Francas du Gard

What Francas du Gard does

Francas du Gard (Les Francas du Gard, Association départementale des Francas du Gard) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) headquartered in Nîmes, Occitanie, and affiliated with the national Fédération nationale des Francas. Founded in 1958 (operating history since 1960 per one source), the organization operates across more than 90 communes in the Gard department, delivering educational leisure services to children and adolescents aged 5-17 through managed centres de loisirs éducatifs and espaces jeunes, complemented by BAFA (Brevet d'Aptitude aux Fonctions d'Animateur) training sessions delivered across the Occitanie region. Its service portfolio also includes civic and citizenship training (Formations civiques et citoyennes) for Service Civique volunteers in partnership with Ligue de l'enseignement du Gard, themed programs such as 'Place à Nos Droits' (children's rights) and 'Histoire(s) de (mieux) vivre ensemble', the 'Appel à Projets jeunes' funding initiative for ages 11-26, vacation stays including winter snow trips, and the annual Observatoire des centres de loisirs éducatifs research product.

The association's revenue model is built on three pillars: (i) individual and collective membership fees from adherents and affiliated associations, (ii) institutional public-sector funding from the Conseil Départemental du Gard, CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales), MSA, and DSDEN du Gard for youth programs and leisure center operations, and (iii) fee-based training income from BAFA participants (€335-€583 depending on accommodation tier) and civic training (€100 per volunteer). The organization operates under a values-based framework (humanism, democracy, freedom, equality, solidarity, secularism, peace) renewed every five years at national congresses. Governance is led by President Hugues CLARET, Departmental Director Jérôme ABELLANEDA, and Deputy Director Steven PREGET.

From a technology and capability standpoint, Francas du Gard is a low-tech, high-touch service operator with no proprietary technology systems and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities; its competitive position derives from brand recognition, the federal network affiliation, and the density of its municipal service footprint rather than from digital product assets. The organization has recently broadened its institutional scope by co-animating the Guid'Asso network with CDOS 30 and Ligue de l'Enseignement, and by launching the Observatoire des centres de loisirs éducatifs in 2026. Two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, L'Amorié (cultural and leisure facility) and Radio Sommières (community radio station), extend the association's local media and cultural footprint.

Name

Francas du Gard

Legal name

Les Francas du Gard

Website

https://francas30.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Francas du Gard is a French non-profit association affiliated with the Fédération nationale des Francas that manages educational leisure centers, youth spaces, and BAFA training across 90+ communes in the Gard department, funded by public-sector grants, memberships, and training fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education and Recreational Leisure Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDACAAAL

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

Education/Early Childhood Education/Daycare & Childcare Centers

SECONDARYEDAEAFAC

Residential Life Programming & Student Engagement Services

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Dormitory, Housing & Residential Life Support Services

Keywords

• Youth education services
• Recreational leisure centers
• BAFA training programs
• Civic citizenship training
• Popular education

Headquarters

HQ city

Nîmes, Occitanie

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees and associative contributions: The association operates through membership fees from individual adherents and collective members (associations), as well as contributions from affiliated organizations.
2. Public funding and institutional partnerships: Support from public institutions including the Conseil Départemental du Gard, CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales), MSA, and DSDEN for various youth and educational programs, projects, and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Francas du Gard manages educational leisure centers (centres de loisirs éducatifs) and youth spaces (espaces jeunes) for children and adolescents across more than 90 communes in the Gard department, providing supervised recreational, educational, and citizenship activities during school breaks, Wednesdays, and vacations. It delivers BAFA animator training, civic and citizenship training for service civique volunteers, youth project funding via Appel à Projets jeunes, vacation stays (séjours), children's rights programs, and co-manages the Guid'Asso network to support local associations.

Product overview

Francas du Gard is a departmental association operating as a federation/movement for youth education and recreational activities. The organization manages a portfolio of interconnected services: educational leisure centers (centres de loisirs éducatifs) and youth spaces (espaces jeunes) form the core operational services, supplemented by training programs including BAFA qualification for future animators and civic citizenship training. Specialized programs like 'Place à Nos Droits' (promoting children's rights) and 'Histoire(s) de (mieux) vivre ensemble' (photography and haiku competition) engage youth in thematic activities, while 'Appel à Projets jeunes' provides funding pathways for youth-led initiatives. Additional offerings include vacation trips and the Guid'Asso network for association support. The portfolio operates across over 90 communes in the Gard department.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Centres de loisirs éducatifs Recreational educational centers offering supervised leisure activities for children and adolescents during school breaks and Wednesdays, providing educational experiences in group living and collective projects across more than 90 communes in the Gard department.
• Espaces jeunes Youth spaces dedicated to adolescents, providing educational and recreational activities tailored to teenagers in partner municipalities.
• BAFA Formation Brevet d'Aptitude aux Fonctions d'Animateur training program enabling individuals aged 16+ to become qualified youth animators through a three-stage process: general training, practical placement, and specialization (approfondissement), with tiered pricing by accommodation level.
• Formations civiques et citoyennes Two-day civic and citizenship training programs for service civique volunteers, offered in partnership with Ligue de l'enseignement du Gard at 100€ per volunteer, covering the rights and responsibilities of young people in civic service.
• Place à Nos Droits National federal operation promoting the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CIDE), encouraging children and adolescents to express their aspirations regarding topics that concern them.
• Histoire(s) de (mieux) vivre ensemble Departmental photography and haiku competition for children and adolescents aged 5-17, focused on themes of living together, solidarity, peace, and fighting discrimination.
• Appel à Projets jeunes Youth project funding initiative supporting young people aged 11-26 in developing citizen, sports, cultural, ecological, or solidarity projects with financial assistance from the departmental council and partners.
• Séjours vacances Vacation trips and stays organized for children and adolescents, including winter snow trips to destinations such as Ancelle, Autrans, and Serre Chevalier, and summer programs for multiple age groups.
• Guid'Asso Network co-managed with CDOS 30 and Ligue de l'Enseignement, providing proximity services for welcoming, orienting, informing, and supporting associations under the 1901 law in the Gard department.
• Observatoire des centres de loisirs éducatifs Annual research observatory producing surveys on the activities of educational leisure centers, measuring how center missions and key educational challenges are addressed by the sector.

Named customers4 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ligue de l'enseignement du GardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrancas du Gard partners with the Ligue de l'enseignement du Gard to provide civic and citizenship training for service civique volunteers. Training costs 100€ per volunteer for a 2-day program. This partnership enables both organizations to fulfill mandatory civic training requirements for young people in service.
• Service Départemental à la Jeunesse, à l'Engagement et aux SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-animator of the Guid'Asso network in Gard, working alongside CDOS, Ligue de l'Enseignement, and Francas. This network provides proximity services for welcoming, orienting, informing, and supporting associations (law 1901) in the department.
• Comité Départemental Olympique et Sportif (CDOS 30)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-animator of the Guid'Asso network in Gard, working alongside SDJES, Ligue de l'Enseignement, and Francas to support local associations and strengthen the associative fabric of the territory.
• Conseil Départemental du GardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor institutional partner supporting youth projects and initiatives. The Department provides financial support for the 'Appel à Projets jeunes' device and other youth-oriented programs managed by Francas.
• Caf du Gard (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner for family and youth support, collaborates on youth projects (Appel à Projets jeunes) and provides funding for youth initiatives and leisure center operations.
• MSA (Mutualité Sociale Agricole) du GardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural social mutual that co-supports the youth projects device alongside CAF and the Department of Gard.
• Fédération nationale des FrancascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation providing organizational support, shared project framework, training resources, and network connections. The departmental association operates under the national federation's educational project, renewed every 5 years at national colloquia.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ligue de l'Enseignement: France's largest education populaire federation offering parallel services including leisure centers, civic training, BAFA/BAFD training, and youth civic engagement programs. Direct peer of Francas du Gard — they are even active partners in the Gard department, co-managing civic training and the Guid'Asso network.
• Les Ceméa (Centres d'Entraînement aux Méthodes d'Éducation Active): Major French education populaire federation providing BAFA/BAFD training, leisure center management, and youth civic programs. Direct peer offering the same combination of animator training and managed educational leisure services across multiple French departments.
• Fédération nationale des Francas: National parent federation operating the same educational project framework, training programs, and brand as Francas du Gard at departmental level across France. Functions as both parent organization and direct peer through its 90+ departmental associations.
• UFCV (Union Française des Centres de Vacances): Federation running vacation centers, leisure programs, and BAFA training across France. Comparable peer operating in the same popular education space as Francas du Gard with overlapping training and leisure center offerings.
• Scouts et Guides de France: Major French youth organization offering educational programs, leisure activities, and citizenship training to children and adolescents. Comparable peer in youth education, civic engagement, and values-based programming, although with a faith-informed tradition distinct from Francas' secular stance.
• Fédération des Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture (FRMJC): Federation of youth and cultural centers (MJC) providing leisure activities, civic training, and youth engagement programs in local communities. Comparable peer delivering youth spaces (espaces jeunes) and educational leisure services in a similar institutional framework.
• Association Vacances Pour Tous (Vacances Pour Tous / VPT): National network organizing vacation stays, leisure activities, and youth programs for families and children. Comparable in offering vacation trips (séjours vacances) and youth activities similar to Francas du Gard's seasonal programming.
• Léo Lagrange: Federation managing leisure centers (centres de loisirs), BAFA training, and youth education programs across France. Comparable to Francas du Gard in operating model, target population (children and adolescents), and reliance on municipal/public contracts.

Emerging players

• Réseau National des Juniors Associations: National network supporting youth-led associative projects for minors, including project funding accompaniment similar to Francas du Gard's 'Appel à Projets jeunes'. Comparable peer in the youth civic engagement space with partial overlap on funding pathways for young people aged 11-17.

Others

• CAF du Gard (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales): State family fund institution that funds Francas du Gard's programs and supports ACM operations across France. Not a direct competitor but a key institutional partner and ecosystem enabler for the leisure center model Francas operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/francas-du-gard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Francas du Gard