CENTRE SOCIO CULTUREL LE PALABRE

What CENTRE SOCIO CULTUREL LE PALABRE does

Centre Socio-Culturel Le Palabre is a French association loi 1901 community sociocultural center headquartered at 6 rue Albert Seibel, Aubenas, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Founded in 1967 as ACALJ and rebranded in 2015 to its current name — referencing the African tradition of 'la palabre' (community decision-making under the assembly tree) — the organization operates as a multi-service civic platform serving the 28 communes of the Communauté de Communes du Bassin d'Aubenas (CCBA). It is governed by a volunteer Conseil d'Administration elected by a General Assembly, with 16 administrators, 27 permanent staff, and 120+ year-round employees (including 90 school-holiday contract workers), and is federated under the FCSF (Fédération des Centres Sociaux et Socioculturels de France).

Its core services span all life stages: five childcare and leisure centers (three fixed in Aubenas, Lavilledieu, and Vals-les-Bains plus two itinerant units covering 28 communes), a 1,500+ reference ludotheque with mobile outreach (Ludo'mobile), early-childhood programs (Classe Passerelle, LAEP), youth sector services (11–17), family support (ACF, CLAS), adult and senior programs, and a Café br@nché digital inclusion service. The organization also hosts approximately 70 associations and provides room and equipment rental. Technology is limited to a WordPress website and the AIGA Espace Famille online portal for registrations and billing; no proprietary software or algorithmic systems are described.

The revenue model blends public institutional funding (CAF, Ville d'Aubenas, CCBA, French State, Conseil Départemental de l'Ardèche, Conseil Régional Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) with usage-based fees for childcare (calculated by CAF/MSA family quotient), annual memberships, ludotheque rental fees, and room/event rentals. Additional project-based funding is sourced from entities such as AG2R La Mondiale, Les Petits Frères des Pauvres, and Secours Catholique. Financial statements are not publicly disclosed, consistent with the association loi 1901 status.

Name

CENTRE SOCIO CULTUREL LE PALABRE

Legal name

Centre socio-culturel Le Palabre

Website

https://csc-lepalabre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

French association loi 1901 community center in Aubenas offering childcare centers, ludotheque, family, youth, and senior programs across 28 CCBA communes, funded primarily by public institutional partners including CAF and local authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Age Wraparound Childcare Centers (Holiday/Break Care) (EDACAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

School-Age Wraparound Care (Ages 3–5) (EDACAHAA), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Inclusive Early Intervention & Transition-to-Preschool Services (EDACAFAM)

Keywords

• Community social center
• Sociocultural activities
• Childcare services
• Family support services
• Community leisure programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Aubenas

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees (Adhésion): Annual membership fees providing access to activities, services, civil liability coverage within the center, and voting rights at the General Assembly. Fees are calculated based on family quotient or fiscal reference income. 16 years minimum to join.
2. Activity participation fees: Most animations are free; a financial contribution may be requested for certain activities. Participation fees are calculated based on CAF family quotient or fiscal reference. Philosophy is to remain accessible to the greatest number.
3. Childcare center (ALSH) fees: Daily and half-day rates for children's leisure centers, determined by CAF/MSA family quotient. Payments accepted via CB online, checks, cash, holiday vouchers (chèques vacances), and Cesu. New rates effective 01.01.2026.
4. Ludotheque rental and event services: Game rental: 1 game / 1 month / €2 or expert card 10 rentals / €15. Ludi'versaire (birthday privatization): €35 to €65 depending on family quotient. Themed workshops for parents and children during school holidays at fixed rates. Professional and group services within CCBA territory are free; outside territory and for specific groups, fees apply.
5. Room and facility rental: Rooms and equipment are made available to associations and resident collectives at advantageous rates or free of charge with a deposit. Materials available include tents, catering equipment, AV equipment, and sewing machines.
6. Public institutional funding: Core operating funding from permanent public partners: CAF (family allowances), Ville d'Aubenas, CCBA (intercommunity), State, Conseil Départemental de l'Ardèche, and Conseil Régional Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Additional private and project-based funding from entities such as AG2R La Mondiale, Les Petits Frères des Pauvres, and Secours Catholique.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Centre socio-culturel Le Palabre is a non-profit association (loi 1901) operating as a community sociocultural center that delivers multi-generational programming across the Aubenas territory. It runs five childcare/leisure centers (3 fixed + 2 itinerant) for ages 3-11, a 1,500+ game ludothèque with mobile outreach, youth programs for ages 11-17, family support services (LAEP, Classe Passerelle, ACF, CLAS), adult-senior activities, digital inclusion (Café br@nché), and community animation including room/equipment rental to ~70 hosted associations.

Product overview

Centre Socio-Culturel Le Palabre is an association loi 1901 community center operating as a unified multi-service platform offering childcare and leisure centers (5 ALSH facilities), a game lending library (ludothèque with 1500+ games), family support services (LAEP, Classe Passerelle, ACF), youth emancipation programs, adult/senior activities, and community animation services. The organization functions as an integrated ecosystem where services interconnect: the ludothèque supports family activities and the ACF program, the youth sector feeds into leisure center programs, digital inclusion (Café br@nché) connects to adult education, and spaces like RERS and Temps Blabla create social cohesion across all demographics. The center also provides facility rentals and equipment lending to partner associations, serving as a hub for social development across the Aubenas intercommunal area (CCBA).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accueil de Loisirs (Leisure Centers) Five childcare and leisure centers serving children ages 3-11 and youth 11+ during school breaks and Wednesdays, operating across Aubenas, Lavilledieu, Vals-les-Bains, and two itinerant centers covering 28 communes of the CCBA intercommunal area.
• Ludothèque (Game Library) A lending library offering over 1500 games and toys for all ages, featuring three play spaces (Convivial Room, Experimentation Room, Imaginary Room) and a mobile service (Ludo'Mobile) that brings games to events across the territory.
• LAEP - Lieu d'Accueil Enfants-Parents A parent-child reception space providing support for families with young children, offering a welcoming environment for children aged 0-6 and their parents at the Palabre headquarters.
• Classe Passerelle (Nursery School Preparation) A transition program for children ages 2-3 preparing them for nursery school through early socialization experiences, located at École des Oliviers Combegayre.
• Secteur Jeunes (Youth Sector) Youth services for ages 11-17 offering emancipation pathways, leisure activities during school breaks, academic support (CLAS), a dedicated youth space, volunteering opportunities, and collective action projects.
• CLAS - Contrat Local d'Accompagnement à la Scolarité Academic support services for elementary and middle school students (CP to 3ème) providing homework help, organizational skills, cultural activities, and parent-teacher liaison.
• Animation Collective Famille (ACF) Family collective activities including parent-child animations, parent discussion spaces, and a families collective for organizing autofunded group projects and trips.
• Adultes-Séniors Services Leisure and recreation services for adults and seniors including outings, cultural events, wellness workshops, and social gatherings organized across five spaces: Loisirs & Evasion, Convivialité, RERS, Bien-être & Prévention, and Café br@nché.
• Café br@nché (Digital Inclusion) An itinerant digital inclusion service launched in January 2019, providing free computer and internet assistance across the CCBA intercommunal area with volunteer support and equipment lending.
• RERS - Réseau d'Échanges Réciproques de Savoirs A reciprocal knowledge exchange network connecting residents to share skills and knowledge based on principles of reciprocity and gratuity, coordinated by a team of 4 volunteers and 1 paid staff member.
• Espaces de Travail et Salles (Meeting Rooms and Workspaces) Facility rental services offering various rooms including Salle Parquet (100 persons), Salle Polyvalente (20 persons), Grande Salle ESF (60 persons), Bibliothèque room (12 persons), and an Apartment space, plus equipment lending (tents, AV equipment, sewing machines).

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• SDJES (Service Départemental à la Jeunesse, à l'Engagement et aux Sports)coreOthersGrants regulatory approvals (agréments) for childcare for 3–14 year-olds and for 14+ age groups, as well as youth and education populaire approval. Oversees compliance with Accueil Collectif de Mineurs legislation.
• Mairie d'Aubenas (CCAS, Pôle social & éducatif, Centre le Bournot)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing facilities, co-financing, and joint programming. Includes CCAS (Centre Communal d'Action Sociale), social and educational pole, and Centre le Bournot. Co-governs through Board representation.
• Mairies des communes de l'intercommunalité CCBAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner28 municipalities of the CCBA intercommunity co-finance and co-host the itinerant childcare centers and Café br@nché. Each municipality provides venue space for itinerant services.
• Pôle emploiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment service partner for local residents, supporting job seekers in accessing center activities and programs.
• Préfecture de l'Ardèche (politique de la ville)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrefectural partner for city policy (politique de la ville), supporting animations in Quartiers Prioritaires de la Ville (QPV): center ville, Oliviers, Pont d'Aubenas.
• CARSATminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPension fund partner contributing to senior well-being and prevention programming (Atouts Prévention).
• CIDFF (Centre d'Information sur les Droits des Femmes et des Familles)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGender and family rights information center hosted at Palabre as part of the social-solidarity permanences program.
• Mission localeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth employment and integration service hosted at Palabre as part of the social-solidarity permanences program.
• EPE (Relais Petite Enfance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood network partner. Palabre's ludotheque holds weekly sessions at the Relais Petite Enfance for 0–6 year-olds.
• Familles ruralesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRural families association partner, contributing to family and parental programming.
• L'art d'en faireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural/artistic association partner hosted at Palabre.
• Radio quartier libreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity radio partner collaborating on local cultural and social initiatives.
• CIVAMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural and rural development association partner, contributing to knowledge exchange and social-solidarity activities.
• Les Petits Frères des PauvresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElderly support charity. Previously a financial partner and active in senior programming at Palabre.
• Secours PopulaireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPopular support charity partner, contributing to social-solidarity permanences and inclusion initiatives.
• Le pas de côtéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-place (tiers-lieu) partner in the local ecosystem, collaborating on social innovation and community projects.
• Le Vesseaux MèreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-place (tiers-lieu) partner in the local ecosystem, collaborating on social innovation and community projects.
• Plein Sud restaurationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal meal delivery partner providing restaurant-quality meals to the childcare centers. Supports the quality and locality of food served to children.
• Médiathèque Jean Ferrat (Aubenas)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic library hosting regular Ludo'Famille sessions monthly, expanding reach of the ludotheque to library users.
• FORESCOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational movement of Réseaux d'Échanges Réciproques de Savoirs. Le Palabre's RERS is a member. FORESCO publishes the LIR review and provides training and network resources.
• FCSF (Fédération des Centres Sociaux et Socioculturels de France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation of social and sociocultural centers. Le Palabre is federated under the FCSF which defines the charter, values (human dignity, solidarity, democracy), and provides a national network and recognition. FCSF celebrated 100 years in 2022.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Léo Lagrange: National federation running multi-service community centers, leisure centers (ACCEM) and youth/family programs under the same social-enterprise model. Compared to Le Palabre, Léo Lagrange operates at much larger scale with the same mix of childcare, family support, and adult education.
• Familles Rurales: Federation of rural family associations operating multi-service centers (childcare, family support, senior activities) in rural France. Direct peer on rural multi-service delivery model, including ludothèques and leisure centers.
• MJC de France (Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture): Federation of more than 1,000 community youth and cultural centers running activities across all ages. Closely comparable to Le Palabre on service mix (leisure, youth, family, civic engagement) and association governance model.
• Centre Social et Culturel des Tilleuls (Annecy): Local FCSF-affiliated centre social in Annecy offering childcare, ludothèque, family/youth/adult programs. Closely comparable on service mix, multi-site coverage, and association governance model.

Others

• Fédération des Centres Sociaux et Socioculturels de France (FCSF): National federation to which Le Palabre belongs. Defines the Projet Social charter, agréments, and values for centres sociaux across France. It is not a direct operator comparable to Le Palabre, but it sets the framework and coordinates peer centres.

Broad incumbents

• Union Nationale des Associations Familiales (UNAF): National umbrella for family associations, including UDAF and URAF networks. Comparable on family-policy delivery and CAF partnership footprint, though broader in scope than a single centre social.
• Croix-Rouge française: Large national nonprofit delivering social, family, and welfare services including childcare, senior support, and digital inclusion. Comparable on service mix and public funding model but at national scale.
• Ligue de l'Enseignement: Major national federation providing popular education, leisure, and youth programs through affiliated local associations. Comparable to Le Palabre on mission and target audience but operates at national scale with broader educational programming.
• UNIOPSS (Union Nationale Interfédérale des OEuvres et Organismes Privés Sanitaires et Sociaux): National federation of social and medico-social associations. Provides policy, financing, and training support to member associations like Le Palabre. Operates as a peer ecosystem coordinator rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Fédération Française des Ludothèques: National federation of ludothèques (toy/game libraries). Le Palabre's 1500+ reference ludothèque with Ludo'Mobile itinerant service is directly comparable; the federation provides network coordination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Centre-socio-culturel-Le-Palabre-110110256294239
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-socio-culturel-le-palabre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CENTRE SOCIO CULTUREL LE PALABRE