Crédit Agricole Assurances provides funding to 17 local charitable projects for family and volunteer carers

As part of its commitment to family and volunteer carers since 2010, Crédit Agricole Assurances has announced funding for 17 charitable projects to coincide with France's second national carers' day.

In March 2011, Crédit Agricole Assurances introduced an annual call for projects, aimed at carers' charities across France.

It received more than 100 charitable projects, confirming the need for action in this area. 17 projects were then selected by a jury consisting of leading representatives of civil society and the Credit Agricole group. Between them, these projects will receive €300,000 of financial support, with the possibility of 1- to 3-year financing plans depending on the needs expressed by each charity.

Through this annual call for projects, Crédit Agricole Assurances seeks to encourage community initiatives. The aim is to support carers, who are often isolated by their responsibilities to a family member or friend who has become dependent as a result of illness, old age or disability.

The charities selected cover the whole of France and all carer needs, including training, information, respite and psychological support. A further call for projects is planned for 2012.

As part of its commitment to carers, Crédit Agricole Assurances has also adopted the following initiatives:

- "La minute des aidants", a short programme broadcast on the France 3 television network, at 10.45am Monday to Friday from 3 October 2011. The programme aims to acknowledge the importance of carers in society, and offer them practical solutions to help with their day-to-day activities.

- Multi-year support for French charity Association Française des Aidants, which is developing a network of 33 "carers' cafés" across France. These are places where carers can seek information, meet each other and share experiences (www.aidants.fr).

The 17 charities selected and their projects are as follows:

• Aide et Répit - Puy-De-Dôme region – "Aide et Répit Relais": a service providing 24/7 home support for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
• Aigue Marine C°- national / international - "Histoire d’aider": production of a documentary about Alzheimer's disease.
• AFIPAEIM family charity in the Isère region supporting mentally disabled children and adults - "3A – AFIP": wealth management training for one of the charity's volunteers.
• AFSEP -multiple sclerosis charity - in the Haute Garonne region: training courses and travelling support groups.
• ALFA REPIT - respite for Alzheimer carers - Loire Atlantique region: holidays for carers and the people they care for.
• Association Avenir Dysphasie France (dysphasia charity - national) – "Allo Dysphasie": free national helpline enabling carers to raise issues and seek guidance.
• Centre de Plein Air Lathus - Vienne region : training and respite for carers of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the people they care for, at an educational farm.
• CERESA - Midi-Pyrénées region: support facilities (information, training, respite, social and psychological help) for parents of children with autism.
• CHEER UP - Paris: training and psychological support for 350 young student volunteers working with young people with cancer.
• Espace de vie Saint Exupéry (Nord region) - "Parlons’ en !": support group, themed meetings and leisure activities for carers of dependent people or people with decreasing independence.
• FDFA (women's charity - Paris and Paris region): training of volunteers to work with disabled people.
• Fonds pour les soins palliatifs (fund for palliative care - national) "Plateforme e-findevie": online information source concerning end-of-life issues, palliative care and bereavement.
• France Parkinson (Lot et Garonne region): respite activities, cultural events, fitness activities, information meetings and training relating to Parkinson's disease.
• JALMALV (end-of-life charity - Seine-Maritime): training of a volunteer in palliative care and support.
• RESA (Savoie region): initial and ongoing training for volunteers visiting elderly people.
• UDAF - union of family charities in the Sarthe region: creation of an inter-generational family mediation service helping dependent elderly people and their careers.
• UNA - Pays du Perche  Orne region: fitting out and opening a new meeting place for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease or similar illnesses.