On 18th April 1805 was born the protestant Charity Society. Deacons have to see to gathering money at the temple’s door, reset this money to poor people, and verify if these people receiving this money really belong to poor people. On 27th January 1906, totally with the law of 1st July 1901 this Charity society has been changed into an Association, as from then called "Diaconat in Bordeaux". This Association, according to the law of the separation of the Church and the State (9th December 1905) is therefore very different with the Reformed Church Association.

During the whole 20th century, the spirit of the reformed church will serve this Diaconat, aiming
 the possess, broadcast and help the new social laws.
Another way to help, and not the least, is given to us through the social laws(General Assembly 1938)
 it is opened to all, ouside the protestant circle.
 It helps to fight against loss of employment. A very well explained report on the question of loss of employment is made when necessary by the Administration Council (1931)
 it also helps the families to find lodging.
Large families have a job to find a lodging, and when they do manage to have one, it is usually too small, insane, and yet, they have to put up with it, being impossible for them to find better (1918)

On an action of the Diaconat, is created on 26th January 1919, the Coligny society (personal low price lodging Society). The Coligny Society was the first to apply in France this system of low cost, as most of these people have many children.
 In 1979, was created by the Pastor of the Diaconat the Reseau 32 Association, fighting against people left on their own, the routine.
In 1984 first edition of the brochure "Orienter à Bordeaux", used by those needing this help.
 1989 - Organisation for people looking for a job, short time. (RMI)
Since 1990, using all possible legal ways, the Diaconat, enlarged its action for very poor people looking for a home.
 1992 the ALT (short time home) - re-renting
 1998 - Seeing to the good-running os the Home Center and Social come back, at the place called : Les Capucins
 1999 - Opening os the urgency social reception
 2005 - Opening the Help Center

 2008 - Opening of the Help Center at Pessac and inauguration of the New Center for women victims of violence

Together with other Associations, eversince 1970, the Diaconat has helped to create
 a Welcome Center for families having a parent in hospital
 AMOS : Economic insertion Association
 The Marmite - social restaurant
 Halte 33 - day reception
 L’Épicerie (market for these people)

Evolution of human means

A permanent way for a trained free staff

Permanent way for qualified professional people

 1943 welcoming and work is made by a team of free social assistants
 1944 a paid social assistant looks after the team of the free social assistants
 1963 a social assistant seats for for a full time
 1977 the post of permanent is recognized by the minister of the Reformed Church in Bordeaux for this action. This seat is taken by a Pastor.
 1992 several enployments for social workers. Creation of a seat for a manager and chief in the service
 2004 a Pastor employed half-time, a manager and 2 service-chiefs for a full time work, about 30 people employed, about 40 people working free.
 2009 about 50 unemployed people with 80 working free.

Association project.

Monday 1st June 2009
The diaconat of Bordeaux has had a very quick and important evolution these last few years. Located in an environment always changing, they have to be ready to face new situations. Its association project is the base on which it creates its actions and will create even more. These actions will be taken into consideration by the people working freely, who have, each one with a proper work, a great responsability.
Its story

The diaconat from Bordeaux follow its Charity society activity born in 1805 by the Eglise Réformée of Bordeaux. Formed into an associationaccording to the law of the 1st July 1901, recognized as a public utility on the 24th July 1908
Its missions

The mission of the Diaconat of Bordeaux is to help, no matter the original religion, idealogy or nationality, to people badly neading help. It insures a global penmanency on questions of social urgency, so as to inform the public responsabilities, on any situation needing badly a solution, immediately or in a short time. In the spirit of arrangements with the country or local associations, the Diaconat sees to place different services in general needs, for instance looking after people in great need of lodgings.
Ethic and structure of its action

Wishes of the Diaconat of Bordeaux :
Answer to a call of a social justice and love for our neighbour as said in the Bible practice of a same dignity for all and for each person as decided by the declaration of rights for mankind. It is asked for the same civic rights for all in economy, culture in this society.
Being independant in a choice and action, the Diaconat is known as being an action of the Eglise réformée of Bordeaux, being strong in its own action.
Objectives

The Diaconat of Bordeaux aims to be a place os welcome, receiving, without appointments, listening with much attention, people being excluded and in social urgency. It builds with all working around an individual project in order to answer all difficulties met by these people, bringing them to a social insertion, eventually, finding a work for them. They aim to a constructive result, in this common research for those remaining in this establishment
Considering that the right for lodging has not been done, therefore bringing to an exclusion, the Diaconat considers as a priority to seek a roof for these poor people. The Diaconat is much aware of the necessity of this research, fighting against inegalities. The Diaconat of Bordeaux is always looking forward to find new ways, always fighting to avoid seeing these poor workers, with a result of new health problems, whether they are physical or mental, affecting fragile persons becoming old too early.

Life in association

The Diaconat of Bordeaux is proud of its association identity, mainly because of an active work of the administrators, and the way they proceed in this work, also the work of free workers in this establishment. Aware of these important missions, the administration council put in place these different orientations deciding of the means to do so. It has a controling function on the general ways this association has to work
The organisation

It aims to a respect and trust between all
• transversality
• collegiality
• subsidiary
Surrounding

The Diaconat of Bordeaux means its action in a complementary way with a certain dependance with many other associations working in the same way. It is a member of the Protestant Help Federation. It is also a member of different other associations, for instance, collective working groups. Narrow relations are kept with local public councils. Its action mainly works on town Council in Bordeaux, and can be extended to other parts of the department of Gironde, working together with local associations.
Services and establishments

In order to reach these propositions, the Diaconat of Bordeaux, puts in place an offer, going towards the needs of the public,
o in reception and services social
o attending treatment preparing to an eventual professional job
o attending to medical needs giving a lodging, also urgent lodging (Centre d’hébergement et réinsertion sociale)
o lodgings
o activities in work shop
Humain resources

In order to face these social missions of general interests which they also have to look after, the Diaconat of Bordeaux was in need of qualified professionals. The size of free-working-people remains a very important part of all this work. Free-working people can come from many different ways, and they are completely involved in this kind of work done by the Diaconat. People paid and those not paid get on very well, in the respect of the work done, knowing the importance of each one, each one needing the other.
Communication

In order for our Diaconat to be known and all that is done inside the association, in order to get in touch with other friends, helping moraly or physically, the Diaconat tends to develop its communication

Conclusion

This project is called to get involved into an evolution of other social and administration projects in which the Diaconat of Bordeaux wants to belong.
The Diaconat is a place where you find people very much involved, taking a large part in the fight for more justice for those people very poor.
Project adopted by the General Assembly of the 28th May 2009