It was close to closing at the end of 2023, but it is still there and plans to stay that way.
Following the resignation of the former administrators in November 2023, a new office made up of four members volunteered to take the reins of the Souché socio-cultural center, in the midst of a crisis in December 2023. “It’s a great team. They look out for each other.”reports Marion Athiel, director of the socio-cultural center, in position since April 2024. “For me, it was a mountain”confides Yveline Appéré, president of the board of directors. “At first, she just wanted to help out, in the end she found herself president,” s’amuse Marion Athiel.
Today, the structure has 14 employees. “The team gradually returned to full time. We made sure to replace the absences”indicates Marion Athiel.
Reaffirmed support from Caf
Even if it has managed to reduce its deficits and optimize certain expenses, the association must have three months of cash in reserve to stabilize its finances. “We’re not there yet”indicates the director. The two main financiers of the structure remain the Family Allowance Fund (Caf) of Deux-Sèvres and the City, which both pay a sum of around €130,000. In total, the center’s budget is between €320,000 and €350,000. Projects are in perspective to improve the premises.
Since the crisis, the socio-cultural center has remained open to welcome children and part of the activities for families. The leisure center focuses part of its efforts on welcoming children, a source of revenue. They continue to be welcomed on Wednesday afternoons and during school holidays. “We use fixed-term animators for Wednesdays and holidays and also Bafa interns”, indicates Marion Athiel.
An obvious sign of the center’s rise, the Caf validated the renewal of its approval after the presentation of a social project planned for two years instead of four, within which we find the co-writing of an ecological and solidarity project with the residents.
Encourage volunteers
To stay the course, the CSC also relies on the involvement of volunteers, both in participating in actions and in their development. “The residents didn’t want the center to close, so they got involved,” explain the president and director. The volunteers, for example, organized a garage sale from A to Z. Residents also launched the initiative of creating a garden. “What interests us is that the inhabitants of Souché can come to our activities », comments the director.
At the same time, the socio-cultural center continues to develop partnerships with the neighborhood committee, elementary schools, nursing homes, etc. He also has uses skills sponsorship and benefits from the services of a pre-retirement MAIF employee.
An adventure that is not easy, but Yveline Appéré remains motivated. “I don’t regret it. It’s a very enriching experience, especially on a human level”she says. “She does it with passion. It’s crazy what they did. It’s nice because it gives examples”concludes director Marion Athiel.
