CAT rescue charity Les Amis des Chats has four lucky black cats, as well as many others, currently available for adoption.
The charity, which is based in the north of the Tarn-et-Garonne, has a number of cats looking for homes.
More on: Lucky black cats, and many others, looking for a home
THE Fondation Brigitte Bardot is backing calls to change legislation that would see horses classed as pets, and bring an end to their meat being made available in butchers.
The Je Ne Mange Pas de Cheval offers a particularly graphic argument against the practice, which now sees around 20,00 tonnes of horsemeat being consumed in France, about two per cent of all red meat.
Legislation has been proposed in the French parliament by UMP member Lionnel Luca which would see horses come under the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, effectively banning their consumption.
CAT charity Les Amis des Chats has published its 2009 report, providing an insight into the work it undertakes.
The charity helped over 500 cats last year, ensured 40 communes were aware of its work in dealing with feral cats and spent €35,000, with 86 per cent of the expenditure in 2009 used specifically for the welfare of cats.
But the charity faces a difficult future as one of its most important financial supporters is set to withdraw its assistance this year.
THE devastating earthquake which hit Haiti has seen many people left homeless and thousands presumed dead.
France Télévisions has an in-depth news section on its site and is joining Radio France in working alongside charitable organisation, Fondation de France, to raise money towards helping the sick and injured.
It is possible to donate online through the Fondation de France website, as well as send a cheque via the post.
More on: Fund raising efforts in France following Haiti quake
There is a mix of both French and English groups, and if you are a member of an association please feel free to add contact details via the comment form below:
IF you are a horse owner then you might want to register your animal's details with Les Haras Nationaux, the national registration body in France.
Fortunately the Equine Rescue France charitable group has offered a step-by-step guide to the registration process.
You have to first set up an account informing Les Haras Nationaux that you are a keeper of horses and then you can complete the details of individual animals.
The website itself offers a wide range of news and information including a small ads section and an area for children to discover more about the world of horses.
THE evangelical church is gaining a growing influence in France with more then 400,000 believers according to the Fédération Evangélique de France.
The Guardian newspaper reports from a service in Paris, where the usual songs and music play, while pastor Franck Lefillatre talks to the congregation.
But the French belief of laïcité and a frim split between church and state has seen some worry about the growing popularity of the faith.
More on: Evangelical churches in France
AS so often seems to be the case when 'big name' websites launch in France, the one marking the work of Carla Bruni crashed yesterday when it opened its digital gates.
Now up and running Carlabrunisarkozy.org offers an insight into the life of the former supermodel, including her charity work and a little about her background and life as wide to Nicolas Sarkozy.
The site is still a little slow to load but if you want to learn a little more about the woman behind the French president an English language version of the site is also available.
Rev. Peter Massey is organising the fund raising event which takes place on Monday, September 28 at Maison des Peres, Rue St. Honorat, Lorgues (map).
The event starts at midday with Communion led by Father Ken Letts, Archdeacon of France, followed by a buffet lunch, and it is hoped that British Consul Simon Taylor will open the auction in the afternoon.
DEDICATED cat charity, Les Amis des Chats, will be hosting a celebratory evening of all things feline early next month.
Their Cat Celebration Gala Evening will take place at Le Brelan Restaurant near Tournon D’Agenais, Lot et Garonne on October 3.
The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of awards to the cat owners who have a story to tell about their own very special feline friend.
IT must take a particularly cold heart to leave your animals behind and return to the UK, hoping that someone else will pick up the pieces.
But that was the reason why Lynn Stone, of the charity Les Amis des Chats, took a call from a French family looking for a home for the animals.
"We took a couple of cats in the other day through some French people whose English neighbours had just upped and left their horses, their dogs and their cats behind," Lynn said.
More on: Brits head back to UK, leaving their animals behind
IT is set to be a busy few weeks for the Chaplaincy of Aquitaine as a number of events take place across the region.
In the Dordogne there will be a boules competition after a picnic on Sunday, June 14 starting about 12.15pm at le Port in Limeuil.
Bring some flat shoes and a strong arm, while a small fee will be charged to cover prizes.
More on: Music and fundraising with the Chaplaincy of Aquitaine
ANIMAL charity Les Amis des Chats is finding it increasingly difficult to find homes for its cats.
Lynn Stone, of the charity, said that the difficult economic situation is seeing people decide not to adopt any of the cats they have, with rehomings virtually at a standstill.
Les Amis des Chats ensure that all their cats are microchipped or tatoued, vaccinated and if old enough, neutered before being found a new home.
A GROUP of cyclists raising money for the Help for Heroes charity are setting off from Portsmouth to eventually arrive in Paris.
The BBC reports that around 240 cyclists will take on the challenge as they attempt to raise over £1.4m, money that will be spent on helping injured service personnel.
The cycle tour will take in many of the battlefields connected with D-Day, with each stage of the journey being used to remember the fallen of the different Allied nations.
THE charity, Les Amis Des Chats, has brought its knowledge of the feline world to the English class of a village school in Tarn et Garonne.
Children at the Touffailles primary school have been joined by Charlie, a cuddly soft toy, to help with English lessons but also involve the class in learning more about responsible pet ownership.
Lynne Stone, of the charity, said: "With the help of Charlie, and other cat related resources, the children have complimented their normal English lessons by using pictures of cats to identify different colours and recognise facial expressions.
A CHARITY vide grenier is being held in aid of Equine Rescue France and Medecins sans Frontieres in the grounds of Le Moulin de Lary, Cercoux.
The event tales place on Saturday, May 2 between 2pm and 6pm, with pitches to be reserved before April 31, more details on the Equine Rescue France website.
Related article:
Fighting for the care of horses in France
CAT welfare charity Les amis des chats is to taste a tipple or two to help raise money towards its day to day running costs.
The soirée du vin is being held in the hall next to the Salle de Fetes in Roquecor (map), offering people the chance to sample some of the wines of the region.
There will also be an auction of lots on the night including a real collector’s item of 007 James Bond crew jackets, signed by Pierce Brosnan himself.
The event takes place on Wednesday, April 8 with the doors opening at 6pm and entry priced at €10.
PEOPLE will have heard about rheumatoid arthritis and no doubt some will know how it affects you, writes Coral Luke.
I was diagnosed last year and I have it in my hands, wrists, elbows, shoulder, feet, ankles and knees. The pain is excruciating and I explain that walking is like walking on gravel with no shoes.
L'Association Française des Polyarthritiques & des Rhumatismes Inflammatoires Chroniques (AFPRIC) acknowledge that between 300,000 and 600,000 people are affected in France by rheumatoid arthritis and the affects of the obstacles faced by them every day.
More on: Arthritis association to sell nautical miles for research
IF you are keen to discover a new author, or just have a box of books gathering dust, then a Big Bookswap is taking place near Aiguillon, Lot-et-Garonne (map).
Hosted by Celia Bothwell, the swap offers you a chance to pick up an interesting new read or two, while those books left behind will be passed on to the Phoenix Association for its Great Euro Book Sale.
The book swap takes place on Friday, April 3 between 2pm and 4pm, and contact Celia for more details.
THE popular Phoenix Association book sale takes place on April 18, with all proceeds going to the animal rescue service.
This is the ninth sale with more than 12,000 books available all priced at €1, while people are urged to bring their own books they have finished with so that the selection is constantly fresh.
Even if you don't spot a book that appeals, visitors can always enjoy a glass of wine or a beer, as well as sausage rolls, quiche and home baked cakes.
More on: The Great Euro Book Sale for the Phoenix Association
MANY a postcard in France features the cute, sugar-coated, image of a kitten looking out of a basket of flowers, but behind such village scenes the problem of feral cats can be a real issue.
And whilst there are many animal rescue centres able to help out, the fact that cat numbers are rarely controlled causes problems for both local people and the mairie.
Lynn Stone, of the charity Les Amis des Chats, is involved in a project in the Lot et Garonne that aims to tackle the issue where the plan is to trap, neuter and return the cats.
More on: Offering a helping hand to wild cats
MEDECINS du Monde UK is looking for adventurous cyclists to sign up for its third London to Paris bike ride which sets off in July.
The three day expedition begins in the heart of London where bikers will set off through the bustling streets of the capital into the leafy suburbs to the relatively traffic free roads of Newhaven. From there the team will travel by ferry to Dieppe.
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to help raise funds to support families and organisations affected by the storm that hit south west France.
La Fondation de France is accepting online donations or payments by cheque, which will be targeted at those areas getting back on their feet.
The money will be used to support individual families and small businesses, as well as local associations and education services.
AT this time of year many people look back over the past 12 months and begin to think about the changes they might want to make in the future.
If one of these changes is to get involved more within the local community, or to pass on your knowledge to groups and associations here are a few ideas.
I have collected together a number of charitable organisation that I've written about in the past, who look to work with both English speakers and French, so that you can discover more about their work.
MORE commonly known as Restos du Cœur, this charitable organization has been in operation since the comedian and actor Coluche launched the idea on September 26, 1985.
Coluche, or to give him his real name Michel Colucci, became known for his irreverent attitude towards politics and the Establishment and he incorporated this into much of his material.
The basic idea of Restos du Cœur is that they collect food, money, books, toys and clothes for the needy and the homeless.
Anyone can use the Restos and buy a basic meal of soup and bread at the price of a full meal at another restaurant; all this helps to boost the charity fund to provide meals and other necessities for those in need.
WHEN Jill Tampin wanted to help raise funds for charity Cancer Support France (CSF) it was the kitchen and her own personal life that provided the inspiration.
From her home in the Aude, Jill is putting together a book featuring the favourite recipes of people, but also the stories behind the dish, that will help support the charity.
More on: Cooking up a dish for recipe book
At smaller ceremonies school children will be asked to read out the names of villagers killed in conflicts, while larger towns and cities will see young and old mix as those lost are remembered.
To mark the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, The Royal British Legion will be holding special ceremonies and events.
More on: The Royal British Legion marks Armistice Day in France
PAST winner of the Tour de France, Stephen Roach, is to jump back on his bike to raise money for leukaemia research in next summer's London-Paris Cycle Tour.
The 1987 winner of le Tour will be joining former England and Crystal Palace footballer, Geoff Thomas, whose charitable foundation has raised money in the past via following the route of the race around France.
As a warm up Stephen Roach will be joining Geoff Thomas and a team of 20 for the New York Marathon on November 2.
And Stephen Roach has special reason to raise funds as his eight-year-old son, Florian, was diagnosed with leukaemia last year and is now recovering at home in France after a seven-month stay in hospital.
Website: The Geoff Thomas Foundation
IF you want to be a WWOOFer in France then you might want to check out the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms website.
The international organisation has a strong presence in France and offers people the chance to hook up with more than 300 organic and ecologically aware farms spread across the country.
There is a membership fee of €15 for which you receive details of the farms that are open to volunteers, there is no age limit and it could provide an interesting way to discover those hidden corners of France.
Website: WWOOF France
And that place has become The Dharma House, a centre for people to study ecology, undertake meditation and learn how to lead a more sustainable life.
More on: Living the Dharma House way of life
THE English language helpline service, SOS Help, is holding a fund raising event in Paris early next month.
The book sale takes place on October 18 at St. Joseph's Church, 50 Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris (map) from noon until 4pm, where books of every type will be available, with paperbacks costing only €1 and hardcover books costing €2.
If you have books to donate then stop by on the day of the sale or contact SOS Help on 0146 214646 to donate larger quantities in advance.
THE Secours Populaire Français (SPF) is a French association, created in 1945, which has been declared Grande cause national that operates through donations and fundraising events.
They involve themselves particularly with the problems surrounding children and disadvantaged families. In the short term this is with food and clothing and in the long term, with the help of professionals to obtain access to culture, sport, leisure, health, vaccinations, housing and personal rights.
The Secours Populaire Français operates throughout France, and works with other partner associations, and offers help to anyone in need.
WHEN a disaster, or war, occurs one of the first things that collapses is the information infrastructure that lets people tell family and friends that they are fine and well.
The Guardian features the work of French based Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) which sets up communication facilities in trouble spots, or disaster zones, around the world.
Representatives of the group have recently been working in Georgia, where many families were split up and found themselves either side of the fighting.
TSF has been up and running for ten years and in that time offered help to more than 50 countries, and works with many telecoms companies as well as other aid organisations.
IN 1967 a young Breton schoolboy was shocked as he watched televised pictures of the Biafran war in Nigeria.
These pictures triggered a dream in the young Jean-Marc Le Bail to find a way to help African people. In 1978 he built his own house and joined an ecological society which supported third world projects.
More on: Le Village Gaulois in Brittany
THE Dordogne based animal charity, the Phoenix Association, is on the look out for any ferret fanciers.
A veterinary nurse who works with the charity has raised three male ferrets that are now aged two months, but which require homes.
They have been hand reared so are tame, however, like cats and dogs they come under the PETS Passport regulations so require full compliance with the scheme if brought into the UK.
If you can help contact the Phoenix Association.
THE former French president Jacques Chirac has launched a new foundation that aims to protect threatened languages and tackle environmental issues.
The Fondation Chirac was formally launched at the Musée du Quai Branly, in Paris, were he was joined by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan and three Nobel Peace laureates.
More on: Chirac launches foundation to help planet and languages
A COUPLE of new regional websites have passed through my web browser that you may find useful.
The first is the LFN Digestive (what a great name) which covers the Aude region and highlights local events as well as offers an extensive small ads service.
The other is Riviera Woman that has been set up to help women in the area connect and share advice on work, leisure and life in France.
Also check out an earlier article that featured other groups in France.
FOR many amateur cyclists the challenge of completing just one stage of the Tour de France during L’Etape du Tour is enough, but for Martyn Jones that's just a start.
Martyn intends to cycle this year's Tour de France course in full, that's 3,500 kilometres, in aid of two charities, the Association of Young People with M.E. and The British Heart Foundation.
More on: Targeting the Tour de France
I'M afraid my knowledge of horses stops at watching a few episodes of Black Beauty when I was a kid, but it's clear the people behind Equine Rescue France have a real passion for all things horse.
The site keeps people up to date with rescues and appeals for help, as well as news on the arrival of foals, but very importantly fund raising events to make sure the work of volunteers continues.
There are some stories of the conditions many animals were rescued from, but you can also find out about where they are now living and how they are all enjoying a much better existence.
More on: Horse rescue in France
A MOVE to France usually means a chance to take your foot off the gas and live a less stressful life, casting off those motorway nightmares and rushed visits to the shops.
A whole movement has grown out of this downshifting mentality, much of it led by my pal Tracey Smith who launched the first Downshifting Week from her home in France.
THE War Graves Photographic Project is looking for people to take photographs of every war grave of serving military personnel from WWI to the present day.
Volunteers are being asked to photograph the graves of British and Commonwealth service people, including those who fell during battles in France, to eventually provide an online resource of more than 1.75 million graves or memorials from around the world.
THE steps needed to bring your animals to France are likely to be high up on your task list, especially if you need to register for the PETS passport scheme.
However, for many animals it will be the first time they have had fields and woods to explore, and get lost in, but the stress of losing a pet for a few hours never mind days, can be very tough to bear.
There is an interesting piece on the Galgo News website which I help with about catching a dog that has escaped, offering many hints, tips and advice - including carrying a bit of yourself in a fizzy drink bottle.
THE British Volunteer Network is a non-profit making organisation recently created in Brittany that aims to offer support to English-speaking people in France.
Its support services are there for those struggling with illness or distress, especially at times when people have to spend time in hospital and are some distance from family members.
THERE is nothing like a waist-expanding Christmas to put you in the frame of mind for change, writes Tracey Smith. Especially if over-indulging in spending didn’t really jingle your bells.
Perhaps you found yourself craving more time with loved ones instead of shopping for them; it could be time to shift down a gear.
If you are aiming for a more self-sufficient lifestyle, look at the year ahead as a comfortable learning curve and prepare yourself as much as possible, perhaps for donning those wellies in the Ardèche.
RECENTLY the site featured a piece about the plight of Spanish greyhounds, abandoned by hunters and rescued by the volunteers of l'Europe Des Lévriers, see race against time to save the galgos Espanol.
To stay up to date with the work of the groups helping rescue the dogs drop in on Galgo News which features details of fund raising events, campaign work and stories of the dogs, written by Beryl Brennan.
A CAMPAIGN to rescue greyhounds, or galgos, used by Spanish hunters is being led by a French charitable group.
Here volunteer Beryl Brennan writes about the terrible treatment the greyhounds receive, they are often destroyed or abandoned at the end of the season, and how the group l'Europe Des Lévriers travels thousands of miles across the border to rescue and rehome as many dogs as it can.
THE popular Phoenix Association book sale, which raises money for veterinary treatment and re-homing of abused and abandoned animals, is taking place later this month in a new location.
The sale, on Saturday, November 17, will now be held at the Salle des Fetes at St.Georges de Montclard, in the Dordogne, where you will have the chance to cast an eye over more than 3,000 books, priced at just €1 each, as well as a selection of Christmas cards, videos, CDs and DVDs.
More on: Book sale for Phoenix Association
ALTHOUGH the internet can help bridge long distances between people, sometimes it helps to meet others over a glass of wine or a cup of tea.
This can be important if you live somewhere that is off the beaten track, especially during the winter months when a sense of isolation can descend as quick as the grey clouds.
THIS weekend sees the Pinkathlon charity walk take place around the village of Amou, in les Landes.
The walk itself takes place on Sunday, but there will be plenty of music and dance throughout the weekend including Basque music and Scottish bagpipes.
Organiser Maureen Grall says everyone is invited to take part in the 15km walk in aid of breast cancer and prostate cancer research.
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