La richesse et la vitalité du monde associatif contribuent quotidiennement à améliorer la qualité de vie et à donner à la Gironde une identité dynamique.

Real laboratories of ideas, permanent forums of active citizenship, centres of spaces and exchanges, the associations entertain important relations of communication and partnership with the Conseil Général, promoting social connections while creating bridges between the generations, as well as between partners and actors.

The Conseil Général's policy in favour of associations is organised around four principles:

• promotion of the associative sector's diversity through support for associative development action projects, leading to long-term objectives and partnership contracts
• providing technical and human support,
• establishing strong partnerships with the heads of the department's networks of associations and direct, active involvement in the territories through local support on the basis of their associative development projects, with the aim of establishing long-term objectives contracts,
• placing a range of services, grouped together within the Centre for Sports and Associations (Maison des Sports et de la Vie Associative), at the disposal of the associations of the department, in particular by setting up a Resource Centre as a complement to the establishment of a Departmental Conference for Associative Activities.

A territorial approach to public policies: for day-to-day support and local advice

Ever more closely involved at the local level, the Conseil Général has chosen to organise its youth policy throughout its territories by means of 5 centres concerned with a range of issues including sports, the activities of associations, as well as citizenship, education and secondary schools.

These centres keep local actors informed about the policies and actions undertaken by the Department and advise them with regard to projects for the promotion and organisation of sports, and all actions concerning associative and youth activities, thanks to the presence of Sports and Associative Activities development consultants.

These multidisciplinary teams take complementary transversal views and their analyses give new impetus to the territories' projects.

The assistance and advice, which they provide to the partners, local authorities and inhabitants, as well as their coordination of the many projects for the development of associations, make it possible to establish relations and a common purpose for collective projects throughout the department.

Their assistance ensures that the associations meet with the necessary intermediaries for the effective implementation of their projects, actions, and initiatives in terms of both organisation and assessment.

For further information, contact the Department of Sports and Associations (Direction des Sports et de la Vie Associative) on 05 56 99 33 90.