine and a wide range of activities.
membershipsecretary@bordeauxbritish.com
www.bordeauxbritish.com
Cancer Support France
CSF is made up of a growing number of affiliated associations across France, supported by the umbrella organisation, CSF-National. The association exists to support English-speaking people living in France who are affected by cancer. It is open to people of all faiths or none. It is not necessary to be a member of CSF before receiving support, which is always given without charge.
Support can be given in a number of ways, and is always arranged following an initial contact and request for help. Support can be as little as guidance to sources of information about cancer and its treatment or as complete as regular personal contact for as long as the client (patient or family member) needs. It can include guidance through the administrative procedures of health care in France. If the team has members with sufficient language skills a volunteer may accompany a patient to hospital appointments to act as an interpreter. This ensures that the client understands what the oncologist is saying and what treatment is proposed etc.
The mainstay of support work is listening and helping the patient express and deal with issues that are worrying them. Volunteers who interact directly with clients are fully trained, according to a nationally agreed course, and are known as 'Active Listeners'. They work on the telphone, face-to-face if distance is not a problem, email or even Skype. All AL's and members of CSF in contact with clients abide by a code of confidentiality.
Volunteers are available on Tuesday mornings 10h00 – 12h30.
www.cancersupportfrance.orgwww.csf-forum.org
cancersupportfrance@orange.fr
National help-line
05 45 89 30 05
The SLL White Horses charity
The SLL White Horses charity is a Franco-British registered charity with humanitarian aims.
We buy horses in the Camargue, ride them across France and part of England, and, at the end of the long ride, we donate the horses to RDA Centres (Riding for the Disabled Association and similar centres in France). As part of the riding team, we take French and British young people from disadvantaged backgrounds or with sociological problems and help them to get their lives working by enabling them to care for and ride the horses during the six month journey.
We are planning and fundraising for our 3rd project, THE CARAVAN OF HOPE 2012. This new project has the same aims as the two previous ones using two covered wagons, one drawn by 2 Camargues, and the other by 2 Franc Comtois draught horses. Another 5 other Camargue horses will be ridden by the young people and team leader.