Welfare and the British Association 

Coming to live in France is a big step for anyone to take and things do not always run smoothly. From its formation, the British Association has had the welfare of its members at the forefront of all its planning and policy, and welfare is one of the main reasons for its existence. Though BA members are those most often assisted, we do help all British people where there is a genuine need. 

What is Welfare?

It is a term which covers the whole spectrum of social and health issues, from providing financial assistance to someone in urgent need, regular visiting and emotional support to the elderly and lonely, or simply the loan of a piece of equipment such as wheelchair or child car seat to a visiting relative………in effect, an umbrella whether it be a shower or a storm!

Here is a practical  example of our help.


Who Are the Welfare Team? 

Here in the Var branch, the Welfare Officer, who is a member of the main branch committee, has three or four Assistant Officers who are closely involved in assessing situations. They decide the best course of action to take once a case has been presented to them, or when they have been made aware of a difficulty. This is an important part of the whole process and each case, especially where there is a financial request, is looked at carefully. Should financial support not be available from the French or UK social services, then the welfare team decides what the British association can do to help. For example, from time to time funds have been made available for short-term loans which might be needed to cover unforeseen medical expenses. Financial assistance has also been provided to a number of people who have had the misfortune to become sick and others who for varying reasons have found it a problem to obtain full-time employment and are in temporary difficulty. All cases are reviewed regularly.

There is also a team of volunteers who can be called upon, as and when they may be needed to visit homes, residential homes and hospitals or often simply to make a phone call to someone who is lonely or distressed, which may be all that is needed. They also assist in delivering equipment and sometimes even food parcels in a real emergency. 

We are very grateful for this voluntary help and try, wherever possible, to organise it on a local basis. We are also always pleased to welcome new volunteers to the team and give them advice and support as appropriate and necessary. All necessary expenses are refunded so that being a volunteer may cost time and effort, but not money.


What does the Welfare Team do? 

To summarise they:

* Receive and respond to telephone calls.
* Try to find a solution to people’s problems.
* Give moral support wherever possible.
* Visit people in hospital or at their home.
* Put people in touch with professionals who can provide specific help and expertise 
   with their problems/difficulties such as the Bereavement Support Network www.bsnvar.fr 
* Accompany people to meetings with Social Service departments.
* Take decisions to make funds available to those in financial need.
* Provide ‘home aids’ such as wheelchairs, crutches, child car seats, etc.

All contacts with our members are treated in absolute confidence and each month a confidential report, briefly outlining all current cases, is presented to the general committee. 


Welfare and the Future

British people have been coming to live in the Var since Victorian times and now, with cheap flights available from almost every airport in the UK, the expatriate community is growing significantly and this is reflected in our increasing membership. The Var is the largest department in France and our membership is scattered throughout it, which can make it difficult at times to respond to those are in need of welfare assistance quickly. We do need your help, both in practical ways and through the financial support you provide through our events programme and the sale of books and cards etc. Over the 10 years of the Var branch’s existence, a considerable and vital fund has been accumulated through the effort and generosity of members in organising and attending our many social events. It is this relationship between provision and need that gives the BA its character and purpose and the fund, which has developed from this, is there to meet both the current and future needs of members who, through no fault of their own, have run into difficulty. This financial resource is of necessity carefully husbanded by the branch committee, but all requests for assistance are considered with compassion and understanding and the confidentiality of all information is totally respected.

As most of our members are retired, it will come as no surprise that we are also largely an ageing community, with all the problems associated with this. These include reduced mobility, failing health, loss of loved ones or simply isolation and loneliness. All these can all have a considerable impact on people’s lives. It is both wise and prudent, where possible, to anticipate some of these things and the Membership Services sub-committee has produced information sheets on a wide range of topics to help you do so. Please have a look at the Our Publications pages on this website. As a member you can download any of these information sheets that may interest you free and at any time.

Over the years many members of the British community have benefited from the Welfare support of the British Association, and we believe and trust, that with your help, this will continue to be the case as we all enjoy the privilege of living in this beautiful part of France.

Welfare Contact
If you are going through a difficult situation, or know of someone else who is and could do with a bit of support, please contact us at one of the numbers listed below, or through this website at welfare@baofthevar.com Whatever you tell us will be treated with absolute confidentiality.

Welfare Coordinator:  Shirley Wrigglesworth


WELFARE and the B.A.

Prevention is always better than a cure !


I think it is fair to say that some of the welfare problems that we come across are avoidable. That is not to diminish the stress, anxiety and very real crises that can place folk into a difficult situation. Very often it is a lack of resources, both financial and physical that bring the need to the door of the BA Welfare, and sometimes a bit of a helping hand can in the short-term get things back on track. But sometimes there are longer ongoing needs and these are carefully assessed before BA funds are committed. Peoples’ circumstances change and perhaps more so at this point in time, with the economic uncertainty back in the UK and the rising cost of living and quite quickly, one problem can lead to another.

Part of the responsibility of the committee is to help people who choose to come to live here be as informed as possible as to the implications of that decision. It is easy to drift into a sort of ex-patriot bubble and continue in “holiday-mode” and be unaware of some of the responsibilities of moving to France. I think we all feel welcome here and support one another as much as possible, but some people can slip.

For those who need to work it is not easy to find employment here. The “black” economy is ever vibrant but not a good place to be as both the “employer” and the “employee” risk serious fines. And of course health issues are increasingly important as we grow older and we need to be very clear what we are entitled to and not assume “all will be well”: the ostrich approach will in time catch us out.

So it pays to think it through and get advice if possible. 

On the BA website there is a wide range of leaflets which deal with many, if not most of the issues that are relevant to the British community here. Take time to check them out as it is well worth having a browse through what Isobel and her team have been working on in recent months and seeing if there are any gaps in your planning. If you need any help or welfare advice do please contact Shirley Wrigglesworth.

All contacts are confidential.