Charitable Work
Al-Anon (English-speaking)
Al-Anon is a worldwide fellowship of men and women whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking, regardless of whether that person is still drinking or not. It is non-professional, self-supporting and apolitical. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend. Details of English-speaking meetings in France on our website.
Contact paris.englishalanon@gmail.com or 06 75 55 79 28
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of people who have had a drinking problem. It is non-professional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem.
Helpline (English) 07 56 98 45 71 / (French) 09 69 39 40 20
Volunteer Dennis deg1953@gmail.com
Bon Coeur
We raise funds to distribute to local causes. We have a shop in Beauville 47470, open regularly with clothes, books, brocante and jewellery, and our enormous Spring and Autumn Grand Bazaar sales. 10,000 books, 1,000 clothes, 50+ tables of keenly priced brocante. We assist with neutering errant cats. Since inception, we have made donations of over €180,000 - generally to smaller local Associations.
Quality donations are welcome, but please contact us.
New volunteers welcome.
President - Charles Miskin
Treasurer - treasurer@boncoeur47.fr
Secretary - secretary@boncoeur47.fr
General enquiries - boncoeur@boncoeur47.fr
Cancer Support France
Cancer Support France has been supporting English-speakers in France who are touched by cancer since 2002. Free, confidential, emotional and linguistic support is offered on a one-to-one basis by our trained volunteers for the patient, their carers or loved ones. With a network of 14 local associations, we can offer support face-to-face or remotely by telephone, e-mail or other secure means.
National help-line: 0800 240 200
Support e-mail: helpline@cancersupportfrance.org
Volunteers: volunteer@cancersupportfrance.org
President: Carol Quinlan: president@cancersupportfrance.org
The Dordogne Ladies Club International
We are a not-for-profit association for women living in and around the Dordogne. We area vibrant community of all ages and nationalities (with English as the common language). Our ethos is networking, friendship, support, welfare and charity fundraising. We have four main hubs in Bergerac, Périgueux, Sainte Foy la Grande and Villeréal and we hold coffee clubs weekly and events, lunches and book clubs throughout the year.
President: Lin Green
The Franco-British Foundation de Sillery (Fondation Franco-Britannique de Sillery)
Founded in 1919 with British donations to support wounded French WWI servicemen, the Fondation Franco-Britannique de Sillery (FFBS) now assists nearly 1,000 people with disabilities or facing social exclusion. Headquartered at the Château de Sillery, its 350 staff operate 20 sites across Brittany and the Paris region. FFBS helps individuals develop life and employment skills to lead independent, working lives. It also provides external services including catering, training, housekeeping, reconditioning, laundry, and grounds maintenance.
Château de Sillery, 91360 Epinay-sur-Orge
President - Alastair Ross, president@ffbs-sillery.com
Vice-President - Bernard Yassef
contact@ffbs-sillery.com
Website - Instagram - LinkedIn - Facebook
The Hertford British Charitable Fund – HBCF
The Hertford British Charitable Fund or HBCF (previously, the Hertford British Hospital Corporation or HBHC) now incorporates the British Charitable Fund, Paris (following a merger in 2025) and is a UK registered charity that cares for the wellbeing of British citizens and of other people with links to the UK who find themselves in dire need. This is achieved through welfare grants to individuals and financial support to associations in France which perform similar work.
Contacts : for general enquiries ihutton@hbhc.fr (tel 01 47 57 1945 ) and for welfaregrants office@bcfparis.org (tel 01 47 59 59 59)
Libre Résistance - SOE F Section
Libre Résistance is an Anglo-French association dedicated to the memory of the actions of the Special Operations Executive F-Section activities in France where 435 trained agents were infiltrated into France to create 75 resistance networks with over 30,000 local resistant’s. 104 SOE agents lost their lives through capture & torture. Our main commemoration is at Valençay each 6th May, but we hold numerous other ceremonies in France & UK (with Special Forces Club, London).
President: Bill Beauclerk bill.beauclerk@wanadoo.fr 06 18 41 00 62
Website
The Old School
The Old School is a co-educational day school providing English curriculum studies for students aged 10 to 19 in a supportive environment with commitment to the pursuit of academic excellence. We attach a high value to creativity, imagination and the quest for knowledge and understanding.
We encourage students to discover and enjoy their individual strengths and capacities and develop fluency in English and French. We promote academic achievement and participation in the global community. We also provide English education in a local French primary school.
47410 St Colomb de Lauzun, Tel: 05 53 64 24 97
Tel: 05 53 40 60 54 for administration and admissions
info@oldschoolfrance.com
Website
Phoenix Association
Phoenix is a non-profit organisation managed and run exclusively by volunteers, operating across the Dordogne and surrounding departments. The members are mainly British but also French, Dutch and some other nationalities.
We take in abused or abandoned animals for rehabilitation and re-homing. We act as intermediary between SPA shelters and people wishing to adopt from them. The Spring and Autumn Book Fairs are the stars of the yearly social events.
President Sophie Nicol phoenix24presidente@gmail.com, sophie.nicol@yahoo.fr
Treasurer Linda Foster Smith Phoenix24.treasurer@gmail.com
Secretary Aurélie Lavergne killie2904@hotmail.com
Membership Chrystina Wardleworth phoenix24.members@gmail.com
Riviera Lifeline
Riviera Lifeline is a non-profit, non-denominational organisation serving the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes. Our volunteers help seniors to continue independent lives across the French Riviera for example visiting seniors at home, lending a sympathetic ear and offering companionship. We can usually be found at The Grange on Thursdays and the third Saturday each month.
Please contact us for details.
1267 Chemin du Train de Pignes Ouest, 83510 Lorgues
Tel: 04 89 82 68 51
The Royal Air Forces Association, Ile-de-France Branch
RAFA Île-de-France was created on merging RAFA Paris and RAFA Saint-Germain-en-Laye (founded in 1946 and 1956 respectively). Members included French veterans who responded to the 18 June 1940 call of Charles de Gaulle, by escaping to England and joining the Free French Forces in the RAF, the Royal Navy and British Army. Sadly, many have now passed on and it is our duty to keep their memory alive.
Ile-de-France Chairman: Wing Cdr Graham August RAF (Retd), Tel: 09 54 75 23 42
The Royal Air Forces Association, Lyon “Jubilee” Branch
We care for the welfare of the RAF family, serving or retired, and for their dependents; also for members who are ex-Free French aviators. Lyon Jubilee Branch covers an extensive area encompassing most of eastern France and we are proud to be present with our Standard Bearer, together with the RBL Lyon Liberation Branch and other military associations, at many memorial events in our area commemorating the human sacrifice of RAF, Commonwealth and Allied Airmen.
President Sean Brady, bradypa206@yahoo.com
Chairman Brian J Millar MRAeS, brian.j.millar@orange.fr
Branch Secretary Shirley Faust, sbfaust@ymail.com
Branch Treasurer Leslie Blankley FRAeS, leslie.blankley@wanadoo.fr
Welfare Support Officer Anne Daynes, annedaynes66@gmail.com
The Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), Sud-Ouest France
RAF Association Sud-Ouest France (Loire to Spanish border). Membership comprises RAF veterans of many nationalities and those with an interest in all things aeronautical.
We meet regularly all over our region. Our support team of trained welfare officers takes active care of veterans and their dependents. We attend ceremonial commemorations remembering those RAF personnel who gave their lives in SW France. We are the charity that supports the RAF family.
Chair Squadron Leader Beryl Dennett Stannard RAF (Retd), Tel: 06 89 90 55 82
Secretary Squadron Leader Terry Dennett RAF (Retd), Tel: 05 46 95 38 89
The Royal British Legion, Bordeaux & S.W. France Branch
It is thought that the branch existed before WWII but it traces its current existence to 22nd November 1946. We cover Nouvelle-Aquitaine, an area larger than Scotland, and have 4 priorities. Welfare support for the Military, Veterans and their Families. Liaison with other Military Charities in France. Raising funds for the Annual Poppy Appeal. Remembrance and Ceremonial duties in the area. Regular updates are posted on our Facebook Page.
Chairman: Duncan Andrews andrewsin33@gmail.com 05.57.64.46.21
Secretary: Philip Morrison morrison.philip@orange.fr
Treasurer: Paul Phillips MBE paul.phillipsmbe@gmail.com
The Royal British Legion, Lyon Liberation Branch
The Lyon Liberation Branch covers Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne Franche-Comté. As with the RBL world-wide, we help serving and ex-service personnel and their families, and we raise funds through the Poppy Appeal. We are present with our Standard at many remembrance events, across the two regions, during the year : these vary from a memorial in a small commune in a rural area to a major commemoration such as the Liberation of Lyon.
Chairman: Garth Drury - garthlyon@gmail.com
Vice-Chairman: Brian Rosen
Secretary: Mary Vince - LyonLiberation.Secretary@RBL.Community
The Royal British Legion, Nord Pas de Calais Branch
In the Nord and the Pas-de-Calais, the remains of British service personnel lost in the two world wars are still found and buried beside their comrades, and we are there, to honour them and to support their families. We also provide assistance to current members of the British Armed Forces, veterans and their families. We raise money for the Poppy Appeal and attend British, French and Commonwealth commemorations. Join us to assist in our work.
Chairman: John Knight - frajohn@mac.com
Secretary: Jennie Knight - contact@silentpicket.com
The Royal British Legion, Paris Branch
The Paris Branch, founded in 1921, can provide financial assistance funded by the Poppy Appeal to ex-servicemen and women and their dependents in the Ile-de-France Region. Ceremonies are organised at the Arc de Triomphe on 4th August and at the Service of Remembrance on 11 November. Membership is open to Serving and ex-Service personnel, and all who abide by the aims of the Legion. Contact us to use the Clubhouse.
Bat. B., 28 rue des Acacias, 75017 Paris 0147 42 19 26 rblfrance.org
Branch Chairman : Richard Neave e-mail richard.neave05@gmail.com
Hon. Secretary : Janet Warby e-mail janetwarby@yahoo.com
House Manager Kitchen : Elaine Taylor e-mail elainetayl@gmail.com
General House Manager : Bill Beauclerk e-mail bill.beauclerk@wanadoo.fr
In addition to the Paris branch there are the following RBL branches in France :
Somme Hon. Secretary Anita Platt e-mail anitaplatt@hotmail.co.uk
Central Brittany Hon. Secretary Kevin Ball e-mail secretary@rblbrittany.fr
Bordeaux & SW France, Lyon, Nord Pas-de-Calais are listed individually in the list of BCC memebers
SOS Help
SOS Help provides emotional support by telephone to anyone in France who prefers to speak in English. Callers may speak in confidence and anonymity about whatever is on their mind to a non-judgmental, trained volunteer listener. SOS Help is part of the SOS Amitié Federation, a member of Befrienders International and has links to the Samaritans in the UK.
Chairperson Lynne Dalrymple chair@soshelpline.org
Enquiries: admin@soshelpline.org
Tel: 01 46 21 46 46 (3pm to 11pm)
SPRINT
A non-profit organisation of English-speaking/bilingual professionals who work with children having special educational needs/disabilities and their families. SPRINT offers the Anglophone community information regarding provision of appropriate education ininternational/bilingual schools, referral services, and networking opportunities for members. SPRINT also works with its member schools and offers schools professional development, meetings, and discussions on inclusion, learning, disability and therapy-related topics.
Contact: president.sprintfrance@gmail.com or secretary.sprintfrance@gmail.com
SSAFA the Armed Forces Charity/SSAFA France
SSAFA provides lifelong support to our Forces and their families.
Last year our volunteers in France helped some 150 people. Support covers financial assistance, and sign-posting welfare and administrative needs for veterans and their families in France, also some Merchant Navy and British Airways veterans.
Should you, or someone you know, need help, wish to volunteer for casework, support the lonely, or assist with fund-raising, then please contact 06 83 85 39 09 or France.branch@ssafa.org.uk.
Chairman: Keith Cima, Keith.Cima@France.ssafa.org.uk
Secretary: Mrs Lesley Blake, Lesley.Blake@France.ssafa.co.uk
Sunnybank Association
Sunnybank Association is involved in The Victoria Residential Care Home and the Albert Retirement Apartments, operated by the French company EMERA (victoria@emera.fr), and the running of ‘The Grange’, Sunnybank Association’s headquarters, social centre and library, open 10 am to 3 pm every Thursday, with an ‘open house’ every third Saturday.
Sunnybank Association also supports elderly anglophone residents who are unable financially to meet their retirement home needs in South-East of France (Alpes-Maritimes and the Var regions).
Address : 815 chemin des Gourettes 06370 Mouans-Sartoux, Tel: 04 93 47 94 20
President: Jeremy Daynes, info@sunny-bank.org
Secretary: Elisabeth Ward
Administrator: Jill Shepperd
Treasurer: Allan Haggerty
Women for Women France
Women for Women France empowers foreign-born people facing domestic violence in France to assert their rights, re-establish independence, and thrive.
The association created and manages the national Multilingual Online Resource Centre for all victims of domestic abuse in France and the professionals who support them.
CEO: Sarah McGrath (she/elle)