CIDIL: 30 years of commitment to serving rural areas in the Charente region
Hélène VAUDON
Managing Director of CIDIL
Work integration scheme
For 30 years now, France Active has been there to enable us to invest in and professionalise our work integration scheme and ensure its long-term development.
Montbron, Charente
Work integration scheme
In 1994, in an area of Charente that still lacked local services, a few local elected members and committed citizens decided to create an organisation to support employment and social cohesion: the Carrefour pour l’Insertion et le Développement des Initiatives Locales (CIDIL).
Thirty years later, the association continues its work with the same conviction: to offer a better future to those who are marginalised.
Thirty years later, the association continues its work with the same conviction: to offer a better future to those who are marginalised.
‘We are in a rural area, about 30 kilometres from Angoulême. Too far away to benefit from services such as CAF, CPAM or France Travail, but close enough not to be considered isolated. Consequently, we had to come up with our own solutions,’ recalls Hélène Vaudon, director of the association.
Offering more and more opportunities
In its early days, the association simply offered support services to job seekers.
It was when the Seuil Charente Périgord community of municipalities (now La Rochefoucauld – Porte du Périgord) acquired an old farm that the idea of creating a social integration project took root. This place then became a space for learning and knowledge transfer, where job seekers could train in construction trades, but also discover organic market gardening.
‘Market gardening is close to my heart because it symbolises a return to the land, meaningful, practical work, and the opportunity for everyone to see the fruits of their labour. It is also a very accessible activity for people in very precarious situations,’ emphasises Hélène Vaudon.
Creating a virtuous circle
Far from limiting itself to training in the building and market gardening sectors, CIDIL has gradually developed an ecosystem of solidarity-based and sustainable activities, creating a virtuous economic dynamic in the region.
The integration projects have diversified to include maintenance of green spaces, production and sale of organic vegetables, and production of vegetable jams. The harvests not only supply individuals, but also the Banque Alimentaire, local authorities and even a local secondary school, contributing in this way to reinforce the short supply chains and local roots. More recently, the association opened a farmers’ market promoting local products and providing training opportunities for sales professions.
All these projects reflect the same ambition: to combine integration with usefulness, proximity and solidarity.
A new beginning in Montbron
After years of development, challenges and successes, CIDIL is now preparing to take another major step forward: moving from Souffrignac to Montbron.
The new premises, located in close proximity to the market garden, will bring all the teams together in one place, enabling better coordination of activities and offering more suitable working conditions.
This project promises both continuity and renewal for the association. Despite the difficulties it has faced, CIDIL is committed to continuing to reinvent itself to meet the needs of its region and its inhabitants.
France Active, an indispensable support
Like many social and solidarity economy organisations, CIDIL has experienced recurring cash flow difficulties as a direct result of its fragile and demanding economic model.
During these difficult times, the association was able to count on the invaluable support of France Active, which offered to include them in the Local Support Programme (DLA).
This scheme enabled the association to conduct an in-depth assessment of its situation, clarify its strategy and put in place a realistic action plan to overcome the crisis.
‘Without this support, we would not have been able to move forward,’ says Hélène Vaudon.
For nearly thirty years, France Active has remained an essential partner of CIDIL, supporting it in its transitions and contributing to the sustainability of its integration and local development actions in the Charente region.
With a guarantee of
€42,000
With an investment of
€146,000€
Were supported by
France Active Nouvelle Aquitaine
Since 2005
It’s here !
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GSEF: key takeaways from the 2025 edition
At the end of October, representatives from around 100 countries gathered to attend the GSEF, the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum Bordeaux GSEF 2025. France Active took the opportunity to highlight the potential of the social and solidarity economy in addressing the major challenges of today and tomorrow. This is even more important at a time when economic, environmental, political and social crises are intensifying. Here is a look back at the three key lessons learnt from this unmissable event.
1. The social and solidarity economy (SSE) is gaining recognition and becoming more structured at all levels.
For its 2025 edition, the GSEF stopped off in France for the first time. Many French SSE stakeholders (entrepreneurs, financiers, local authorities, public partners, associations, etc.) attended to promote this sector, which alone accounts for 10% of GDP and 14% of private sector jobs in France1.
The French SSE model is the result of several decades of commitment and structuring. The 2001 Fabius law on 90/10 funds gave a boost to solidarity finance, while the 2014 Hamon law laid the foundations for more widespread development of the SSE, to name just a few notable advances. ‘This regulatory framework has, of course, encouraged social innovation, the creation of new models and the emergence of a dense and varied ecosystem of actors,’ explains Yesil Rusconi, Head of the European and International Affairs at France Active. ‘But it should be noted that this movement has also grown worldwide in recent years. We are delighted about this.’
In 2021, Europe has adopted an Action Plan for the Social Economy (SEAP). In 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution emphasising the importance of the SSE for sustainable development. Similarly, the International Labour Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) see the SSE as a key driver for a more inclusive and sustainable economy. ‘This formal high-level recognition is a guarantee of credibility for all stakeholders involved.’
2. Facing crises with a double response: cooperation and local roots
The Forum GSEF 2025 took place at a time when many questions are being asked about the future of the social and solidarity economy. With crises shaking the world, is its model at a turning point? Will it be able to continue building solutions for the future? Will it find the funding necessary to support it?
The conference co-organised by the Caisse d’Épargne and France Active, entitled ‘Financing together: a catalyst for cooperation and territorial impact’, outlined responses around a strong message reiterated by Yesil Rusconi: “To support a project and help it overcoming the various storms that are part of a company’s life, it is crucial to be able to count on a collective of actors. Hence the importance of mixed financing that mobilises public and private resources, banks, SSE partners or financiers such as France Active, local authorities, etc. It is through them that it is possible to have the right leverage. But also the right impact at the territorial level, which is the right scale of action for useful and sustainable solutions.”
In other words, the proliferation of solidarity-based cooperation in local areas remains the main driving force behind the social and solidarity economy. The appeal launched by Claude Alphandéry, founder of France Active, for his 100th birthday in 2022 has never been more relevant…
Reread Claude Alphandéry’s appeal
On the ground: CIDIL’s winning model
Combining mixed financing and local roots, CIDIL (Carrefour pour l’insertion et le développement des initiatives locales) has been promoting employment and social cohesion in Nouvelle Aquitaine for over thirty years. A project supported by France Active.
> Read the story
3. An international SSE: the paradigm for tomorrow?
Through its conferences, round tables and other opportunities for discussion, the Forum provided an opportunity for dialogue between regions and countries, thereby opening up prospects for collaboration. “All over the world, SSE is an alternative to existing economic solutions, which are showing their limitations. That is why, at this forum, we wanted to reflect on the construction of an international SSE. At France Active, for example, we are working with the Caisse des Dépôts and CIRRMA2 on the SSE and international issues. We are also strengthening our ties with the AFD around the structuring of financing systems in the overseas territories and the internationalisation of the French SSE,” concludes Yesil Rusconi.
1. Source : Direction générale du Trésor. Retour
2. Conférence inter-régionale des réseaux régionaux multi-acteurs.. Retour
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The solidarity funds 90/10: a French model that inspires Europe
Thirty years ago, a discreet and innovative financial tool was born: the 90/10 solidarity funds. Long overlooked, these funds have become a pillar of the employee savings schemes in France, while financing the development of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). Today, their success extends beyond borders and is attracting interest from our European neighbours.
With the support of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), France Active was behind the creation of the first 90/10 fund in 1994, the “Insertion Emplois Dynamique” fund, which is now managed by Mirova. Since then, we have been mobilising French citizens’ solidarity savings through France Active Investissement, thereby supporting companies and associations with a social or environmental mission.
A unique mechanism, a social ambition
Since 2001, companies are legally bound to offer at least one solidarity fund as part of their employee savings schemes. The principle? To allocate between 5% and 10% of the assets to SSE projects. The rest is invested in traditional assets (shares, bonds) or responsible management. It is a winning formula that allows employees to combine returns with social impact, and that was reinforced by the 2019 “Pacte” law.
The French Social and Solidarity Economy is a diverse ecosystem including associations, work integration social enterprises, cooperatives, social landlords, microfinance actors and more. They all share a common mission: to reduce inequalities, promote inclusion and place people at the heart of the economy.
A dual commitment for businesses
By investing capitals coming from profit-sharing or incentive schemes into these funds, business owners offer their employees the opportunity to give meaning to their savings. It also represents a powerful act for the company: engaging in a solidarity-based approach, supporting projects rooted in the ground and demonstrating a true commitment to social responsibility.
With such compelling advantages, 90/10 funds have a bright future ahead of them. What if their current success is only the beginning?
All citizens are concerned
These 90/10 funds are not only available to employees with a savings plan but even to individual savers directly through their bank or mutual insurance company via FCPs (mutual funds), SICAVs (open-ended investment companies) or FIPs (local investment funds).
Further reading:
- The French Social Finance 2025 (infographic by Fair)
- 23rd Edition of the Social Impact Finance Barometer by FAIR-La Croix: With over €2 billion in assets, 2024 marks a year of market consolidation for social impact finance, leaving its mark on the French savings landscape. (press release on the Social Impact Finance Barometer)
- The 2025 Solidarity Finance Barometer (in French)
https://vimeo.com/1143884421
https://vimeo.com/1143884398
Faced with uncertainty, saving continues to grow and is becoming a civic act among young people.
Solidarity Finance Week from 10 to 16 November 2025
To mark the Solidarity Finance Week 2025 (10–16 November 2025), France Active and FAIR are publishing the 4th edition of their annual OpinionWay survey, ‘The French and solidarity-based savings’. Against a backdrop of economic and political instability, French people are stepping up their savings efforts and increasingly want their money to contribute to creating benefits for the society and the environment.
- 62% of French people plan to save as much or more in 2026 than in 2025 (+7 points vs. 2024)
- 29% of those concerned say that the pension reform is encouraging them to save more (+15 points)
- 24% say that their savings are primarily intended to finance solidarity projects (+4 pts), including 37% for the Generation Z.
- 37% consider their savings choices to be a form of ‘voting’, 65% for the Generation Z.
The fear of the future is increasingly driving the French to save
Four out of five French people plan to save in 2026 (78% of respondents, +5 points compared to 2025), a record high. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents plan to save as much or more than in 2025 (62%, +7 points).
Surprisingly, this trend is also very strong among 18–24-year-olds: 71% say they want to save as much or more.
The fear of the future is the main reason cited by those who plan to save more in 2026 (50%, +4 points), a trend reinforced by political and economic instability in France.
Similarly, the current context surrounding the pension reform and the resulting uncertainties are driving French people to save even more (29%, +15 points).
In this tense economic climate, nearly 70% of the French people favour short- or medium-term profitability targets: 28% between 0 and 3 years, and 41% between 3 and 8 years (+7 points).
Solidarity savings are gaining ground, driven largely by young people
Despite this widespread concern, one in four French people say that their savings are directed towards financing social and environmental projects (24%, +4 points). This proportion rises to 37% among the Generation Z and 31% among Millennials.
The selection criteria confirm the difference in sensitivity: while capital security remains a priority (53% ‘overall’; 31% ‘first’), social and environmental impact is much more important to young people (28% of 18–24-year-olds cite impact among their criteria, compared to 8% of those aged 50+).
In terms of project types, savers would like to prioritise investing their savings in ecological transition (26%), preserving social ties and reducing inequalities (20%), on a par with the economic development of regions, particularly those located in priority or disadvantaged areas (20%).
Despite this interest, around 2 in 3 French people say they are poorly informed about solidarity-based savings products, returns and projects (65%), hence the importance of continuing and stepping up efforts to educate savers.
Pierre-René Lemas
President of France Active
These results confirm two realities: on the one hand, French people are saving more to protect themselves against uncertainty; on the other hand, they want their money to have meaning. This is precisely France Active’s mission: to enable every saver to become a player in a more socially responsible future by supporting entrepreneurs who are responding to our country’s social and environmental challenges. To achieve this, we are campaigning to ensure that everyone has access to all types of investments, including life insurance, and can thus contribute to solidarity-based savings. We also defend the idea of universal employee saving schemes: currently reserved mainly for large companies, in future they should benefit all employees.
Saving is voting’: a generational reflex
For the first time this year, FAIR, France Active and OpinionWay surveyed French people on their perception of saving as a civic act. The result: 37% are aware that their savings choices have an impact on the future of the society, and that saving is voting, provided that it is invested in socially responsible products.
This belief is particularly strong among the Gen Z (65%) and nearly one in two Millennials (47%).
Patrick Sapy
Chief Executive Officer of FAIR
Savings intentions have never been so high in our country. Young French people have also understood that saving is no longer just about coping with uncertainty, it is about taking action. Today, nearly 40% of them want to give meaning to their money by supporting projects that respond to the challenges of our time – ecological transition, social cohesion, regional development. For them, saving is no longer just an investment, but a tool for building tomorrow’s society.
Solidarity finance has been drawing on this energy for 40 years: every saver has the power to become an agent of change by choosing where to invest his money. Because saving, tomorrow, will also mean voting for the world we want to live in.
Methodology
The survey ‘The French and solidarity-based savings’, conducted for France Active and FAIR by OpinionWay, aims to understand and analyse French people’s opinions on solidarity-based savings investments. This study was conducted among a sample of 1,009 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over, selected using the quota method based on criteria such as gender, age, socio-professional category, type of urban area and region of residence. The interviews were conducted on 11 and 12 September 2024 using a self-administered online questionnaire on a CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) system.
Any publication, in whole or in part, must include the following full reference:
‘OpinionWay survey for France Active and FAIR’ and no part of the survey may be reproduced without this reference.
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A humanistic alternative for senior accommodation
Sandra GRENTZINGER
Director of the Marpa de la Doller
Assisted living facility for independent living (Marpa)
Marpa is a shared living residence that combines support for healthy ageing with a friendly atmosphere, enabling residents to maintain their independence while preserving their social connections.
Sentheim (Haut-Rhin)
Assisted living facility for independent living (Marpa)
Welcome to La Marpa de la Doller ! Located in Sentheim, a village of 1,600 inhabitants in the heart of Alsace, this assisted living facility can accommodate up to 25 residents. The average age is 87. All residents have their own private flat (40 m² studio flats for single people and 50 m² one-bedroom flats for couples), with the option of sharing meals and enjoying the communal areas, as well as socialising and taking part in activities. ‘The aim is for everyone to be able to participate in the life of the home,’ explains Sandra Grentzinger. ‘They can give their opinion on the weekly menu or the program of activities, lend a hand with food preparation or setting the table… It’s a real home, where everyone’s abilities are valued and their sense of usefulness is boosted!’
Unlike a nursing home, Marpa does not provide medical care. However, support staff are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ‘It is therefore a very good alternative form of accommodation that allows residents to maintain their independence and preserve their social ties.’
https://vimeo.com/1136142246
A strong associative tie
The first Marpa were launched in the 1980s by the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (MSA) as part of its action programme against dependency. The idea was to enable elderly people to remain in their villages. Today, there are more than 200 Marpa in France. The one in the Doller Valley opened in 2009.
But after fifteen years in operation, the organisation found itself at a turning point. The Covid crisis, a management vacuum lasting several months, sharply rising costs… Faced with these growing challenges, Sandra Grentzinger decided to join Marpa and became its director. She was already familiar with how the Marpa worked having gained experience at the MSA Alsace group, where she supported the various structures, and in her first position as director at Marpa in Huningue, which she oversaw the opening of in 2017. “After five years, the Marpa in Huningue was up and running. So I wanted to join the one in La Doller, both because I wanted to bring something new to the team and because I was attracted to its 100% associative model. The commitment to serving the elderly is particularly strong there.”
Consolidating the model
Upon her arrival, the new director set herself several objectives: ‘to overhaul protocols and practices, revitalise staff training and, above all, seek budgetary optimisations of equivalent quality in the face of sharply rising costs. We therefore reviewed all of our suppliers.’ During this period of restructuring, Sandra called on France Active. ‘Our economic model is based exclusively on billing residents, who have very little additional budgetary capacity.’ France Active then granted a €30,000 associative contribution contract. “This gave us some breathing room in terms of cash flow. In addition to this, I appreciated the follow-up. These regular exchanges allowed me to look at things from a different angle and refocus my priorities. Our challenge for the coming years is to preserve our human-scale model, which offers residents a real quality of life and support.”
Has benefited
from an investment of
30 000€
Was supported by
France Active Alsace
In 2023
It’s here !
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The circular economy comes to the construction industry
Joanne BOACHON
Director-founder of Mineka
Reusable materials for construction
We have successfully demonstrated the benefits of re-use in construction. Now we need to show that it is a sound economic model.
Lyon, Rhône
Reusable materials for construction
Minéka’s mission is to save construction materials from becoming waste by collecting and redistributing them, giving them a second life. It was a truly innovative project when the association was co-founded in 2016 by Joanne Boachon, a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture. “Specialised in environmental architecture, I wanted to construct buildings that respect the environment. When I saw an exhibition dedicated to re-use, it was a revelation. I decided to explore this path. I quickly realised that there was nowhere to find second-hand materials for the construction industry. This opportunity was therefore waiting to be seized.”
https://vimeo.com/1136142586
Paving the way for an entire re-use ecosystem
After obtaining her project management certification (HMONP), the young woman founded Minéka, combining architecture and circular economy. This ambition is reflected in the name of the organisation: ‘Minkéka comes from “Minka”, the Aboriginal equivalent of the phoenix rising from the ashes…’
First step: to build a network. “To begin with, I met with Anciela, an incubator for initiatives that supports transition projects, as well as a collective of architects who were involved in small-scale re-use. This allowed me to develop my entrepreneurial skills, do a proof of concept, write a business plan, knock on the doors of the first financial partners and supporters… until I was incubated by Alter’Incub.” It was here that the project took shape and Joanne Boachon met the France Active Rhône team, who provided her with financial support and offered her the opportunity to join a DLA (local social and solidarity economy support scheme) to learn about managing an association. “This support was crucial, as it enabled us to get organised and pay our first salaries.”
A change of scale on the horizon
Today, Minéka is well established in its region, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and works closely with other social and solidarity economy stakeholders and local authorities.
The association has 7 employees and three divisions: collection and redistribution, design office (for architects and contracting authorities), awareness-raising and training (to spread the practice). “We have therefore succeeded in demonstrating the value of re-use in construction. Now we need to show that it is a sound economic model. That’s why we are moving on to the next stage of our development with the aim of scaling up.” This will involve, in particular, a change of legal status. “We therefore plan to become a Scic (cooperative society of collective interest), which will enable us to involve our employees, partners and investors more closely in governance.” France Active Rhône will once again be at its side during this phase of maturity.
Viewpoint of France Active’s advisor
Estelle Rabiller, responsible for financing and supporting committed entrepreneurs
“Minéka provides an innovative and structured response to a significant environmental issue, while promoting solidarity and creating sustainable jobs. It was obvious that France Active Rhône would support the project.
Minéka’s main asset? Definitely Joanne Boachon. Her background and skills, her ability to listen, and her capacity to build a network of constructive partners at the regional and national level are the foundation of the success of this committed project.”
She has benefited
Several solidarity-based investment amounting to
€40 000
Several guarantees totalling
€45 000
A DLA
support programme
She has been supported by
France Active Rhône
Since 2018
It’s here !
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Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum GSEF Bordeaux 2025
The Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy (GSEF) gathers together local governments and civil society from all over the world to make the SSE a driving force for inclusive development. After Seoul, Montreal and Dakar, the Forum will take place at the end of October in Bordeaux.
The GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy) is an international organisation bringing together local governments and civil society networks to promote the social and solidarity economy (SSE) as a lever for local, inclusive and sustainable development. The network has 84 members coming from 37 countries and gathers local governments, territorial networks and civil society representatives.
Every two years, the GSEF organises a Global Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy, one of the largest international gatherings in the sector. This year, the latest edition will bring together 4,000 participants from five continents, who will meet in Bordeaux, France, at the end of October 2025.
A space of exchange and commitment
The Global SSE Forum has two objectives:
- To bring together leaders and stakeholders from around the world – elected members, experts, representatives of development agencies, networks and grassroots actors – to jointly devise more humane and sustainable economic models.
A final declaration will translate these discussions into political commitments and a roadmap for the next two years.
- To encourage the sharing of experiences and ideas from all continents. Designed in collaboration with the Scientific Committee and enriched by numerous contributions, the programme will highlight inspiring initiatives in the social and solidarity economy, through formats that encourage dialogue and diversity of views.
In this context, France Active, the leading funder of SSE in France, will be present with a delegation and will speak:
On 30 October from 11h30 to 12h30, during a round table organised in partnership with Caisse d’Epargne entitled: “Joint financing: a catalyst for cooperation and regional impact”.
Panelists:
- Caisse d’Epargne Aquitaine Poitou Charente
- European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA)
- France Active Nouvelle Aquitaine
- Carrefour Insertion Développement Initiatives Locales (CIDIL): an association promoting integration in rural areas, funded by France Active.
A conference moderated by Marie Leclerc-Bruant, Head of SSE at Caisse d’Epargne.
On 30 October from 16h30 to 18h00, FEBEA, of which France Active is a member of the Board of Directors, will represent European ethical finance at the plenary session on SSE financing entitled: “What are the challenges involved in consolidating SSE financing stakeholders?”
Panelists:
- Grameen Foundation – Crédit Agricole, microfinance credit, France
- SVSFund, Korea
- Aéma Group, France
- FEBEA
This plenary session will be moderated by Mr Dominique Lesaffre, Member of the GSEF Advisory Committee.
On 31 October from 10h15 to 11h15, during a round table discussion entitled “Citizen participation and territorial revitalization: towards the co-construction of public policies” with the participation of Margot Aubaret, project manager Fabrique à Initiatives at France Active Nouvelle Aquitaine.
For more information on the GSEF
and the Global SSE Forum
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A social and circular enterprise created within a detention workshop
Jacques GRIMONT
Founder of Yoti
Toy refurbishment
Thanks to France Active, we have benefitted from a unique support to develop and structure our whole activity. Their expertise, their advice and their fundings are an undeniable advantage to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.
Houilles, Yvelines
Toy refurbishment
In Houilles, in the Yvelines’ region, Yoti refurbishes toys, games and book with a unique aim: to reduce waste production while facilitating the professional reintegration of detained people. Founded in 2021 by Jacques Grimont and Vincent Corrèges, this enterprise belonging to the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), transforms prisons into workshops of refurbishment to give a second life to toys.
Refurbished toys, rebuilt lives
The first Yoti workshop opened in October 2021 at the Maison d’Arrêt in Bois d’Arcy, in a space covering more than 1,000 m². Since then, around 50 prisoners have been trained, thanks to a unique information system that tracks and secures all flows: cleaning, completeness checks, quality control, writing advertisements, etc. The result? Thousands of refurbished games!
The model has been thought out down to the smallest detail, including the industrialisation of a tailor-made process. The toys are then sold at reduced prices on their website Yoti-Shop.fr, via marketplaces (Label Emmaus), but also to local authorities under the AGEC law (games 100% coming from reuse), thanks to an offer tailored to public procurement.
A development supported by France Active and the Banque des Territoires
Building on this initial success, Yoti is thinking bigger! A second workshop opened in Le Havre at the end of 2024. By 2026, new workshops will open in the following prisons: Paris La Santé, Fleury-Mérogis, Écrouves, Orléans and Strasbourg. Ultimately, the company aims to process 10,000 tonnes of toys and support 3,000 prisoners by 2030.
To support this growth, Yoti has been able to count on strong financial backing: €720 000 provided by France Active and the Banque des Territoires, including a subordinated loan of €360 000. This funding will enable the company to consolidate a multidisciplinary team, build new workshops and meet its cash flow needs between subsidy payments.
A response to two major challenges
In France, nearly 100 000 tonnes of toys are thrown away every year. Yoti is committed to protecting the environment by combating this waste production and promoting a more circular and inclusive economy: ‘Working to reintegrate prisoners also means fighting recidivism and giving them back their place in society,’ emphasises the team.
The company now works with eco-organisations to collect used toys (Ecomaison) and continues to strengthen its social and environmental impact. Thanks to a hybrid model combining a registered association and a social enterprise, Yoti has succeeded in creating a unique model of production, support and transformation.
The perspective of France Active’s officer:
Diahara Toure, project officer at France Active Yvelines
“I met the founders in 2021, when Yoti was launched. Since the beginning, I saw it as an ambitious, well-constructed and useful project. With Jacques and Vincent, everything moved quickly: they had a clear vision and, above all, the desire to make an impact. What struck me was their ability to structure their development, to anticipate needs and always keep the purpose of the project in mind. Today, Yoti is becoming a real solution for combining reintegration and circular economy. I am quite proud to have supported this project at several stages: at its creation, but also during its initial development in 2022 and more recently during its scaling up alongside our partner La Banque des Territoires.”
Has benefited
from guarantees of
215 000€
from investments of
420 000€
Was supported by
France Active Yvelines
In 2021
In 2022
In 2023
It’s here !
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La Venelle: the temple of the re-use opens its doors in Montreuil
On the 3rd of September, 1,800 m² of shops opened their doors in Montreuil. This project brings together 9 associations willing to promote responsible consumption while offering people excluded from the job market an opportunity to reintegrate it. It is a fine example of cooperation around the re-use sector within the Social and Solidarity Economy, to which France Active is fully committed.
Site internet
On the 3rd of September 2025, 1,800 m² dedicated to re-use opened their doors. 9 shops will offer passers-by the opportunity to consume responsibly while enabling people who are excluded from the job market to return to work. It is not just about sales, as there are also co-repair workshops offered by La Recyclerie Sportive, sewing workshops offered by La Collecterie, and a café-canteen where you can have lunch.
Come to discover the structures present at La Venelle (six of which have benefited from the advisory support and funding of France Active) at 198 Rue Robespierre in Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis).Atelier R-ARE creates solid wood objects and furniture from materials recovered during the demolition of buildings. This association, legally recognized as an “atelier chantier d’insertion” , designs and manufactures unique pieces and layouts, making use of wood escaped from landfill. The other materials recovered during demolition are carefully sent to partners specialized in recycling.Emmaüs Coup de Main promotes access to sustainable employment by offering employees personalised social support and a suitable professional environment within its reintegration path. Teams of employees in the reintegration process, supervised by permanent staff, manage daily the 7 “ressourceries” and 3 logistics centres located in eastern Paris. At the same time, the association is developing a specific programme, designed to support families facing precarious situations, aiming to foster reintegration through housing.Emmaüs Défi is an atelier chantier d’insertion whose mission is to support people in extremely precarious situations to find a job, housing and access to healthcare, so that they can find their place in society. In its shop, this organisation proposes second-hand clothing and accessories.Envie sells reconditioned household appliances at reduced prices, takes back old appliances and runs introductory workshops on repairing and on best practices to use and maintain the devices. The equipment is collected and repaired locally in the Île-de-France region, thus promoting short supply chains. The goal is to sell 2,500 appliances per year, which would avoid 125 tonnes of waste.La Collecterie is a Montreuil-based ressourcerie created in 2012 that collects, sorts, repairs and transforms items that would be thrown otherwise to give them a second life. These objects are reintroduced into the cycle of solidarity-based and ethical consumption, while providing people in professional reintegration programmes a chance to work.
A look back at our reportage at La Collecterie:
https://vimeo.com/1121576745La Ressourcerie Du Spectacle was created in 2014 by entertainment professionals. The project comes out from a clear finding: in the entertainment industry, the equipment is frequently replaced and rarely re-used while others struggle to have access to it. In La Venelle, it offers audio-visual materials, sound, lighting, stage equipment and scenographic elements waiting for a new lease of life, as well as a self-repair area equipped with a toolbox.La Recyclerie Sportive is the first organisation dedicated to restoring and reselling sport equipment and materials. It collects items from individuals and professionals that are resold after repairing or transforming them.Neptune is an actor of the solidarity-based re-use sector located in Montreuil since 1994, working on the professional reintegration of more than 90 employees within its local ressourceries. The association collects, recycles and sells a wide variety of second-hand items, while also running workshops to raise awareness on more responsible consumption. True to its social commitment, Neptune will be opening a solidarity thrift shop at La Venelle.Le REFER, the Île-de-France region’s Re-use Network, brings together social re-use organisations, including ressourceries, recycled goods shops and specialized workshops. Based on a mutualist approach, it supports the growth of initiatives focused on mutual aid, sharing and cooperation to respond to contemporary social and environmental challenges. Advocating for a non-profit and non-competitive vision of re-use, the network now brings together nearly 70 member organisations committed to waste reduction and local solidarity.
You can also enjoy a delicious lunch at Parelle, the cafeteria run by La Collecterie.
France Active supports the circular economy and the post-first-life sector
France Active’s objective is to structure solidarity-based sectors, from collection and sorting to re-use, in order to increase the volumes of materials and objects processed. This approach also aims to preserve the value created for the benefit of local areas by supporting the local economy and the development of local employment.
To achieve this, France Active supports industrial business models that do not create waste, activities that promote repair and re-use, and solutions for waste recycling.
France Active invests to support the growth of organisations in this sector by financing the development of their volumes, their cooperation and their integration into the value chain. At the same time, it facilitates their access to the market and to a wider customer base, thereby contributing to a more inclusive, local and sustainable economy.
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