Association ESPERANCE 49

What Association ESPERANCE 49 does

Association ESPERANCE 49 is a French non-profit organization (Loi 1901) founded in 1976 and headquartered at 90 rue de la Croix Blanche, Angers (Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire), serving fragile adults and people with disabilities in the region. The association operates through six interconnected service poles: adapted sports and leisure activities, vacations and outings, two mutual aid groups (GEM Papier Bulle for people with autism spectrum disorders and GEM Club 49 for adults experiencing mental health challenges), Accueil Répit (respite care), Ferme de Nat (a 350 m² rural accommodation facility with 29 beds across three gîtes and two rooms), and on-site institutional services to medico-social establishments (SESSAD, IME, ITEP, Foyer, FAM, MECS). The Ferme de Nat employs an agro-ecological and permaculture-based therapeutic model incorporating animals, hedgerows, fruit trees, and beehives. As of the 2022/2023 season, the association had 394 adherents and approximately 30 employees, led by President Marie-Christine Lardeux.

The business model is a hybrid of recurring individual membership (GEM annual membership at €15), fee-for-service respite stays and gîte rentals at Ferme de Nat (quote-based pricing), professional services contracts with medico-social institutions, individual tax-deductible donations, and corporate sponsorship/mécénat from regional partners including Collectif Je t'Aide, Fondation Mutualia Grand Ouest, Harmonie Mutuelle, Région Pays de la Loire, Ville d'Angers, and OMS. Go-to-market is community-led: member acquisition relies on word-of-mouth, community events (Forum Les Accessibles, Rallie toi à l'Espérance, open days at GEMs), and institutional referral pipelines (notably the Maison Départementale de l'Autonomie and autism resource centers). Marketing channels are primarily organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and a content website with downloadable brochures. The association holds no proprietary technology products and operates with no disclosed technology platform beyond standard web presence.

Strategically, the organization is in a formalization phase: in 2024 it won the Collectif Je t'Aide Grand Prix Grand Ouest for its respite project, refreshed the Ferme de Nat offering, published a dedicated respite brochure, and continued to broaden its corporate sponsorship base. Recent governance and operational maturation include appointed pole-level leadership across respite, GEMs, Ferme de Nat, and institutional services. Geographic scope remains regional (Pays de la Loire), with vacation programming extending occasionally to destinations across France and Spain (Bilbao). Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the association carries no parent company, no outside equity ownership, and operates as an independent membership-based association governed by a board of directors.

Name

Association ESPERANCE 49

Legal name

Association Espérance

Website

https://esperance49.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Association ESPERANCE 49 is a French non-profit (Loi 1901) founded in 1976 in Angers, providing adapted sports, vacations, respite care, mutual aid groups, and institutional services to fragile adults and people with disabilities across six service poles, serving 394 members with 30 employees in the Pays de la Loire region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and social support services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Respite Care for Adults with Disabilities / Special Needs (HSABAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), Senior/Accessibility Concierge & Companion Errands (HSACAIAO), Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Travel Assistance & Concierge Services (Non-Insurance) (FSAJAJAF)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Adapted sports activities
• Respite care services
• Mutual aid groups
• Accessible vacation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Angers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from 394+ adherents providing access to association activities and services
2. Respite care services: Respite stays at Ferme de Nat providing accommodation, activities, and support for people with disabilities and their caregivers
3. Vacation and leisure programs: Weekend and vacation stays with adapted activities for members
4. Gîte rental: Rental of gîtes at Ferme de Nat (3 gîtes + 2 independent rooms, max 29 beds) for groups, families, or institutions
5. Institutional services: Provision of adapted sports, leisure, and cultural activities to establishments (SESSAD, IME, ITEP, Foyer, FAM, MECS)
6. Donations and corporate sponsorship: Individual donations (tax-deductible) and corporate sponsorship/mécénat with tax benefits

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Association Espérance 49 is a non-profit (Loi 1901) that operates six interconnected service poles for fragile adults and people with disabilities in the Maine-et-Loire region: adapted sports and leisure activities, vacation and outing programs, mutual aid groups (GEM Papier Bulle for autism, GEM Club 49 for mental health), respite care, rural accommodation at Ferme de Nat, and on-site institutional services for medico-social establishments. The association served 394 members during the 2022/2023 season and is funded through membership fees, donations, sponsorship, and service fees.

Product overview

Association Espérance 49 is a non-profit organization (Loi 1901) founded in 1976, providing social and support services for fragile adults and people with disabilities in the Maine-et-Loire region (Angers, France). The organization operates through six interconnected service areas: Activités sportives et de loisirs (adapted sports and leisure), Vacances et sorties (vacations and outings), Groupe d'entraide mutuelle (two mutual aid groups - GEM Papier Bulle for autism and GEM Club 49 for mental health), Accueil Répit (respite care), Ferme de Nat (rural farm accommodation), and Prestations en établissements (institutional services). The association served 394 members in 2022/2023 season.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GEM Papier Bulle: A mutual aid group for people with autism spectrum disorders (TSA) with good autonomy level, with or without a diagnosis. An open place animated by and for autistic people, promoting peer support and social inclusion.
• GEM Club 49
• Ferme de Nat

Products and services

• Adapted Sports and Leisure Activities

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Collectif Je t'AidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2024Partnership in the framework of a respite project call for projects. Association was named Grand Prix Grand Ouest winner among 27 submitted projects in the Grand Ouest category. The project proposes welcoming care recipients and caregivers at Ferme de Nat for respite moments.
• FFSA (Fédération Française de Sport Adapté)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench federation of adapted sports that provides organizational support and sponsorship for sporting events.
• MFR Le CèdreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural rural house that co-organized Rallie toi à l'Espérance 2024 event.
• FFVolleyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench Volleyball Federation sponsoring sitting volleyball activities.
• Etoile Angers BasketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal basketball club sponsoring sports activities.
• Claire SupiotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer professional swimmer and godmother of Open Swim Stars La Baule event, enabling association participation with €1 per inscription donated.
• Centre Ressources AutismeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional autism resource center listed as partner resource for GEM Papier Bulle members.
• Autisme 49minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine-et-Loire autism association listed as partner resource for GEM Papier Bulle members.
• Maison de l'Autisme dans la Vie 49minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal autism support organization listed as partner resource for GEM Papier Bulle members.
• Radio GminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal radio station that hosted GEM members for podcast recordings and live radio show during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• ANPEA: National Association of Parents and Friends of Autistic People, which supports families affected by autism in France. Comparable in serving the same family-caregiver and autism populations that Espérance's GEM Papier Bulle and Accueil Répit target.
• Collectif Je t'Aide: National French collective of associations in the caregiver/respite space, which awarded Espérance its 2024 Grand Prix Grand Ouest. Comparable in mission to Espérance's Accueil Répit pole and a key ecosystem player; however, it acts as a funding/coordination body rather than a direct service operator.
• Autisme 49: Maine-et-Loire autism association listed as a partner for Espérance's GEM Papier Bulle. Comparable in target population and regional scope to Espérance's autism-focused mutual aid group.

Broad incumbents

• UNAPEI: France's largest federation of associations for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Operates a national network of medico-social establishments (similar to Espérance's Prestations en établissements pole) and advocates for disability inclusion, making it the closest national-scale comparable to Espérance's integrated service model.
• APF France Handicap: Major national disability association operating adapted leisure, vacation, and respite programs for people with disabilities and their families. Overlaps directly with Espérance's vacation/outings and adapted sports activities at a much larger national scale.
• Croix-Rouge française: Large French humanitarian organization running adapted vacation programs (e.g., 'Vacances pour tous') and disability support services. Comparable to Espérance's Vacances et sorties pole in terms of service mix and beneficiary population, though at much greater scale.
• Fondation Perce-Neige: Major French foundation (founded by Lino Ventura) operating residential homes, respite facilities, and adapted activities for people with intellectual disabilities and autism. Comparable in mission to Espérance's Ferme de Nat and Accueil Répit offerings, with a national footprint.

Emerging players

• Vacances Ouvertes: French association promoting access to vacation and leisure for people in precarious situations, including those with disabilities. Comparable to Espérance's Vacances et sorties service line and adapted-stay mission.

Direct peers

• Fédération Française du Sport Adapté (FFSA): National federation for adapted sports in France, already a partner of Espérance. FFSA organizes handisport leagues, events, and adapted physical activities for people with disabilities — directly comparable to Espérance's Activités sportives et de loisirs pole.

Others

• Fondation Mutualia Grand Ouest: Mutual insurance foundation in western France that awarded Espérance a 2024 prize for its respite project. Comparable as a regional funder/partner in the disability and caregiver-support ecosystem, though not a direct service operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/associationesperanceangers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-esperance-49
• Instagraminstagram.com/esperance49100?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Association ESPERANCE 49