Our History
Bon Coeur was formed in May 2013 as an Association Loi 1901. Our statutes of association are here.
Objectives
- We raise funds by operating a volunteer run independent charity shop and other events.
- We give funds to deserving organisations which provide services to humans or animals.
- We operate responsibly in a small sector of the recycling industry and our unsold stock is forwarded to Le Relais, La Roseraie, St Emmaus and a company that pulps books.
- We provide enjoyable and satisfying activities for our team of volunteers.
Our committee
President Charles Miskin, Treasurer Guy Marshall, Secretary Peter Aldous
Members Pat Aldous, Rosie Marshall
Activities
Shop
We’re perhaps best known for our charity shop in Beauville. If you wish to shop there or make a donation, visit the Shop page for more information.
Events and Merchandise
We participate in a range of local events, such as the Macmillan Cancer coffee morning, the Brocante and Christmas Fair in Beauville and the Open Gardens Day, where we raise funds by selling stock from the shop. We also sell specialty Bon Coeur merchandise like our Bons Oeufs t-shirts and our cards showing local views.
In addition to third-party events, Bon Coeur organises four big events each year:
- A giant Bazaar and Book Sale in Spring
- Open gardens / garden fetes in Spring
- Franco-British Petanque match on the 14th of July. (Have a look at the website for last year’s event.)
- An Autumn Grand Bazaar and Book Sale
Neutering and the Ruth Smart Fund
A trust fund was set up in the UK by Ruth Smart to be used exclusively for the welfare of animals. The Association produced a dossier of information to demonstrate that Bon Coeur had a track record of contributing funds to assist local residents principally for the neutering and sterilisation of local cats.
The fund has now kindly made donations to Bon Coeur over the years, and we have spent 13 144€ on animal care (to summer 2020). The funds are treated as a separate cost centre within Bon Coeur and are dedicated to local cat welfare.
To contact us for support, please email a request to boncoeur@boncoeur47.com
Achievements
Up to December 2022 we have donated 130 000€ to good causes.
Here’s a complete list of the gifts and the recipient organisations.
Collaborating Organisations
Bon Coeur appreciates the support which it receives from the following organisations. If you follow the links to their websites you will find useful information about local activities, events and businesses.
Office de Tourisme Porte d’Aquitaine en Pays de Serres. Their website is bilingual French and English. You can ask them to send you their regular emails about imminent events.
The British Community Committee is an umbrella association to foster and coordinate the interests of British groups in France.
Our Community
Beauville is a village of 570 inhabitants in the Communauté des Communes de la Porte d’Aquitaine en Pays de Serres. It is in the département of Lot et-Garonne close to the border with Tarn-et-Garonne. Our shop is accepted as part of the small group of shops which help to keep the community alive.
Where we are
Volunteering
We are mainly a British group but we welcome volunteers of all nationalities. We are all unpaid volunteers. The shop is run in two-hour shifts mainly by pensioners. Volunteers who are still working and have less spare time are welcome to help us with events. Our volunteers can tailor the amount of time they give to suit their lifestyles. Our activities include staffing the shop, processing donations for display in the shop, moving furniture, catering and other preparations for events. If you have any particular skills or experience please let us know.