EN 
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IT About us
We...
- We were founded in 1984 by unemployed people as a self-help group.
- We help all people in the Basel region who are unemployed or could soon be unemployed.
- We work flexibly and without a lot of bureaucracy. We complement other services.
- We are neutral and work well with all the people involved.
- Most of our money comes from foundations.
Our stance
What sets us apart.
Quickly accessible
find out what we mean by "quickly accessible"
- We work flexibly and unbureaucratically
- We offer short counselling sessions, but also longer accompaniment.
Independent
find out what we mean by "independent"
- We are open to all those affected by unemployment in the region of north-west Switzerland.
- We are independent of all parties involved and seek constructive cooperation
- We work in a network and support the networking of those affected
- We monitor current developments in labour market policy and social security systems and contribute these to joint committees with authorities and business representatives
- We are an independent voice for people without a voice
Needs-based
find out what we mean by "needs-based"
- The counselling is personal and individual. The aim is to find a solution together
- We promote the resources and health of those seeking advice.
- We base our project work on the idea of self-help and develop it together with those affected
- We support those affected in their search for meaning and promote their talents and abilities
- In our counselling and project work, we look for ways in which people can contribute to society.
Competent
find out what we mean by "competent"
- We have a wide range of in-depth expertise on issues relating to unemployment, job search, livelihood security and precariousness
- We have experience in empowerment, conflict resolution and health promotion
- We are sensitive to mechanisms of discrimination based on origin, gender and other external factors.
- We are experienced in making even complex official or insurance-related processes understandable for people who speak a foreign language
- We produce information material in the areas of labour law, unemployment, job search, livelihood security, precariousness and for project offers
Our team
Our competent team will be happy to help you!
Counselling
Cathérine Merz
Social pedagogue
Counselling
Manuel Schwarz
Social worker
Counselling
Meret Barfuss
Sociologist
Main tasks: Counselling
Projects
Sarah Zurbuchen
Sociologist
Main tasks: Projects
Projects
Sarkis Kurtcuoglu
Project manager
Main tasks: Projects
Important people
These people are of great importance to our specialist centre
Management Board
- Marcus Cottiati, GGG delegate, lawyer, President KST
- Reto Baumgartner, Director of the Basel-Stadt Trade Association
- Delphine Conzelmann, theologian
- Dieter Erb, lawyer and social worker
- Christoph Moerikofer, Mediator
Revision
- Beat Keller, accountant with a federal certificate
Patronage Committee
- Carlo Knöpfel (Lecturer at the School of Social Work, Basel)
- Lukas Kundert (President Church Council ERK Basel-Stadt)
- Ueli Maeder (Professor emeritus of Sociology, University of Basel)
- Udo Rauchfleisch (Professor emeritus of Clinical Psychology, Basel)
- Elli von Planta (President of the Social Conference until 2018, former President of UBS Employee Representation)
- Martina Saner (Managing Director Winterhilfe, Basel)
- Hans Schäppi (historian, President of the Solifonds, Basel)
- Martin Stingelin (President of the ERK BL Church Council until the end of 2029, pastor)
The association
The contact centre is a non-profit association.
Purpose of the organisation in simple language
The association offers a counselling service. This is free of charge. The advice centre helps unemployed and working people. People with a migration background in particular are supported. The advice centre helps with social and legal issues. It also supports self-help projects and groups. It often organises its own projects.
The advice centre monitors what is happening in the area of work. This includes labour law, labour market policy, unemployment and poverty. It works closely with other groups, organisations and authorities. It contributes its observations and ideas to joint meetings.
Financing
The organisation receives half of its money from foundations, churches and private individuals. A quarter of the money is for special projects. The remaining quarter comes from the government.
Thanks to:
- Arcas foundation
- Berta Hess-Cohn Foundation
- CMS, Christoph Merian Foundation
- Claire-Sturzenegger-Jeanfavre Foundation
- Ernst Göhner Foundation
- Protestant Reformed Church of the Canton of Baselland
- Evangelical-Reformed Parish of Laufental
- Protestant Reformed Parish of Reinach
- FBA, Fund to Combat Unemployment Canton of Basel-Stadt
- GGG, Society for the Good and the Common Good
- Municipality of Riehen
- Catholic parish office Birsfelden
- Catholic parish office Liestal
- Catholic parish office Sissach
- Church Council, Reformed Church of Baselland
- Koechlin-Vischer Foundation
- Commission of the working hut
- Commission "The world of work in distress", Catholic Synod of the Canton of Basellandschaft
- Louise Aubry-Kappeler Foundation
- Allschwil-Schönenbuch pastoral area
- Zwingen pastoral area
- Reformed parish of Sissach
- Reformed parish of Waldenburg
- Roman Catholic parish of Binningen-Bottmingen
- Roman Catholic parish of Reinach
- Rotary Club Basel-Wettstein
- Scheidegger-Thommen Foundation
- Unemployment Benefit Foundation of the Unemployment Insurance Fund of Basel Chemical Companies
- Foundation for assistance to employees
- Perspectives" foundation from Swiss Life
Donations
We would be delighted if you would support the contact centre for the unemployed with a contribution.
Every donation is valuable!
In the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Aargau and Solothurn, donations to the contact centre can be deducted from taxes.
Donate with a payment slip
Donate with TWINT
