What Afapei du Calaisis does

Afapei du Calaisis is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in the early 1960s, headquartered at 31 Quai du Commerce, Calais, in the Pas-de-Calais department. It is a parental movement affiliated with the national Unapei network ("Les Papillons Blancs"), which represents 330 associations and 900,000 members across France. The organization supports people with intellectual, physical, and mental health disabilities — from babies to the elderly — through a comprehensive continuum of medico-social services organized across seven activity poles: Enfance (IME, SESSAD, DORAH, Attente Active), Habitat (FH, EHPAH, FVPHV, SAVS, SAMSAH), Médicalisé (FAM, MAS Arc-en-Ciel), Travail Adapté (ESAT du Calaisis), Accompagnement Adultes-Aidants (CAJ, temporary'accueil, Plateforme Répit), the GEM du Dragon mutual-aid group, and adapted/inclusive leisure.

The ESAT (sheltered employment establishment) operates under the sub-brand "Opale Papillons" and includes the Brasserie du Détroit craft brewery, market gardening, recycling/upcycling, furniture production, and Saturday markets across sites in Calais and Balinghem. Auxiliary services include the Plateforme de Répit des Aidants (caregiver respite platform), Service Écoute (listening line), S3A accessibility training/labeling, the PhotoGraff interactive graffiti map of Calais (>150 sites), and the Com'Unique annual journal. Internally, the association uses the Fusion platform by Humane Projet for staff operations; no proprietary AI/technology stack is described.

Financially, the association operates on a publicly funded place-based revenue model: 820 authorized places are financed by the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) Hauts-de-France and the Conseil Départemental du Pas-de-Calais (CD62), with supplementary revenue from membership fees (€62/year, 66% tax-deductible), tax-deductible donations, ESAT commercial activities, and partnership contributions. With 450 qualified professionals across seven poles and multi-site operations spanning Calais, Frethun, Coquelles, Guînes, Balinghem, and Ardres, Afapei du Calaisis functions as the principal integrated medico-social operator in its territory, delivering services both directly and through coordinated networks such as Communauté 360 du Pas-de-Calais.

Name

Afapei du Calaisis

Legal name

AFAPEI du Calaisis

Website

https://afapei.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Afapei du Calaisis is a French parental non-profit association operating in Pas-de-Calais, providing medico-social services — residential care, sheltered employment, day care, respite, and caregiver support — to 820 authorized places across 7 activity poles serving children, adults, and elderly people with disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medico-Social Disability Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Medico-social services
• Disability support
• Specialized education
• Sheltered employment
• Caregiver respite

Headquarters

HQ city

Calais

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public institutional funding (ARS and CD62): The association is primarily financed through authorized places funded by the ARS (Regional Health Agency) des Hauts-de-France and the CD62 (Pas-de-Calais Departmental Council). These public subsidies cover 820 authorized places for accompanying babies, children, adults, and elderly people with disabilities.
2. Membership fees: Annual membership dues of €62 per member, partially deductible (66%) for tax purposes. Members receive the association's journal and the bimonthly magazine 'Vivre Ensemble'.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from the public (66% tax deduction). Donations fund solidarity projects within the association.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Afapei du Calaisis operates as a French non-profit parental association (loi 1901) affiliated with the Unapei national movement, delivering medico-social services for people with disabilities across the Calaisis territory through 7 integrated activity poles. Core offerings include specialized education (IME), sheltered employment (ESAT), residential and medicalized care (FAM/MAS, Foyers), day care (CAJ), supported living (SAVS/SAMSAH), home-based specialized education (SESSAD), caregiver respite and listening services, and inclusive housing. Services are authorized for 820 places, funded primarily by ARS Hauts-de-France and CD62, and supported by donations, membership fees, and sheltered-work production under the Opale Papillons brand (including the Brasserie du Détroit).

Product overview

Afapei du Calaisis operates as a parental movement association under the Unapei network, providing comprehensive medico-social services organized across seven activity poles. The organization delivers disability support through IME (Le Lutin des Bleuets), day care centers (CAJ Les Mésanges), residential facilities (Foyer Les Tilleuls, Résidence du Bord de Mer, Domaine Arc-en-Ciel), and adapted employment through ESAT du Calaisis branded as Opale Papillons, which includes the Brasserie du Détroit. The association offers caregiver support via its Plateforme de répit, Attente Active, Handi Loisirs, and Service écoute. Additional services include S3A accessibility training, PhotoGraff community mapping, the GEM du Dragon mutual aid group, and the Com'Unique annual journal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Opale Papillons: A brand under which ESAT products and services are marketed, including the beer 'A7' produced by the Brasserie du Détroit and other artisan products.

Products and services

• IME Le Lutin des Bleuets Institut Médico-Éducatif providing specialized education, care and therapeutic support for children and adolescents with intellectual, autism spectrum, or physical disabilities.
• SESSAD Zig Zag Service d'Éducation Spéciale et de Soins à Domicile delivering specialized educational and care support for children with disabilities in their home and community environments.
• CAJ Les Mésanges Centre d'Accueil de Jour (Day Care Center) providing daytime activities, social inclusion and supervision for adults with disabilities in Frethun.
• Domaine Arc-en-Ciel Medicalized facility complex in Coquelles combining a Foyer d'Accueil Médicalisé (FAM) and Maison d'Accueil Spécialisée (MAS) for adults with disabilities requiring intensive medical and residential support.
• Foyer Les Tilleuls Residential foyer providing housing, supervision and daily support for adults with disabilities in Ardres.
• Résidence du Bord de Mer Combined Foyer (FH), EHPAH and FVPHV inclusive residence in Calais offering housing, daily support, and the Atelier Gourmand convivial dining and cooking space.
• SAMO / SAVS / SAMSAH Combined open-environment support services (SAMO, SAVS, SAMSAH) delivering social, medico-social and life-skills support for adults with disabilities in their own homes in Guînes.
• GEM du Dragon Groupe d'Entraide Mutuelle providing mutual aid, social connection and peer-support activities for adults living with mental-health challenges.
• ESAT du Calaisis - Les Ateliers du Détroit (Opale Papillons) Adapted-work establishment (Établissement et Service d'Aide par le Travail) providing vocational training, employment and sheltered-work production for adults with disabilities, branded as Opale Papillons.
• Brasserie du Détroit (Bierologie) Artisanal craft brewery operated by ESAT workers as part of the Opale Papillons sheltered-employment program, producing craft beers marketed under the Bierologie label.
• Plateforme de répit pour les aidants Caregiver respite platform providing information, guidance, listening and temporary relief services for family caregivers of people with disabilities in the Calaisis territory.
• Service Attente Active Innovative collective parenting and disability-prevention service supporting families during the waiting period before access to specialized medico-social services.
• Service Handi Loisirs Leisure and respite service providing group activities, holidays and social outings for people with disabilities while offering respite to their family caregivers.
• Service écoute Free and confidential telephone listening and advice service offering emotional support, information and orientation for family caregivers of people with disabilities.
• S3A - L'accessibilité (training and labeling) Training and labeling service (Accueil, Accompagnement, Accessibilité) promoting mental-disability accessibility and inclusive practices for organizations and the general public.
• PhotoGraff (Plan des graffs de Calais) Interactive graffiti mapping project cataloging more than 150 Calais graffitis, created by CAJ Les Mésanges day-care users, delivered as an interactive map and a downloadable heritage book.
• Communauté 360 du Pas-de-Calais Coordinated community network of common-rights, health, social and medico-social actors providing integrated solutions for complex disability situations under the 'Réponse Accompagnée Pour Tous' approach, co-animated with La Vie Active.
• Com'Unique (annual journal) Annual associative journal and bimonthly 'Vivre Ensemble' magazine published for members, documenting activities, news and editorial coverage of the association's programs.
• Résidence Opale (inclusive housing and headquarters) Inclusive housing facility combining the association's new headquarters with inclusive housing units for people with disabilities, co-developed with Habitat Hauts-de-France.
• Atelier Gourmand de la Résidence du Bord de Mer Convivial cooking and dining space at the Résidence du Bord de Mer providing inclusive meal-preparation activities for residents and the local community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99/100 Index d'Égalité Femmes-Hommes (2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Eurotunnel (Getlink)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Eurotunnel delegation, including DG Didier Cazelles, visited ESAT workshops to observe diverse professional skills. Also sources used work clothing from Eurotunnel for recycling/upcycling projects at ESAT.
• ProfExpressminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 March 2026Partnership announced March 2026 with ProfExpress, France's leading online tutoring service, to provide well-being support for association employees' families.
• Nexem (3rd edition La Mêlée)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2026Afapei du Calaisis participated in the 3rd edition of Nexem's La Mêlée conference on the theme 'Presidentielles 2027: quels enjeux pour la solidarité?'
• CH de Calais (Centre Hospitalier de Calais)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2025A partnership convention was renewed (previous version from 2014) between CH de Calais and Afapei du Calaisis establishments to improve care for people with disabilities in hospital settings. Signed by Caroline Hennion (DG, CH de Calais) and Jean-Marc Lecerf (President, Afapei). The agreement encourages involvement of family caregivers in care pathways.
• Centre Ressources Autisme des Hauts-de-FranceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2025New in 2026, the CRA HdF holds monthly outreach sessions at Afapei's Platforme de Répit 'Le Répit des Aidants' site, offering autism resource counseling on appointment.
• Habitat Hauts-de-FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Partnership for the development of inclusive housing. Habitat Hauts-de-France partnered with Afapei du Calaisis to build the Résidence Opale, which houses both the association's new headquarters and inclusive housing units for people with disabilities.
• Les Jardins Ouvriers du SondageminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 September 2025Joint activities between residents of Afapei and local community gardens, promoting social inclusion through shared agricultural activities.
• RestallianceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 April 2025Restaurant/catering partner that funded interior design consultancy (Opale Décoration) for the Atelier Gourmand at the Résidence du Bord de Mer. Part of the association's effort to create inclusive leisure and dining spaces.
• Opale DécorationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 April 2025Interior design consultancy engaged by Restalliance to design the Atelier Gourmand space at Résidence du Bord de Mer.
• ERASMUS+ (Cap sur Madrid)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2025Three Afapei representatives (Jason Barsby – ESAT worker, Estelle Delepierre – insertion officer, Michel Duchâtel – administrator) joined a 19-person departmental delegation for an international ERASMUS+ exchange on adapted employment practices in Madrid.
• Unapei (Union nationale des associations de parents, de personnes Handicapées mentales et de leurs amis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfapei du Calaisis is an active member of the Unapei national movement, part of 'Les Papillons Blancs'. Unapei brings together 330 associations representing 900,000 members. The affiliation provides collective advocacy power, shared strategic orientations (2023–2030), and access to national resources and campaigns.
• La Vie ActivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTogether with La Vie Active, Afapei du Calaisis co-animates the Communauté 360 on the Calaisis territory, a community of common and specialized actors (health, social, medico-social) that coordinates solutions for complex situations through the 'Réponse Accompagnée Pour Tous' approach.
• Communaute 360 du Pas-de-CalaismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunaute 360 unites actors from common rights, health, social, and medico-social sectors acting primarily on Calaisis to provide coordinated solutions for complex situations. Afapei du Calaisis participates through its Répit platform and co-animation role.
• France Travail (Pôle Emploi)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular collaboration with France Travail Calais agencies for job dating events and inclusive employment initiatives. The 5th edition of a joint job dating was organized in 2026.
• La Fabrique DéfiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with La Fabrique Défi (Hervé Queugnet) providing adapted clothing and hygiene products for adolescents and young adults in SESSAD for professional immersion programs.
• Rotary Club d'Ardres-Audruicq-GuînesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative theater and dance performances with the Rotary Club, including events at Foyer Les Tilleuls and CAJ Les Mésanges.
• Login Prévention / CSAPAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessionals from Login Prévention and CSAPA participated in the youth forum organized by the Pole Enfance to provide guidance on responsible digital tool use.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• Nexem: National federation representing medico-social employers in the disability, child protection, and social-inclusion sectors. Nexem is a sectoral counterpart rather than a service competitor, providing HR, lobbying, and training infrastructure for Afapei du Calaisis and similar operators.
• FEHAP: Federation representing private non-profit medico-social and healthcare establishments across France. FEHAP is a sectoral counterpart providing collective bargaining, lobbying, and policy representation relevant to Afapei du Calaisis's operating environment.

Broad incumbents

• APF France Handicap: Major national disability association, focused primarily on motor disabilities but operating comparable medico-social services (residential, day care, supported employment). Larger scale and broader disability scope than Afapei du Calaisis.
• Croix-Rouge française: France's largest humanitarian organization, operating a broad portfolio of medico-social establishments including disability services, EHPAD, and ESAT. Competes for ARS authorizations and offers an alternative to parental-association governance.
• Unapei (national federation): National parent federation of which Afapei du Calaisis is a member. Unapei brings together 330 associations serving people with intellectual disabilities across France, providing the macro-framework and advocacy base within which Afapei du Calaisis operates.

Direct peers

• ADAPEI du Nord: Regional parental association for people with intellectual disabilities in the adjacent Nord department of Hauts-de-France. Operates the same IME/ESAT/FAM/MAS model with public authorizations from ARS and departmental councils.
• La Vie Active: Medico-social non-profit in Hauts-de-France that co-animates the Communauté 360 with Afapei du Calaisis. Operates similar disability, social-inclusion, and supported-employment programs with public authorizations.
• ADAPEI de la Gironde (APEI Bordeaux): One of France's largest ADAPEI associations, providing the same multi-pole medico-social service architecture (IME, ESAT, Foyers, MAS) under similar ARS/CD funding mechanics. Comparable scale and service breadth.
• Fondation des Amis de l'Atelier: National non-profit operating medico-social establishments (MAS, Foyers, ESAT, SAVS) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across France. Closely comparable operating model and target population.
• OVE (Oeuvre des Villages d'Enfants et d'Avenir): National medico-social association operating IME, MECS, ESAT, and adult residential services for children and adults with disabilities and social vulnerability. Comparable multi-pole architecture and public funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Afapeicalaisis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Afapei du Calaisis