THE OAKES TRUST (SHEFFIELD)

What THE OAKES TRUST (SHEFFIELD) does

The Oakes Trust (Sheffield) is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1064155), founded in 1999 and operating from a Georgian manor house estate at Oakes Park, Norton, Sheffield. Its core offering is residential Christian holiday camps for young people aged 8–18, including Summer, Half Term, Christmas and specialty camps (e.g., Mums, Dads), supplemented by group bookings from schools, churches, and youth organisations. The organization also runs a portfolio of volunteer programmes — Impact Team (gap-year, 18+), Support Team (15+), Ministry Leadership Programme (20+), Work Team (facility-development week), and a newly introduced Taster Month — that supply the bulk of its operational labour.

The underlying platform is a traditional charity operating model rather than a technology product. Digital infrastructure is limited to a website-based booking and information system, Mailchimp for email communications, Google Analytics and reCAPTCHA for site analytics and spam control, and online fundraising integrations (Give as you Live, easyfundraising, Stewardship). No public API, mobile app, or proprietary software product is offered. Camp delivery relies on a Georgian manor house estate and a largely volunteer workforce of roughly 10–12 weekly volunteers plus seasonal Impact Team and Support Team members.

Revenue mechanics combine low, accessibility-driven camp fees (e.g., £54 per camper for Christmas 2026) with approximately 40% of income from donations and charitable giving. Multiple donation streams are active, including the Acorn Scheme monthly giving programme (£10/month), targeted appeals (Holiday Fund, Impact Team support, Facilities, Book Project), the £9.99 "A Story to Tell" book, and affiliate-shopping fundraising through 4,000+ retailers. Pricing is deliberately kept low, with subsidised places funded through the Holiday Fund to ensure affordability.

Name

THE OAKES TRUST (SHEFFIELD)

Legal name

The Oakes Holiday Centre

Website

https://oakes.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Oakes Trust (Sheffield) is a UK-registered Christian charity operating residential holiday camps for young people aged 8–18 from a Georgian manor house estate in Sheffield, supported by a volunteer-led team and funded through low camp fees plus donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-based residential youth camps

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Christian holiday camps
• Residential youth camps
• Faith-based activity centres
• Volunteer gap year programmes
• Charity youth ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp Fees: Camp fees typically cover the cost of the camps themselves. Prices are kept low to make holidays accessible.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: Approximately 40% of income comes from generous donations from individuals, churches and trusts, providing vital core funding.
3. Appeals and Targeted Giving: Specific appeals for Holiday Fund (subsidised camp places), Impact Team (volunteer support), Facilities (maintenance), and Book Project.
4. Online Shopping Fundraising: Partnered with Give as you Live and easyfundraising to receive percentage donations from online purchases with over 4,000-8,000 retailers.
5. Book Sales: 'A Story to Tell' book available for purchase at £9.99 plus postage, with many copies gifted to supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Oakes Trust operates The Oakes Holiday Centre, a Christian activity centre providing residential camps for young people aged 8-18 combining action-packed holiday activities with Christian teaching. The charity runs Summer, Half Term, and Christmas camps, supplemented by volunteer programmes (Impact Team gap year, Support Team, Ministry Leadership Programme), the Holiday Fund for subsidised places, and fundraising through donations, monthly giving, and online shopping platforms.

Product overview

The Oakes Holiday Centre is a Christian activity centre operated as a charity, offering residential camps for young people aged 8-18. The core product is its camp programme featuring Summer camps, Christmas camps, and Half Term camps with activities and Christian teaching. Supporting offerings include team volunteer programmes (Impact Team for 18+ gap years, Support Team for 15+, Ministry Leadership Programme for 20+, Work Team for facility development, and Taster Month for short-term trials). Additional services include the Holiday Fund for subsidized camp places, Free Bibles initiative, 'A Story to Tell' book, and online shopping fundraising tools (Give as you Live and easyfundraising). The Acorn Scheme provides monthly giving for consistent income. The organization does not operate as a technology platform but as a traditional charity providing youth camps and related ministry programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Camps Residential camps for young people aged 8-18 offering action-packed holidays with activities combined with Christian message. Multiple camp types including Summer camps (various dates and age ranges), Christmas camps, and Half Term camps. Features accommodations, activities, and spiritual content.
• Impact Team Programme A gap year programme (18+) for young adults to volunteer and share Jesus through camps ministry while living and serving on-site. Most commit to a full year September-August. Costs around £2,500 per year to cover food, accommodation and training.
• Support Team Volunteer programme for individuals aged 15+ to help behind the scenes during camps with various support roles.
• Ministry Leadership Programme A structured, practical-based intern year (20+) to develop ministry and leadership skills whilst serving in a particular department alongside serving on camps. Designed for older individuals who have been to university or spent time in the workplace.
• Work Team An event dedicated to developing facilities, typically the first week of July, involving practical work on the building and grounds. Volunteers can attend as day visitors or stay overnight if aged 18+.
• Holiday Fund Subsidized camp places for families who cannot afford full camp fees. Donations provide discounted or free camp places to ensure no child misses out due to lack of funds.
• A Story to Tell Book A book written to inspire, encourage and glorify God for all that He has done at The Oakes. Available to purchase for £9.99 plus postage, with many copies being given away as thank you gifts to supporters.
• Acorn Scheme Monthly giving programme where regular donors give £10 per month (or any amount) to provide consistent core funding for the ministry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500 free Bibles given to campers annually since September 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Give as you LiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline shopping fundraising partner enabling supporters to raise money for The Oakes through everyday online purchases. Over 4,000 retailers participate, with at least 0.5% of purchases donated to The Oakes.
• easyfundraisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline shopping fundraising platform similar to Give as you Live, supporting over 4,000 retailers. Retailers donate a portion of sales to The Oakes when supporters shop through the platform.
• Yorkshire CampscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Oakes is part of Yorkshire Camps network. Yorkshire Camps received Gaines Manor near Worcester as a gift to continue running Gospel-centred residential camps, showing close alliance with The Oakes ministry.
• StewardshipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStewardship accounts enable team members to receive anonymous donations and Gift Aid from supporters. Used for the Support Our Team programme.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• West Runton Methodist Holiday Centre: UK Methodist-owned residential holiday centre on the Norfolk coast offering family and group holidays with a Christian ethos. Comparable faith-based residential hospitality model serving UK families and church groups.
• Lee Abbey: Christian holiday and conference centre in Devon offering residential breaks with a Christian ethos. Closely comparable as a UK faith-based residential centre running holiday and retreat programmes from a heritage estate.
• Quinta Christian Conference Centre: UK Christian conference and retreat centre in Shropshire offering residential programmes with a Christian ethos. Comparable faith-based residential hospitality model serving UK church and youth-group bookings.
• Pioneer Centre: UK Christian residential activity centre in Staffordshire offering school and youth-group residentials. Directly comparable as a faith-based, volunteer-supported activity centre serving schools and youth groups with similar camp programmes.
• Spring Harvest: UK Christian holiday and festival organisation running residential Christian events for families and youth. Comparable audience, mission framing, and UK residential holiday model.

Broad incumbents

• YHA (Youth Hostels Association): UK network of hostels serving schools, youth groups, and families with residential accommodation. Comparable UK-wide residential hospitality footprint and group-booking channel, though operates without the faith-based mission.
• PGL Travel: UK's largest provider of activity holidays and school residentials across multiple centres. Overlaps on the school/group residential activity-centre space but operates at much larger scale and without the Christian mission focus.
• Kingswood: National provider of outdoor education and residential activity centres for schools and groups. Competes for the same school-group residential bookings as The Oakes but without the faith-based positioning.

Others

• Scripture Union: UK-wide Christian charity focused on children's and youth ministry, including holiday missions and Bible engagement. Adjacent — shares the Christian youth mission and donor base rather than the residential-centre operating model.
• Stewardship: UK Christian giving platform used by The Oakes to administer team-member donations and Gift Aid. Adjacent ecosystem participant in the UK Christian charity funding infrastructure rather than a competing operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheOakes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/+OakesOrgUk
• Facebookfacebook.com/oakes.org.uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/oakes.org.uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-oakes-trust-sheffield-

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 THE OAKES TRUST (SHEFFIELD)