If you were only to go out once this first weekend in September, this would be the one. The Saturday 5 September, from 2.00 pm to 6.30 pmthe Fontainebleau-Avon Charities Forum moves into the House in the Valley, Avon. 160 organisations They have a stand there, which covers just about everything you can do in the area.
Organised jointly by the two towns since 2014, the forum has become the place where plans for the year are made: the children’s judo club, the art class we’ve been putting off for three years, the choir, the walking club, homework help, the neighbourhood association. The advantage of this format is that you’re talking to volunteers rather than filling in an online form. You often leave with a registration form and two or three ideas you hadn’t come looking for.
The 2026 edition centres on five themes : culture and leisure, wellbeing, community spirit, the environment, sport. You can sign up on the day, and a programme of demonstrations will take place throughout the afternoon.
A new addition not to be missed when you’re packing your bag: the charity «The World of Recycling», at the request of the town councils of Fontainebleau and Avon, is holding a collection of sports equipment throughout the forum. The idea is simple: to give a new lease of life to equipment gathering dust in cupboards and to make sport accessible to those who cannot afford to buy new kit.
What settles: the individual or group equipment (gymnastics, fitness, swimming pool, balls, rackets, nets, mats, protective gear, training accessories) and the clean sportswear and trainers, free from stains and holes, including specialist clothing such as judo or karate kimonos.
Things that don’t settle: the bicycles and helmets, which have been set aside for safety and storage reasons. The items must be clean, complete and in working order, or easily repairable, so that they can genuinely be reused. There is no charge for dropping off items; the scheme is based on charitable donations or exchanges.
Free admission. House in the Valley, 27 Rue du Vieux Ru, 77210 Avon. Bring one bag for the leaflets and a second one for the sports equipment to be donated.
Enquiries: Education and Sport Department, Avon Town Council, 01 60 71 20 34.
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