Le Cheval Bleu

What Le Cheval Bleu does

Le Cheval Bleu is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 2004 and headquartered in Bully-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais. It operates as a territorial mental health platform (plateforme territoriale de santé mentale) serving the Lens-Liévin and Hénin-Carvin communities — 55 communes and approximately 398,495 inhabitants. The association integrates psychiatric care, housing, social insertion, professional pre-insertion, and therapeutic group work for people in precarious situations with psychological difficulties, including those with formal psychic disabilities (oriented by MDPH), RSA beneficiaries, victims and perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence, homeless individuals, and isolated adults.

The platform delivers services through multiple coordinated modalities: a mobile psychiatric team (EMPP) reaching approximately 450 people per year who would not otherwise access care; a SAMSAH medico-social support service for adults with psychic disabilities; a 20-studio Résidence Accueil with collective spaces; associative shared apartments; 5 emergency housing units referred via SIAO; an evaluation apartment; a specialized psychiatric health center (opened January 2021) with tiers payant and Mon Parcours Psy conventions; three pre-insertion workshops (market gardening, renovation/maintenance, premises cleaning); open-access Club and creative workshops; the GEM L'Ancre Bleue mutual aid group; therapeutic groups for perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence referred by courts and SPIP; and a forthcoming Clubhouse. A Qualiopi-certified training center offers PSSM and professional posture courses. Digital infrastructure is minimal: an AI-boosted resource guide (guide.lechevalbleu.fr) and a formation catalog.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through public institutional funding — ARS Hauts-de-France, Conseil Départemental du Pas-de-Calais, Préfecture, CPAM, and MDPH-related grants — with minor contribution from tiers payant health-center fees and training sales. The organization claims more than 200 partnerships across social, psychiatric, judicial, educational, housing, and municipal sectors, and co-founded the first CLSM (Conseil Local de Santé Mentale) in Pas-de-Calais in 2014-2015. No private equity, venture capital, or corporate parent is present.

Name

Le Cheval Bleu

Legal name

Le Cheval Bleu

Website

https://lechevalbleu.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Le Cheval Bleu is a French non-profit association operating a territorial mental health platform in Pas-de-Calais, delivering psychiatric care, housing, pre-insertion workshops, and violence-perpetrator programs across 55 communes for vulnerable individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health and Social Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Mental health services
• Psychiatric mobile outreach
• Medico-social support
• Social housing programs
• Violence perpetrator therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bully-les-mines

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public institutional funding: Le Cheval Bleu is funded through public institutional partnerships, including ARS (Regional Health Agency), the Conseil Départemental du Pas-de-Calais, the Préfecture, and other government bodies. Funding supports the full range of services including the mobile team, SAMSAH, residence, apartments, insertion workshops, health center, and professional support actions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Le Cheval Bleu is a territorial mental health platform (plateforme territoriale de santé mentale) delivering integrated psychiatric, social, housing, and pre-professional accompaniment services to vulnerable individuals across the Lens-Hénin territory in Pas-de-Calais. Its portfolio includes mobile psychiatric outreach (EMPP), SAMSAH medico-social support, residential housing (Résidence Accueil, shared apartments, emergency housing), pre-insertion workshops, a psychiatric health center, therapeutic groups for perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence, and a professional training center.

Product overview

Le Cheval Bleu is a territorial mental health platform (plateforme territoriale de santé mentale) providing integrated, multi-disciplinary support services across the Lens-Hénin territory in France. The organization operates as a unified platform combining multiple coordinated services including: mobile psychiatric care (EMPP), specialized accommodation (Résidence Accueil with 20 studios, shared apartments, emergency housing, evaluation apartments), pre-employment workshops (maraichage, renovation, cleaning), therapeutic groups for violence perpetrators, and community spaces (Club, creative workshops, GEM). The portfolio also includes a health center (opened 2021) offering psychiatric and psychological consultations, SAMSAH disability support services, housing support programs (VIAL, AML, FNAVDL), a Local Mental Health Council (CLSM), a Clubhouse model program, a training center offering PSSM certification, and an AI-powered mental health resource guide. The organization manages over 200 partnerships and serves approximately 398,495 inhabitants across 55 municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Plateforme Territoriale de Santé Mentale: The territorial mental health platform concept under which Le Cheval Bleu coordinates its multiple services including mobile teams, SAMSAH, housing, and insertion programs.
• Le Cheval Bleu Formation

Products and services

• Centre de Santé (psychiatric health center) Specialized psychiatric health center opened in January 2021 offering psychiatric consultations with tiers payant (third-party payment), psychological consultations via Mon Parcours Psy, practice nurse, and coordinated care. Located in Harnes (129 rue des fusillés) and Bully les Mines (31 rue Roger Salengro); open daily 9h-18h plus Saturday morning.
• Equipe Mobile Psychiatrique (EMPP) Territorial mobile psychiatric team reaching out to people with psychological difficulties who refuse care or cannot access treatment. Operates across two community agglomerations (Lens Liévin, Hénin Carvin) covering 55 municipalities and approximately 398,495 inhabitants. Meets approximately 450 people per year.
• SAMSAH (Service d'Accompagnement Médico-Social pour Personnes Handicapées Psychiques) Medico-social support service for adults with psychic disabilities, providing educational and care follow-up, coordination, and support for social integration and professional insertion. Requires MDPH orientation.
• SAMSAH Relai Relay SAMSAH service operating in collaboration with Calais SAMSAH, providing support to all medico-social establishments in the department accompanying persons with psychic disabilities over 20 years old.
• Résidence Accueil Residential facility with 20 independent studios and collective spaces, created in 2011. Supervised by a small team (house mistress and two facilitators). Includes daily activities open to all users. Studios include kitchenette and shower, some adapted for reduced mobility.
• Appartements Associatifs Shared apartments in colocation scattered across the territory, each accommodating two people with private bedrooms and shared common spaces (living room, dining room, bathroom). Accompanied by a team including CESF, educator, and psychiatric nurse with psychiatrist supervision.
• Hébergement d'Urgence 5 emergency housing units distributed across the territory, rapidly welcoming disaffiliated and psychologically vulnerable people referred by SIAO services. Short stays of 3 months renewable.
• Appartement Bilan Evaluation apartment located within the residence but with completely independent access. Used for 1-2 month periods to assess a person's capacity to live autonomously in independent housing.
• Ateliers de Pré-insertion Professionnelle 3 workshops functioning twice weekly for people far from employment. Includes maraîchage (market gardening), renovation and technical maintenance, and cleaning services. Designed for people with psychiatric vulnerabilities needing adapted long-term support.
• Le Club Open every afternoon as an unconditional welcome space without conditions. Does not propose activities but facilitates desires emanating from the group of users. Serves as an informal contact point with Cheval Bleu accompaniment and health teams.
• Ateliers de Création Creative workshops open to all interested persons, proposing music, plastic arts, and various creation activities. Function daily in either the residence or club premises.
• Centre de Formation Le Cheval Bleu Qualiopi-certified training center offering professional development programs aligned with the organization's values: integrative approaches, grounded in field work, and action-oriented. Programs include PSSM (Premiers Secours en Santé Mentale / Mental Health First Aid) standard and youth certifications, communication training, and posture in mental health.
• Conseil Local de Santé Mentale (CLSM) Local Mental Health Council - a coordination and discussion space promoting mental health policy on the Lens arrondissement territory. Created in 2014 with inaugural general assembly on June 22, 2015. First CLSM in the Pas-de-Calais department.
• GEM L'Ancre Bleue Mutual Aid Group located at 16 place Gambetta in Liévin, providing welcome, activities, experience sharing, and mutual aid for persons concerned by isolation and psychological difficulties. Open 6 days per week. Created with ARS subsidy in July 2014.
• Clubhouse (Lens) Non-medicalized space based on the American Clubhouse model founded in the 1940s, focused on active participation of concerned persons, peer support, and co-construction of pathways toward social and professional inclusion. Opening in Lens.
• VIAL (Vers l'Insertion et l'Autonomie par le Logement) Housing-first support program for homeless persons with behavioral or psychiatric disorders. Multi-disciplinary team including service coordinator, two educational monitors, nurse, and psychiatrist.
• Aide à la Médiation Locative (AML) 6 measures of locative mediation supporting households in accessing autonomous standard housing. Three-party contract between landlord, association, and household with 9-month renewable accompaniment.
• FNAVDL (Accompagnement Vers et Dans le Logement) Housing support for social housing tenants over 18 with psychiatric disorders affecting housing access or maintenance. Partnership with social landlords (ICF, Maisons et Cités, Pas-de-Calais Habitat, SIA).
• Groupes Thérapeutiques pour Auteurs de Violences Therapeutic groups for domestic violence perpetrators (6-10 persons, weekly, minimum 21 sessions) and sexual violence perpetrators (approximately 10 persons, judiciarized). Partners include magistrates, prison services, and CRISAVS.
• Guide des Ressources en Santé Mentale AI-powered resource guide developed by CLSM with Cheval Bleu collaboration. Lists available resources on the territory based on situation defined by simple questions. Anonymous, no login required, includes module for families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 450 people met per year by the mobile team
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CLSM Lens-Hénin (Conseil Local de Santé Mentale)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Le Cheval Bleu co-founded and is closely associated with the first CLSM in Pas-de-Calais, created in 2014 with inaugural assembly in June 2015. The CLSM is a coordination and public policy space for mental health on the Lens-Hénin arrondissement, driving the territory's mental health agenda and supporting Le Cheval Bleu's actions.
• ARS Hauts-de-France (Agence Régionale de Santé)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional health agency is a primary funder and institutional partner supporting Le Cheval Bleu's full range of services including the GEM, residence accueil, mobile team, and housing programs. Also supports the CLSM and related mental health initiatives.
• Centre Hospitalier d'Hénin-Beaumont (CHHB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CHHB psychiatric pole is administratively and functionally attached to Le Cheval Bleu's mobile team (EMPP). The mobile team is staffed by healthcare professionals detached from CHHB. This partnership creates a real interface between psychiatric sectors and social/medical/social professionals across the territory.
• GEM L'Ancre BleueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA mutual aid group (GEM) in Liévin, created in July 2014, run by the association L'Ancre Bleue. Located at 16 place Gambetta, Liévin. Offers mutual aid, activities, and social reintegration support for adults in psychological fragility.
• Clubhouse FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClubhouse France develops non-medicalized places for people living with psychic disorders, inspired by a method created in the US in the 1940s. Le Cheval Bleu is involved in opening a Clubhouse in Lens, based on active participation, peer support, and co-construction of pathways.
• UNAFAM (Union Nationale des Associations de Familles et Amis de Malades Mentaux)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNAFAM represents families and friends of people with mental illness. Active in the CLSM and contributes to the insertion commission and admission committee of Le Cheval Bleu's pre-insertion program.
• Social landlords (ICF, Maisons et Cités, Pas-de-Calais Habitat, SIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with social landlords for FNAVDL and housing support actions. Social landlords work with Le Cheval Bleu's dedicated team to support tenants with psychic disabilities and prevent housing loss.
• Tribunal de Grande Instance de Douai et BéthuneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourts have established conventions with Le Cheval Bleu for referring perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence to therapeutic group programs, including through the prosecutor, application of penalties service, and judges.
• SPIP (Service Pénitentiaire d'Insertion et de Probation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe probation service refers individuals under judicial measures to Le Cheval Bleu's violence perpetrator programs, including those under obligation of care.
• SIAO (Service Intégré d'Accueil et d'Orientation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIAO centralizes access to emergency accommodation and refers people to Le Cheval Bleu's emergency housing units, particularly those with psychological fragility.
• MDPH (Maison Départementale des Personnes Handicapées)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDPH evaluates and orients people with disabilities, including directing individuals with psychic disabilities to SAMSAH services for long-term accompaniment.
• ESAT and IME establishments (La Vie Active, APEI, Hersin EPDAH 62)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical-social establishments collaborating with Le Cheval Bleu's pre-insertion and housing programs for people with psychic disabilities, providing pathways between structures.
• Employment services (Pôle Emploi, Cap Emploi, Mission Locale, PLIE, AGEFIPH)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployment organizations that refer people to Le Cheval Bleu's pre-insertion workshops and receive people transitioning out of the program toward traditional or protected employment.
• CRISAVS (Centre de Ressources sur les Auteurs de Violences Sexuelles)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource center for sexual violence perpetrators that is part of the partnership network for Le Cheval Bleu's sexual violence perpetrator programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Habitat et Humanisme: French association providing housing support and accompaniment for vulnerable populations, including those with mental health challenges. Comparable to Le Cheval Bleu's FNAVDL, AML, and VIAL programs, with similar social landlord partnerships.
• UNAFAM: France's leading association of families and friends of people with mental illness. Partner of Le Cheval Bleu in the CLSM and pre-insertion admission committees; comparable in advocacy, peer support, and family-facing services for the mental health population.
• Association Aurore: Paris-based non-profit operating housing, mental health, and social insertion programs for vulnerable populations. Highly comparable integrated platform model, including mobile outreach, residential, and insertion services similar to Le Cheval Bleu's portfolio.
• Fondation Falret: French mental health foundation operating residential facilities, mobile teams, and medico-social services (SAMSAH, SAVS) for people with psychic disabilities. Closely comparable to Le Cheval Bleu's SAMSAH and résidence accueil offerings, also dependent on ARS funding.
• Centre Hospitalier d'Hénin-Beaumont: Public hospital whose psychiatric pole is administratively and functionally attached to Le Cheval Bleu's mobile team (EMPP). Direct operational partner providing clinical staffing for community-based psychiatric outreach on the same territory.
• Clubhouse France: National federation developing Clubhouse model spaces for people living with psychic disorders in France. Le Cheval Bleu is opening a Clubhouse in Lens as part of this federation — directly comparable service offering targeting the same population.
• La Vie Active: Major medical-social operator based in Hauts-de-France (including Pas-de-Calais), running ESAT, IME, and accommodation services. Direct regional peer and partner of Le Cheval Bleu, providing pre-insertion and housing pathway options for people with psychic disabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Groupe SOS: France's largest non-profit social services operator, running housing, health, and insertion programs across the country. Comparable to Le Cheval Bleu in operating a multi-service platform for vulnerable populations including mental health, but at a vastly larger national scale.
• Croix-Rouge française: Major French health and social services organization offering mental health, housing, and insertion programs nationally. Comparable to Le Cheval Bleu in service breadth and target populations, but operates at much larger scale across all of France.
• Emmaüs Solidarité: French non-profit focused on homelessness, emergency housing, and social insertion. Comparable to Le Cheval Bleu's Hébergement d'Urgence, AML, and VIAL housing-first programs targeting psychologically vulnerable people in precarious situations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bleu_cheval
• Facebookfacebook.com/lechevalbleubully
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-le-cheval-bleu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 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 Le Cheval Bleu