When Valérie Roger moved to a small French village, she had no idea that a simple act of helping her neighbours would spark a career that would span two decades and change countless lives. Today, SOS Anglo is a lifeline for English speakers in France, offering everything from translation to property searches.

Born in Courtalain (Department 28), Valérie started her professional life as a bilingual secretary. But in 2005, while living in the village of St Germain Le Guillaume, she found herself stepping into a new role entirely, helping her new Irish neighbours navigate French life.  “I helped them get a mobile number, sort out their electricity and water contracts, and so many other things,” Valérie recalls. “One day, my friend asked me, ‘Why don’t you do this for a living?’ And that’s where it all began.”

From Kitchen Table to Trusted Business

In the early days, Valérie didn’t have an office. She worked from the corner of her lounge table, travelling to her clients when they needed help. Nothing was too small or too complicated.

“If someone asked me to translate something, go with them to a doctor’s appointment, or open a new telephone contract, I accepted any work,” she explains. “I even started doing tax returns right at the very beginning.”

Word spread quickly. Soon, Valérie was helping not just friends and neighbours, but a growing network of English speakers who needed guidance with the tricky paperwork and procedures of French life.

Building Connections and Growing Services

As SOS Anglo developed, so did Valérie’s network. She began working closely with bankers, insurers, Notaires, and Mairies, creating valuable connections to better serve her clients.

“One day, I approached an insurer, and we decided on a partnership,” she says. “I would send them my clients for insurance contracts, and they would send me theirs for driving licences, car registrations, house relocations, and that’s how the business began to expand.”

In 2015, Valérie moved to Chatillon-sur-Colmont, and by 2019 she had opened an office right in the centre of the village. The company name, SOS Anglo, was her husband’s idea, a simple but powerful phrase that perfectly summed up her mission.

Looking to the Future

Even after 20 years, Valérie isn’t slowing down. She has just launched a new property search and selling service and plans to grow her work in translations for government offices, the police, and the courts. Visa applications are also becoming an increasingly important part of her work.

“I want to keep developing the services that people really need,” she says. “Property and translations especially, because they’re such important parts of life here.”

The Joy of Helping Others

When asked about her greatest moments, Valérie doesn’t hesitate:

“For me, the greatest moments are when I successfully achieve something for a client, especially when they’ve been trying for ages and haven’t succeeded. To be able to give someone peace of mind, that’s the best feeling. Honestly, I have the greatest moments every day.”

Celebrating 20 Years of SOS Anglo

From helping with electricity contracts at her kitchen table to supporting visa applications, property searches, and official translations, Valérie’s journey has been one of compassion, perseverance, and community.

As SOS Anglo celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, Valérie remains committed to her original mission: helping English speakers in France not just survive but thrive.

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