Epal Association

What Epal Association does

EPAL Association (formally 'Évasion en Pays d'Accueil et de Loisirs') is a French non-profit association founded in 1985 and headquartered in Brest, Finistère, France. It operates a solidarity-based vacation and adapted-leisure platform serving people with disabilities (mental, psychic, motor, and specific syndromes such as Prader-Willi), children and adolescents with and without disabilities, families, and individuals seeking inclusive tourism. Its core offerings span adapted stays for adults and minors, social tourism programs (family camping, individual stays, group accommodations at Centre Maison Marine and Les Baz), territorial animation services, and a training academy covering BAFA/BAFD qualifications and specialized animation for handicaps — the latter delivered at three regional hubs (Brest, Rennes, Nantes) and validated by CNLTA.

The platform is built on a WordPress-based website with downloadable PDF catalogues, online booking/reservation forms, and phone/email inquiry channels. Distribution is hybrid: direct-to-consumer via the website plus institutional referral through a network of more than 30 partners including MDPH29, multiple CAFs (Finistère, Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes d'Armor), departmental councils, DREETS Bretagne, UNAT, CNLTA, UBAPAR, and disease-specific associations such as Prader-Willi France and AFM Téléthon. The technology layer is light; the real operating asset is the trained personnel pool of over 400 animateurs/accompagnateurs annually and the certified ESUS (Entreprise Solidaire d'Utilité Sociale) status renewed for 2026-2030.

Revenue is generated through three principal streams: unit-priced vacation stay fees (ranging from approximately €243 for short minor camps to €1,688 for 6-day adult motor-disability stays), recurring membership/adhésion fees, and ESUS-status subsidies plus co-financing from public partners (CAF, départements, DREETS). Pricing is per-stay with optional cancellation insurance add-ons. The customer base is diversified across individuals, families, and medico-social establishments, with strong institutional referral providing predictable demand. The association recently won the UNAT Trophée des Adhérents 2025 and scored 100/100 on the French Gender Equality Index 2025, reinforcing its reputational standing in the adapted-tourism sector.

Name

Epal Association

Legal name

Association EPAL

Website

https://epal.asso.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

EPAL Association is a French non-profit founded in 1985 that provides adapted vacation stays, social tourism, and disability-focused training for people with disabilities, children, families, and individuals in Brittany, France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adapted Vacation and Social Tourism Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessibility & Inclusion Services (ADA Access, Adaptive Programs, Multilingual Support) (THAAAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• Adapted vacation services
• Social tourism programs
• Disability inclusion stays
• Youth colony programs
• BAFA training certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Brest

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vacation stay fees: EPAL generates revenue through fees charged for vacation stays and adapted holidays for various publics (adults with disabilities, minors with and without disabilities, families). Prices vary by stay type, duration, and level of support required, ranging from approximately €243 to €1,688 per stay.
2. Membership/adhésion fees: As an association, EPAL collects membership fees from its members/adherents who participate in the governance and life of the association.
3. ESUS-status funding and subsidies: As a certified Entreprise Solidaire d'Utilité Sociale (ESUS), EPAL has access to specific financial mechanisms and subsidies dedicated to the social economy sector.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Epal Association organizes and delivers adapted vacation stays and social tourism programs for adults and minors with disabilities, inclusive youth colonies, family and individual vacations, and BAFA/BAFD training for animation staff. The association runs its own group accommodation facilities (Centre Maison Marine, Les Baz) and operates a territorial animation and disability resource center (Pôle Ressources Handicap 29) serving the Brittany region of France.

Product overview

Epal Association operates as a solidarity vacation organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of services centered around inclusive leisure and tourism. The core offerings include Séjours pour Adultes (stays for adults with disabilities) and Séjours pour Mineurs (colony stays for minors), complemented by Animation Territoriale (territorial animation services) and Tourisme Social (social tourism including family camping and individual vacations). Training services include BAFA/BAFD programs and specialized training for animation teams working with people with disabilities. The association manages facilities including Centre Maison Marine and Les Baz for group accommodations, and operates the Tous en VACS program recognized for social impact. The portfolio is unified by a mission of inclusion and accessibility in leisure activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tous en vacs: Family vacation program supported by CAF du Finistère
• Bienvenue Chez Nous
• Campez en Famille
• Centre Maison Marine
• Les Baz!
• Pôle Ressources Handicap 29

Products and services

• Séjours Vacances Adaptées pour Adultes Organized vacation stays for adults with mental and/or psychic disabilities, mental and motor disabilities, and tailored/bespoke stays for adults with disabilities. Includes specialized stays for adults with Prader-Willi syndrome. Specially trained animateur/accompagnateur teams provide support. Stays are priced from approximately €1,688 for a 6-day motor-disability stay.
• Séjours pour Mineurs (Colonies de vacances) Vacation colonies for children and adolescents, offered in three formats: non-disabled children, children with disabilities, and inclusive stays integrating both. Programs include camps, countryside stays, aquatic activities and educational themes. Prices range from €243 (3-day camp) to €561 (7-day aquatic camp).
• Tourisme Social (Social Tourism) Social tourism program encompassing group vacations at owned facilities (Centre Maison Marine and Les Baz), family camping (Campez en Famille), and individual vacation programs (Bienvenue Chez Nous, Tous en VACS). Designed to make vacations accessible at solidarity-based pricing.
• Animation Territoriale Educational and inclusion-focused territorial animation services, including resource support for local authorities, structures for early childhood, childhood, youth, and social life, plus the Pôle Ressources Handicap 29 disability resource center.
• Formation BAFA/BAFD Training programs leading to BAFA (Brevet d'Aptitude aux Fonctions d'Animateur) and BAFD (Brevet d'Aptitude aux Fonctions de Directeur) qualifications for youth animation and direction, delivered in partnership with Points de Repères (Qualiopi-certified training organization). Sessions held in Brest, Rennes, and Nantes.
• Formation Équipes Animateurs/trices Specialized training for animation teams working with people with disabilities, covering knowledge of handicaps, animation skills, and behavioral competencies. Training is validated by CNLTA (Conseil National des Loisirs et du Tourisme Adaptés). More than 400 animateurs/accompagnateurs are trained annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100/100 on the French Ministry of Work's Gender Equality Index for 2025

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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.

• CNLTAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025CNLTA (Conseil National des Loisirs et du Tourisme Adaptés) is the national council for adapted leisure and tourism. EPAL co-animated two workshops at the CNLTA Colloque National des Vacances Adaptées (Paris, 20-21 November 2025) and EPAL's internal training is validated by CNLTA.
• UNATcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNAT (Union Nationale des Associations de Tourisme et de Plein Air) is a national federation for tourism and outdoor leisure associations. EPAL participated in UNAT's 'Village des solutions' and won the Trophée des Adhérents 2025 through its 'Tous en VACS' program.
• UBAPARcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUBAPAR is a network of associations in Finistère. EPAL animates BAFA-BAFD training on behalf of UBAPAR, using professional teams from its ALSH and Local Jeunes structures. Contact: [email protected].
• CAF du FinistèrecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCaisse d'Allocations Familiales du Finistère co-supports the 'Tous en VACS' social tourism program implemented by EPAL, which won the UNAT Trophée des Adhérents 2025.
• MDPH29coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMaison Départementale des Personnes Handicapées du Finistère directs people with disabilities to EPAL's adapted vacation services as part of the disability support ecosystem in the Finistère department.
• Prader-Willi FranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPatient association specifically supporting people with Prader-Willi syndrome. EPAL offers dedicated vacation stays catalogued specifically for this community.
• AFM TéléthonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation Française contre les Myopathies (French Muscular Dystrophy Association). Part of EPAL's extended partner ecosystem referring beneficiaries to adapted vacation services.
• Familles Rurales FinistèreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRural families federation in Finistère. Member of EPAL's partner network, cross-referring families to EPAL's social tourism offerings.
• DREETS BretagnecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDirection Régionale de l'Économie, de l'Emploi, du Travail et des Solidarités de Bretagne. Government body that granted EPAL's ESUS (Entreprise Solidaire d'Utilité Sociale) accreditation renewal for 2026-2030.
• Département du FinistèreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDepartmental council of Finistère. Local government partner in EPAL's extended ecosystem, providing institutional support for social tourism and vacation access initiatives.
• Agence régionale de Santé de BretagneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional health agency of Brittany. Part of EPAL's institutional network for health and social action coordination.
• UFCVminorOthersUnion Française des Centres Vacances. Network of vacation centers operating in France, listed as part of EPAL's partner ecosystem.
• Collectif T'Cap!minorOthersCollective for tourism accessibility and inclusion. Listed as part of EPAL's partner ecosystem promoting inclusive tourism.
• Points de RepèresminorOthersQualiopi-certified training organization referenced on EPAL's website. See pointsdereperes.bzh. Associated with EPAL's training ecosystem.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• UCPA: Large commercial operator of sports and leisure vacations, including adaptive sports programs for disabled beneficiaries. Broader portfolio than EPAL, but overlapping on adapted stays and animator training.
• VVF Villages: National vacation-village operator with family-friendly and accessible accommodations. Overlaps with EPAL's group-stay facilities (Centre Maison Marine, Les Baz) at greater geographic reach but less disability specialization.
• Belambra Clubs: France's largest operator of vacation clubs, with growing accessible-stay offerings. Competes with EPAL for the family-vacation segment (Campez en Famille, Tous en VACS) at much larger scale but lower specialization.

Emerging players

• Handiplanet: Digital-first accessible-travel marketplace listing adapted accommodations and activities across France. Threatens to disintermediate regional operators like EPAL by aggregating supply and improving beneficiary discovery online.

Direct peers

• Vacances Ouvertes: National association dedicated to opening ordinary vacation access to people with disabilities. Competes with EPAL for adapted-leisure beneficiaries and shares the same CAF/social-economy funding channels.
• UFCV: National federation of vacation centers running colonies de vacances and BAFA/BAFD training. Direct overlap with EPAL's colonies for minors and training-academy revenue stream; also listed among EPAL's existing partners.
• Ligue de l'Enseignement: Major national federation running colonies de vacances and education-populaire programs, including adapted and inclusive stays. Comparable scale and target audience to EPAL's Séjours pour Mineurs and Animation Territoriale.
• AFM-Téléthon (Vacances / Répit): Runs specialized respite vacations for families and people affected by neuromuscular diseases, with adapted facilities and trained animateurs — overlapping directly with EPAL's adapted-stays offering and beneficiary ecosystem.
• APF Évasion (APF France Handicap): National adapted-vacation operator within France's largest disability association. Directly competes with EPAL in adapted stays for adults with disabilities, including motor and mental disabilities, and runs vacation villages and BAFA-aligned training.
• Croix-Rouge française (Loisirs & Vacances): Operates social-tourism programs for vulnerable populations including disabled beneficiaries and families in precarious situations. Competes with EPAL's family and individual vacation programs (Campez en Famille, Bienvenue Chez Nous).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/associationepal
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epal-association

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Epal Association