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Hang phone cable from window to help the homeless

People in towns and cities with windows facing the street have been asked to leave a plug extension lead dangling from a window – ground or first floor only – to help homeless people recharge their mobiles.

The Free Plugs initiative

The Free Plugs initiative by the Fondation de l’Armée du Salut was started because shop and cafe/bar closures due to Covid-19 made it harder for homeless people to find places to recharge the phones they rely on to access services, keep in touch with loved ones, or call for help. Although full confinement rules have been eased, the Free Plugs initiative is continuing for as long as the crisis is affecting daily life, a spokesman said.

It is suggested that you leave a plug dangling, attaching to it a printed A4 sheet explaining that it is there for those in need to recharge their phones. Click here to download the sheet and for more advice on what to do.

Read more: Refugee charity Care4Calais in urgent need of donations & volunteers

Heavy rock for hospitals

The Hellfest heavy rock festival, like other events, is cancelled this year due to Covid-19 – but organisers have been selling limited edition “Postponed 2020” merchandise to raise money for Nantes hospital. T-shirts with a “2020 has been postponed” slogan and masks (more than 30,000 sold in pre-orders) were available at hellfest.fr.

Read more: Franco-British charity helps those in hardship

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