Publié le 10/03/2026

The IMA Group and the Deux-Sèvres Department are committed to promoting professional integration and equal opportunities for young people in the care of the Child Welfare Services.

Many young people in the care of the Child Welfare Services (ASE) encounter numerous obstacles and difficulties in developing their career plans. To address this issue, the Deux-Sèvres Department is today launching a unique mentoring support project with the IMA Group to help young people in care in the department enter the world of work, which may lead to sponsorship.

The Deux-Sèvres Department supports 1,095 children in the care of Social Services and 235 young adults and unaccompanied minors, with a budget of €67.2 million allocated to this cause.
Every year, many young people supported by the ASE encounter difficulties in accessing employment, mainly due to a lack of professional networks, experience or guidance.
The Deux-Sèvres Department and the IMA Group, united by shared values of mutual aid and solidarity towards the most vulnerable, have chosen to commit to an innovative partnership that will strengthen existing measures and build on the strengths of both parties.
The Deux-Sèvres Department and the IMA Group are thus undertaking work to:
1. Promote the integration of young people into the world of work;
2. Initiate a pioneering reflection on mentoring/sponsorship of young people in order to ensure their harmonious development towards autonomy and their social and professional integration;
Through this partnership, the IMA Group is reaffirming its commitment to acting as a responsible employer, committed to equal opportunities and the professional integration of the most vulnerable members of society. It is strengthening its impact as a locally engaged player and consolidating partnerships in the cultural, social, humanitarian and educational fields. The Deux-Sèvres Department is very open to partnerships to enhance the effectiveness of its actions by working with recognised players such as IMA. Professional integration and equal opportunities need to be developed for children in the care of the ASE.

"The Deux-Sèvres Department is delighted to be working with IMA, a major economic player in Deux-Sèvres, to promote the professional and social integration of young people in the care of the ASE (child welfare services). We are already implementing a number of innovative solutions with associations such as ACSAD and Mélioris. The commitment of IMA, a company with a strong social commitment, is a new step towards ensuring the best possible development and integration for these children. It is pioneering and a wonderful opportunity."

"The IMA Group's commitment is based on strong values of mutual aid, support and solidarity. By partnering with the Deux-Sèvres Department, we want to put these values to work for young people in the care of Social Services in a very concrete way: by introducing them to the world of work within our company and by engaging in a discussion about mentoring. Our ambition is simple: to help give them guidance, confidence and prospects for building their future."

Concrete opportunities for young people who are distant from the world of work

Beyond mentoring activities, the partnership also provides for the development of concrete actions enabling young people to discover the professional environment. Among the avenues being explored are:

Immersion periods or internships within the IMA Group's business lines;
Discovering the company's various professional environments;
Supervised initial work experience, particularly during seasonal periods;
Opportunities to talk to employees in order to gain a better understanding of possible career paths.

These initiatives aim to give young people concrete insights into how the company works, develop their skills and facilitate their entry into working life.

Joint reflections on a mentoring/sponsorship programme to promote independence and professional integration

The partnership launched between the Deux-Sèvres Department and the IMA Group is based on the implementation of a pioneering initiative involving a mentoring and sponsorship scheme for young people supported by the ASE. The ultimate goal is to create conditions that enable volunteer employees from the Deux-Sèvres Department and the IMA Group to work alongside these young people, sharing their professional experience, helping them to better understand the codes of the working world, and supporting them in their career guidance and social and professional integration efforts.

This personalised support relationship will aim to boost young people's confidence in their personal lives and career plans and offer them practical support at key stages of their journey. The programme will be implemented within a structured framework involving teams from the Department and the IMA Group, in order to guarantee secure support that is fully tailored to the needs of the young people concerned.

A shared commitment to the region and society

By becoming a partner in this initiative, the IMA Group is continuing its commitment to equal opportunities and inclusion, in line with its corporate social responsibility policy. As a company with a long history in the Deux-Sèvres region, IMA intends to actively contribute to local initiatives that, alongside public authorities, improve support for people throughout their lives and help them build sustainable career paths.