I’m planning my next chapter of my French adventure for the end of this year (+/-). I wondered if anyone around Carcassonne may benefit from my own specialist volunteering help (potentially topped up when working over 20 hours per week) at their refurbishment project in return for lodgings. My situation is rather unique and I’ve been successful in helping people over the last 2 years, living with families across France normally through my Workaway account. I’m now in Cognac and then moving to Dordogne and then The Pyrenees. Now I have a particular region I’d like to explore - after visiting Carcassonne, Quillan and over to Andorra last week, my heart is pulling me to this area. I’d like to explore more and help others along the way. I’m looking forward to visiting a family in Saint Gaudens in late 2022 so the Aude area maybe a nice place to move onto next, seeing as it’s relatively nearby ! Well, it’s south anyway
For anyone who can help me, I’d love to help them in return.
I’m limiting what I’m saying initially as i have posted on some Facebook groups already (quite surprised to receive such negativity tbh) and i am a legitimate construction professional offering my help in property refurbishment. This isn’t a business advert but a request for cooperation but i do have websites and facebook pages where testimonials and examples can be seen. Thanks for reading!
Salut, J’apprende francais! But i have a long way to go. Ive only been here 2 years and visiting different people means im in places 3-4 months, therefore it makes training courses difficult. Once i find a good place for me (perhaps Aude dept) then i can do more training. But i get by and doctors, hospitals, cafe’s and general stuff and along with other workers/artisans too but there needs to be a bit of flexibility on the other side, like talking slowly etc. Im sure we have all suffered at the hands of people who are sticklers in France. But im loving it, and thats the important thing. I find reading French easier than listening but i am getting better. As for work, well i do everything and that may be a surprise but i am rather unique having run my own building and renewable energy companies in London for 20 years. Im registered here as an electrician. Im not 22 anymore so digging holes is something i may leave for a younger lad but brickwork, foundations, drainage, plastering, boarding, insulation, electrics, plumbing, heating, tiling, carpentry, under floor heating, air source heat pumps, ground and river source heat pumps, heat recovery systems, ventilation systems, photovoltiac, battery storage - the list goes on. My website with testimonials and links to google maps and facebook pages along with testimonials are available from my website www.sd-mp.fr and I am also capable (not registered though-as it is too costly so im not going to bother) of transportation at www.vrtransport.fr Hope that answers your questions! Feel free to email me from my websites if youd like more specific info or pictures of anything ive done, thanks!
I don’t want to be negative but are you registered to work in France? Are you insured? I fear you may be in a potentially quite dodgy grey area and if anything goes wrong eg you fall off a roof or something like that, it could all go very badly.
Aha… that sounds reasonable… although I would hope you could get yourself registered/insured to cover more than just Electrics… couldn’t you ask your Boss for a payrise ???
Ahh, the focus on making money as I did in England is not what motivates me now, so there is little point in over registering and going as highly qualified in France as i did with my previous businesses. Money really isn’t the important stuff in life is it. Of course we all need enough to get by and doing what I’m doing allows me to cover my meagre costs. Volunteering and helping others is where I now receive the most personal benefit, so no, I’ll just be keeping it small scale and go where people need me.
This is not focusing on you making money… this is focusing on ensuring that everything follows the correct procedures.
In France someone has to take responsibility for the work, in itself and for the products used… as well as for the person actually doing the work etc etc.
Thus if anything goes wrong (during the work or at a later date, within 10 years usually)… there is Insurance cover in place.
Helping people through volunteering doesn’t come with an insurance policy. You may find more information regarding taxation, pay and volunteering interesting reading here… however id prefer to have a cup of tea and read a book to be honest.
I applaud you wanting to volunteer… but please follow the correct channels.
If you mention that you have no insurance… it is then up to the person for whom you are volunteering … to ensure that their own Insurance policy will cover whatever situation might arise.
Volunteering offers no insurance, this is obvious-it is unpaid work, just like it bieng done by yourself (DIY). I dont understand your consistent argument? Can you please tell me about these channels you want me to follow? Then i will do so, thanks. I think ive already mentioned that i have a workaway account…
although I would hope you could get yourself registered/insured to cover more than just Electrics… couldn’t you ask your Boss for a payrise ???