Have you heard of PIMMS? They are the public services shops and the 24th is housed inside a station.
Profile of a centre
PIMMS, which stands for Point d’information médiation multiservices (Multi-service Mediation Information Points), are public service centres. Their function is to listen to the public and help people solve everyday problems.
Whereas EDF, GDF and La Poste form the basis of this structure, every PIMMS is different in that it is adapted to the environment and needs of its inhabitants. The partners have formed an association (self-financing), and all centres are members of a network (the PIMMS Union) which offers them its expertise.
A new idea
The idea originated in Lyon in 1995 and has made its way through suburbs and across the countryside. The 24th PIMMS was opened in February 2007 at Libercourt in the Pas-de-Calais region. Special feature: it was the first to be established inside a station.
The SNCF suggested the idea to the town, refurbished premises of 80 m2 and welcomed its partners: Tadao (local bus network), EDF, GDF, La Poste, Veolia Water and Libercourt town council. You can buy your Tadao travel tickets here, book a TER (regional train) journey, or arrange a repayment schedule for an outstanding EDF bill. You can also go on the internet, draw up a CV or a letter (3 PCs are available to the general public). But what is SNCF doing in this centre? Introducing a new presence in stations. Three mediators staff the service while a fourth walks around the station, adding a human touch and making it safer.
An idea that gives rise to others
From its first month, the Libercourt PIMMS received about fifteen people a day. When in full operation, it can receive between 60 and 80 people. SNCF's aim is to open a dozen PIMMS at stations in the next five years, and other towns have already caught on to the idea: Ambazac (Limousin), Lentilly (Rhône-Alpes), Donzère and Le Grand-Lemps (Isère). The Auvergne, Champagne, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Pays de la Loire regions are also interested in this 'in-house' solution.
