UNCCAS, the union of the CCAS/CIAS
UNCCAS, the National Union of Social Action Community Centres is an association which brings together 4,000 CCAS and 6,000 municipalities and / or cooperation between neighbouring communes organisations. UNCCAS has as main objective to promote and defend the social action of proximity implemented by CCAS/CIAS. UNCCAS coordinates the action of CCAS at a department, regional and national level.
Likewise, the UNCCAS is involved in European projects (Grundtvig, Progress, Daphné) and has already initiated numerous contacts beyond Europe (Quebec, Asia…).
Finally, the UNCCAS was the founder, in 2008, of the Elisan network, the European network for inclusion and local social action (www.elisan.eu), whose aim is to give the local social action elected representatives a way of making their voices heard at European level.
Likewise, the UNCCAS is involved in European projects (Grundtvig, Progress, Daphné) and has already initiated numerous contacts beyond Europe (Quebec, Asia…).
Finally, the UNCCAS was the founder, in 2008, of the Elisan network, the European network for inclusion and local social action (www.elisan.eu), whose aim is to give the local social action elected representatives a way of making their voices heard at European level.
A national network working at local level
UNCCAS' assignments are numerous but all have the same basic objective: to provide an important technical and practical tool for people working in the social field.In order to do this, UNCCAS:
- influences and helps local public authorities and assemblies of elected representatives to promote a better social welfare policy;
- helps and supports its members with regard to their representation, their promotion, and indeed in the defence of their interests;
- informs them of advances in legislation, of assistance and social action and about social policies in general mainly thanks to made-to-measure legal advice, audits and training;
- supports local projects and action, runs the network and develops exchanges between CCAS;
- promotes the setting up of CCAS and CIAS.
Effective networking through communication
Communication is one of UNCCAS most important missions. Communication fosters a permanent and sustainable relationship with and between members, local institutions and UNCCAS’ network of partners.UNCCAS is a resource centre for its members use so they may assess and evaluate methods, transmit their observations, and analyse know-how. This voluntary policy towards communication is based on:
Organisation of congresses, study days, and colloquies
Paris in 2011, Marseille in 2012, Tours in 2013... UNCCAS organises a national
congress every two years. Study days and thematic colloquies allow CCAS
and CIAS elected representatives and professionals to obtain information
and exchange views on the current situation in the social field
on a regular basis.
Monthly magazine
Each month, “ACTES” provides an insight into the current situation in the
social field, both technical and legal aspects, through an indepth analysis of a particular subject, interviews, practical information, etc. It develops and encourages an exchange of experiences between CCAS in its section on “network activities”.
Technical guides
A collection of articles “ESSENTIAL INFORMATION” is regularly improved by new subjects, for example “Home help services”, “The Guide for the CCAS administrator”, “Residential homes in the face of a rates reform”. An article on “An analysis of social needs” is planned for the future.
The Wednesday Mail
The Wednesday Mail is more than just a source of information. Every Wednesday it arrives on the desks of the heads of the CCAS and CIAS which makes it a
real awareness raising tool on social news for the week.
UNCCAS in figures
- 3,900 Social Action Community Centres
- more than 82,000 service staff
- 110,000 beds in old people’s homes
- 30 million hours of home help
