Helping people

Supporting individuals and families

Our vocation is to ensure that British citizens resident in France, or those with close connections to them or to the United Kingdom, receive support if they find themselves facing extreme financial hardship, whether temporary or long-term. 

We currently help over 100 families located throughout France via a dedicated team of volunteers.
Our support essentially takes the form of:

  • one-off monetary grants for specific items
  • repatriation as and when deemed necessary
  • monthly grants, either temporary for short-term general needs, or longer-term for those whose situation is unlikely to change, such as the elderly and retired

To be eligible for help, and, except in cases of exceptional hardship, applicants must have been legally resident in France for more than two years, be registered with the French tax authorities and their disposable income must not exceed a specific threshold which is set annually. 
We aim to ensure that those applying for help, and eligible under these criteria, can meet their basic needs of housing, heating, food and clothes. We are there to share the burden and to help find longer term solutions if necessary.

 If you need our help and are eligible, we will ask you to apply online. Please contact us to start that process.

Some testimonies

Alan, single father

For Alan, a single father, the BCF was there to provide temporary support during a severe period of…

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Ben and Edith

Living in France since 2000. The unfavourable exchange rate significantly reduced their pension…

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Jill, single mother

Jill’s family – and the joy of being able to buy new shoes. Jill and her family came to…

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Bill, 55 years old

Bill, 55, a self-employed lorry driver, was no longer able to work after a serious fall at home. He…

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Caroline, in recovery

Here is what Caroline, 70, wrote to the HBCF after returning home following spinal surgery and a period…

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Sandra’s homecoming

A new beginning for Sandra’s family: how the HBCF made their return home possible. “I received…

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•    Your donations allow us to help a large community of people facing challenges. Thank you for your generosity.