Dealing with exclusion
"Stations are, by their very nature, a place where homeless people converge. Since it was formed, SNCF Gares & Connexions has been committed to a professional and standardised approach to dealing with exclusion. Today, systems are in place at more than 70 major stations to help destitute people with the help of specialist associations, local authorities and public bodies. In 2014, an internal training module was set up to help station staff and service providers to better handle difficult situations caused by the presence of homeless people at stations.
SNCF G&C has worked alongside the Public Rail Group (GPF) on the ‘European and solidarity station’ with 17 other rail networks in Europe to implement new solutions to manage homelessness, such as ‘HOPE in Stations’ managed by Agence Nouvelle des Solidarités Actives/Ansa, ‘WORK in Stations’ and ‘TRAINS in Stations’."
General interest campaigns
SNCF Gares & Connexions regularly supports information campaigns on behalf of general interest associations. In partnership with Secours Populaire, an exhibition-sale of works of art in digital form was presented in Lille Flandres station concourse in June 2016. Similarly, Paris Gare de Lyon teamed up with Secours Populaire to put out an appeal for donations for children whose families cannot afford to go on holidays. The collections and activities at the station helped to fund 956 days of holidays for children.
In late 2016, Paris St Lazare, Paris Gare de Lyon and Paris Montparnasse allowed Global Heath Watch to put up stands to teach more than 1,500 people about first aid.
In 2017, SNCF Gares & Connexions teamed up with the Agence du Don en Nature (ADN) campaign to raise awareness about the hardship of the nine million people in France living below the poverty line, including three million children, in getting everyday products (shoes, shower gel, school bags, toys, etc.).
The same year, donation terminals with contactless payment were installed at Paris Gare de Lyon and Paris-Est for UNITLIFE, an international organisation under the umbrella of the UN.
In 2017 and 2018, a photo exhibition on the theme ‘The Most Important Thing’ and stands (virtual reality, calligraphy, artistic performance) by UNHCR (the UN refugee agency) helped to raise public awareness about the migration issue. On 8th March 2019, the Samu Social humanitarian service was at Paris Gare de Lyon station for a ‘solidarity operation’.
The aim was to raise awareness among our customers on the topic of homeless women and present projects from the LaRueAvecElles campaign. SNCF Gares & Connexions led a presentation to customers about its commitments and partnership with numerous associations at a societal forum on 23rd May 2019 at Gare de l’Est. From 16th to 20th May 2019, 50 stations and a TGV INOUI engine were draped in the colours of the rainbow flag to mark 50 years since the Stonewall riots in New York, an iconic date for the LGBT movement.
This was a joint action with the SNCF Gare! association that has been fighting homophobia and transphobia for nearly 20 years.
From 12th to 15th July 2019, Strasbourg station hosted a photo exhibition titled ‘refugee portraits’, in partnership with the PAMONU / EU / Turkish Red Crescent.