Our Teams give back in France
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has engaged in a series of solidarity initiatives throughout the Group to support the communities in which we operate. We are dedicating our resources, assets and connections to serve our communities in the most efficient and helpful ways during these unique times.
In France, the Group’s senior executives have collectively committed to reduce their compensation while our operations are being partially reduced, in solidarity with the teams. The amount not remitted will be entirely donated to organisations that fight against COVID-19 and bring aid to those most impacted by the socio-economic consequences of the crisis (job insecurity, social isolation, etc.):
> The Paris Fire Brigade protects the populations of the departments of Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne against the risk of fire and other hazards. Its 8,000 members are currently fully mobilised in the fight against COVID-19. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield works closely with the Brigade on a daily basis for our shopping centres located in Paris and the region. In addition to its protection mission, the Paris Fire Brigade plays an important role in citizenship and safety trainings.
Our financial donation will contribute to the organisation’s youth programme: each year, the Brigade welcomes 100 interns for a two-year military and civic training on first aid and firefighting.
> Habitat et Humanisme provides immediate material assistance to individuals facing hardship during the crisis (emergency housing, Internet access and computer equipment for remote learning…) and works to ensure sustained support for the most vulnerable populations through long-term housing projects.
Our financial contribution will help fund the construction and installation of the Saint-Charles House, an age-inclusive home located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, close to Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and the upcoming Tour Triangle. With 45 subsidised accommodations and two intergenerational shared apartments, the building is set to host a hundred of occupants by 2021.
> The Red Cross is a major actor of the fight against COVID-19, working alongside national and local authorities to provide essential services (first aid, medical support, homeless shelters, etc.) As a long-standing partner, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield regularly hosts fund raising events and solidarity initiatives together with the NGO.
Our financial contribution will help fund the “La Croix Rouge chez vous” (the Red Cross at home) national scheme, launched in the face of the outbreak. This initiative aims at supporting isolated people in quarantine through an emergency hotline and delivery services for essential goods: food, hygiene and baby supplies, as well as medication. Over 100,000 calls have been made since the creation of the hotline, and 9,200 orders have been placed, a third of them free of charge given the precarious financial situation of the beneficiaries.
> Solidarité Femmes is a national federation of 67 associations in France fighting violence against women. It shelters more than 5,000 women and children each year, and supports over 30,000 women victims (on topics related to physical and mental health, as well as social, economic and legal issues). It is also the organisation running 3919, the national Violence Women Info line. Faced with the increase in cases of violence against women amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has committed to support abused women by opening “safe spaces” in our shopping centres, together with the French Government and a number of women’s rights organisations. This financial donation will enable the associations of Solidarité Femmes to be better equipped (computers, telephones and protective tools such as masks) and to reinforce their staff (hotline, shelters, child care) to go through the crisis.
In addition, the Group’s shopping centres in France are taking part in the “Solidarity Funding Pots” initiative launched within the framework of our #KindnessTogether campaign. In partnership with local organisations, our teams are raising money on the French crowdfunding website Le Pot Solidaire to support associations or public institutions in urgent need of funding or equipment.
A social media campaign was launched to raise awareness of the various projects and encourage our customers, as well as members of the local communities, to participate. For each euro donated, the shopping centre will give double the amount. Our centres donated €64,000 to kickstart the operation, and will contribute up to €130,000 in addition to the total raised by the end of the campaign.
Working closely with local authorities, we have built partnerships with the AP-HP Foundation (Westfield Forum des Halles), the Lille Foundation (Westfield Euralille), the Lyon Teaching Hospital (La Part-Dieu), the public nursing home of Cagnes-sur-Mer (Polygone Riviera), the Dijon Teaching Hospital (Toison D’or), the Versailles Hospital (Westfield Parly 2), the Franco-British Hospital of Levallois-Perret (So Ouest), and more.
All these solidarity actions are in line with the Group’s purpose, Reinvent Being Together, which Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield now embodies in new ways by acting in support of local communities through initiatives adapted to the current needs.
In France, the Group’s senior executives have collectively committed to reduce their compensation while our operations are being partially reduced, in solidarity with the teams. The amount not remitted will be entirely donated to organisations that fight against COVID-19 and bring aid to those most impacted by the socio-economic consequences of the crisis (job insecurity, social isolation, etc.):
> The Paris Fire Brigade protects the populations of the departments of Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne against the risk of fire and other hazards. Its 8,000 members are currently fully mobilised in the fight against COVID-19. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield works closely with the Brigade on a daily basis for our shopping centres located in Paris and the region. In addition to its protection mission, the Paris Fire Brigade plays an important role in citizenship and safety trainings.
Our financial donation will contribute to the organisation’s youth programme: each year, the Brigade welcomes 100 interns for a two-year military and civic training on first aid and firefighting.
> Habitat et Humanisme provides immediate material assistance to individuals facing hardship during the crisis (emergency housing, Internet access and computer equipment for remote learning…) and works to ensure sustained support for the most vulnerable populations through long-term housing projects.
Our financial contribution will help fund the construction and installation of the Saint-Charles House, an age-inclusive home located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, close to Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and the upcoming Tour Triangle. With 45 subsidised accommodations and two intergenerational shared apartments, the building is set to host a hundred of occupants by 2021.
> The Red Cross is a major actor of the fight against COVID-19, working alongside national and local authorities to provide essential services (first aid, medical support, homeless shelters, etc.) As a long-standing partner, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield regularly hosts fund raising events and solidarity initiatives together with the NGO.
Our financial contribution will help fund the “La Croix Rouge chez vous” (the Red Cross at home) national scheme, launched in the face of the outbreak. This initiative aims at supporting isolated people in quarantine through an emergency hotline and delivery services for essential goods: food, hygiene and baby supplies, as well as medication. Over 100,000 calls have been made since the creation of the hotline, and 9,200 orders have been placed, a third of them free of charge given the precarious financial situation of the beneficiaries.
> Solidarité Femmes is a national federation of 67 associations in France fighting violence against women. It shelters more than 5,000 women and children each year, and supports over 30,000 women victims (on topics related to physical and mental health, as well as social, economic and legal issues). It is also the organisation running 3919, the national Violence Women Info line. Faced with the increase in cases of violence against women amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has committed to support abused women by opening “safe spaces” in our shopping centres, together with the French Government and a number of women’s rights organisations. This financial donation will enable the associations of Solidarité Femmes to be better equipped (computers, telephones and protective tools such as masks) and to reinforce their staff (hotline, shelters, child care) to go through the crisis.
In addition, the Group’s shopping centres in France are taking part in the “Solidarity Funding Pots” initiative launched within the framework of our #KindnessTogether campaign. In partnership with local organisations, our teams are raising money on the French crowdfunding website Le Pot Solidaire to support associations or public institutions in urgent need of funding or equipment.
A social media campaign was launched to raise awareness of the various projects and encourage our customers, as well as members of the local communities, to participate. For each euro donated, the shopping centre will give double the amount. Our centres donated €64,000 to kickstart the operation, and will contribute up to €130,000 in addition to the total raised by the end of the campaign.
Working closely with local authorities, we have built partnerships with the AP-HP Foundation (Westfield Forum des Halles), the Lille Foundation (Westfield Euralille), the Lyon Teaching Hospital (La Part-Dieu), the public nursing home of Cagnes-sur-Mer (Polygone Riviera), the Dijon Teaching Hospital (Toison D’or), the Versailles Hospital (Westfield Parly 2), the Franco-British Hospital of Levallois-Perret (So Ouest), and more.
All these solidarity actions are in line with the Group’s purpose, Reinvent Being Together, which Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield now embodies in new ways by acting in support of local communities through initiatives adapted to the current needs.
