La Vie Active

What La Vie Active does

La Vie Active is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901), founded in 1964 in Arras, Pas-de-Calais, and recognized as a public utility (reconnue d'utilité publique) by the French Government in 2002. The association delivers social and medico-social services across seven operational sectors — Childhood, Work (ESAT sheltered workshops), Disabled Adults, Elderly (14 EHPAD nursing homes), Social services, Humanitarian aid, and Training — operating 90+ establishments primarily in the Hauts-de-France and Paris regions with a workforce of 4,000+ employees, including 1,087 workers with disabilities. Its principal beneficiary groups are children with disabilities, dependent elderly, disabled adults requiring work integration, and vulnerable populations such as asylum seekers and refugees, with documented accompaniment of 2,661 children and adolescents with disabilities on a daily basis. The association complements its physical establishment footprint with targeted programs including the IntégraPsy mobile psychosocial teams and Integration Ambassador peer-support roles, two Centres d'accueil et d'examen des situations (CAES) for asylum seekers, two Services d'accompagnement vers l'intégration (SAVI) for unaccompanied minors, and a tutelary protection service for adults under guardianship.

The organization's revenue mechanics are characteristic of the French social economy: services are funded primarily through French social security, departmental councils, and the Regional Health Agency (ARS Hauts-de-France), supplemented by European project grants (Erasmus+ for the Open Up and For the Record projects; Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen for AB Réfugiés-Social), individual and corporate philanthropy through a dedicated donation channel, and a membership adhesion scheme. Distribution is largely direct, via physical establishment operation and mobile teams; there is no public product pricing because services are publicly funded. Digital surfaces are limited to content distribution: a vieactive.fr website, e-learning and OER platforms produced under European projects, a Solutions-ESAT commercial platform marketing sheltered workshop output, and a broad social media presence including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. No proprietary technology stack, API, or AI/ML capability is documented.

The association's strategic posture emphasizes European cooperation (partnerships across France, UK, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Cyprus, and Croatia), governance transparency, and cross-sector continuum-of-care coverage as core differentiators. It operates within a regulatory framework requiring Prefecture authorization and competes in a tender-driven French medico-social market alongside other non-profit associations and a small private operator base. No M&A, fundraising, or external investor activity is present; growth is internally financed and incremental.

Name

La Vie Active

Legal name

Association La Vie Active

Website

https://vieactive.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

La Vie Active is a French non-profit association founded in 1964 that operates 90+ social and medico-social establishments across seven sectors — childhood, disability, sheltered work, elderly care, social services, humanitarian aid, and training — serving vulnerable populations primarily in the Hauts-de-France and Paris regions with 4,000+ employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and Medico-Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Care & ADL Assistance (bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility) (HLADAGAA), Health Promotion, Prevention & Community Health Programs (BPAIAJAC)

Keywords

• Social services
• Elderly care
• Disability services
• Humanitarian aid
• Vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Arras

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Social and medico-social services: Association generates revenue through operating 90+ establishments and services across 7 sectors (childhood, disability, work, elderly, social, humanitarian, training). Services include EHPAD, ESAT, tutelary services, reception centers for refugees and asylum seekers, and training programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

La Vie Active is a French non-profit association founded in 1964 that operates social and medico-social establishments across seven sectors: childhood services, work assistance for disabled adults (ESAT), services for disabled adults, elderly residential care (EHPAD), social services, humanitarian reception of refugees, and professional training. The association runs more than 90 establishments and services, primarily in Pas-de-Calais and the Paris region, serving vulnerable individuals through direct, place-based service delivery.

Product overview

La Vie Active is a non-profit association managing 90 social and medico-social establishments across 7 operational sectors: Childhood, Work (ESAT sheltered workshops), Disabled Adults, Elderly (14 EHPADs), Social services, Humanitarian aid, and Training. The organization operates as a multi-service portfolio rather than a unified technology product. Key services include tutelary protection services, mobile psychosocial support teams (IntégraPsy), integration support for migrants and refugees, and 14 nursing homes. The association also participates in European cooperation projects (Erasmus+, Interreg) that produce educational resources and tools including accessibility guides and e-learning platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Childhood protection and care services Social and medico-social services for children in need of protection, support, or care, delivered through dedicated establishments under the association's Childhood sector.
• ESAT vocational workshops for disabled adults Établissements et Services d'Aide par le Travail (ESAT) providing adapted vocational activity, sheltered work, and supported employment for working-age adults with disabilities; 1,087 workers with disabilities are employed by the association across this activity.
• Services for disabled adults Medico-social services for disabled adults outside of the ESAT work environment, including residential, day, and support services coordinated through the association's dedicated sector.
• EHPAD elderly residential care Établissements d'Hébergement pour Personnes Âgées Dépendantes (EHPAD) providing residential and medical care for dependent elderly residents.
• Social services and guardianship (tutelle) Social support and tutelary/guardianship services protecting adults who are legally vulnerable, delivered under the association's Social sector.
• Refugee reception and humanitarian services Reception centers and humanitarian services for refugees and asylum seekers operated under the association's Humanitarian sector.
• Professional training programs Training programs delivered through the association's Training sector, supporting professional qualification and inclusion of beneficiaries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2661 children and adolescents with disabilities accompanied daily
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ouvrir Les YeuxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020French association created in 2000 to fight hereditary optic neuropathies (NOH). Non-profit based in Pas-de-Calais, recognized for assistance and beneficence, working nationally with regional branches. Cooperates with similar international associations supporting visually impaired patients.
• Innovation Training CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Spanish consulting firm established in 2015 based in Andalusia and Balearic Islands. Experience in research and development projects in vocational education, technologies and culture. Specialized team in developing and implementing innovative training programs.
• Hrvatski savez gluhih i nagluhihcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Croatian Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, created in 1921. Supports and conducts activities for more than 80,000 deaf and hard of hearing people in Croatia. Supports rehabilitation programs and protection, especially for communication and access to education and employment.
• INNOVADEcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2020Cyprus-based company specializing in international social innovation project development. Has web platform development team for pedagogical purposes adapted to different audiences. Works in education, vocational training, innovation and social entrepreneurship.
• Wren MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019UK-based non-profit association bringing together folk musicians working with diverse audiences including persons with disabilities and elderly. Lead coordinator of For the Record project. Partner in life story collection methodology using music and artistic expression.
• Poleski Ośrodek SztukicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Cultural center in Łódź, Poland, inaugurated in 1995. Offers artistic workshops for all audiences including elderly, with theater festival bringing together therapists, psychologists, educators, and animators.
• Servicio Madrileño de SaludcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Health services of the Community of Madrid, Spain. Contributes healthcare expertise to European cooperation projects.
• VerdiblancacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Spanish non-profit managing several medico-social establishments in Andalusia. Objective: accompany and promote social and professional integration of persons with disabilities (physical, sensory or intellectual). Partner in both For the Record and Open Up projects.
• EURIDEAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Italian company developing training programs in the medico-social sector. Develops and implements training programs through national and international projects, and creates e-learning platforms.
• Libera Università dell'AutobiografiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Italian non-profit 'free university' under scientific patronage of University of Milan-Bicocca. Develops autobiographical methods to promote transmission of collective and individual memory. Creator of the autobiographical methodology used in For the Record project.
• Centre de Référence en Santé Mentale (CRéSaM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018Belgian (Walloon) non-profit specializing in mental health. Fills 5 missions: support for mental health actors; regional observatory; research and recommendations; resource center and information diffusion; transregional and trans-sectoral coordination. Coordinates six Walloon specialized psychosocial teams.
• SéTIS walloncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018Interpreting and translation service in social settings. Belgian Walloon non-profit providing interpretation services in 23 rare languages for medico-social professionals and public services accompanying allophone persons.
• Secrétaire Général pour les Affaires Régionales (SGAR) Hauts-de-FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018Central role in regional community of State services. Assists the prefect in missions; coordinates regional State services; ensures coherence between State policies and EU policies; provides shared support functions.
• DREETS Hauts-de-FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018Regional directorate for economy, employment, labor and solidarity. Single regional contact for work policy, market functioning, employment policy, social cohesion, protection of vulnerable persons, and training certification.
• Service public de WalloniecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018Public Service of Wallonia - General operational directorate for interior affairs and social action, and Agency for health, social protection, disability and families. Belgian regional government partner in cross-border integration projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Croix-Rouge française: French Red Cross operates as a large nonprofit delivering health, social, and humanitarian services across France. Highly comparable in mission, governance structure, and diversity of service portfolio serving vulnerable populations.
• ADAPEI: Federation of French associations serving people with intellectual disabilities and their families, operating residential and work-integration facilities. Comparable to La Vie Active's disability, ESAT, and family support operations.
• APF France Handicap: Major French disability association providing services, advocacy, and accommodation for people with disabilities. Directly comparable to La Vie Active's Disabled Adults sector and inclusion-focused employment model.
• Association des Paralysés de France (APF): Major French disability association providing direct services, advocacy, and inclusion programs. Comparable to La Vie Active's adult disability and inclusion-focused service delivery.
• Emmaüs: Federation of French nonprofit organizations focused on social exclusion, housing, and economic integration. Comparable in serving vulnerable populations through community-based nonprofit structures across multiple French regions.
• UNAPEI: National federation representing associations serving people with intellectual disabilities in France. Comparable in mission to La Vie Active's ESAT and disabled adult accompaniment services, including sheltered work.

Others

• Fédération des Acteurs de la Solidarité: National federation of French social solidarity associations working on homelessness, social exclusion, and vulnerable populations. Comparable ecosystem peer to La Vie Active's social and humanitarian service lines.
• Médecins du Monde: International humanitarian organization providing medical care to vulnerable populations including migrants and refugees. Comparable to La Vie Active's humanitarian services in Calais and refugee psychosocial support operations.
• Fondation de France: Largest French philanthropic foundation supporting vulnerable populations, research, and social innovation. Comparable as a major French nonprofit ecosystem actor with cross-sector social focus, though operating primarily as a grantmaker rather than direct service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Clariane (formerly Orpea/Korian): Major European operator of nursing homes, assisted living, and home care services. Comparable to La Vie Active's EHPAD operations but operating commercially at much larger scale across multiple European countries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxFOVMI7tDO-mkTcMFeQJqA
• Facebookfacebook.com/associationlavieactive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-vie-active/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagraminstagram.com/la_vie_active
• TikToktiktok.com/@lavieactive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 La Vie Active