Project Play

Name

Project Play

Legal name

Project Play

Website

https://project-play.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Refugee Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG)

Keywords

• Humanitarian charity services
• Refugee child support
• Play sessions facilitation
• Displaced family advocacy
• Grassroots NGO programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Calais

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the charity's mission. Donations can be made through JustGiving, CAF Online (UK), and Donorbox (Europe/Worldwide). All donations matched up to £20,000 during campaign periods.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fee of €5 required for volunteering. Valid until December 31st of current year.
3. Merchandise Sales: Limited edition prints and merchandise sales through BigCartel. Proceeds support play sessions.
4. Session Sponsorship: Individuals can sponsor specific play sessions - €7.50 covers resources for a single session.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Project Play is a grassroots NGO that runs facilitated play sessions, parental support programs, and safeguarding case work for displaced children (aged 0-18) and their families on the UK-France border in northern France. It complements frontline services with advocacy research and reports (e.g., 'We Want to Be Safe', 'Nowhere Safe') and funds the work through individual donations, monthly giving, session sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Project Play is a grassroots NGO operating as a single, unified charitable service rather than a platform-with-modules architecture. The organization delivers three interconnected core programs: Play Sessions (safe, structured spaces for displaced children to play and develop), Parental Support (helping caregivers strengthen bonds with children), and Case Work (connecting children with services and safeguarding networks). These are supported by advocacy and research publications documenting border violence, and fundraising programs including monthly giving, session sponsorship, and limited edition merchandise. Volunteer and teacher partnership programs round out the service portfolio, enabling community participation in delivering and supporting the play programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Play Sessions Regular facilitated play sessions providing safe, structured spaces for displaced children to build resilience, process experiences, and reclaim a sense of normality. Supports emotional, social, and cognitive development for children aged 0-18 on the move in northern France.
• Parental Support Support services that help caregivers strengthen bonds with their children through dedicated time, space, and practical tools, supporting strong parent-child relationships essential to children's wellbeing during displacement.
• Case Work Professional support service that identifies needs, aims to reduce risk, and connects displaced children with appropriate services and safeguarding networks, addressing their lack of access to consistent professional support.
• Stop Border Violence Campaign Campaign calling for a full public inquiry into UK spending at the UK-France border, documenting child fatalities and advocating for policy change.
• Sponsor a Session Donation option allowing supporters to fund a play session for children on the move at €7.50 per session, covering all resources needed.
• Monthly Donor Program Regular giving program allowing donors to contribute monthly from €2/£2 to support sustainable play sessions for displaced children.
• Limited Edition Prints Limited edition art prints by Maddy Bloxham, inspired by the poem 'Home' by Warsaw Shire, sold with proceeds supporting Project Play's work.
• Annual Charity Membership Annual membership at €5 required for volunteering with Project Play, valid until December 31st of the current year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,640 children supported across 12 sites
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• forRefugeescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProject Play is under the umbrella of forRefugees, UK Charity No: 1168435. forRefugees raises money to give grants and emergency funds to small volunteer groups who work on-the-ground to support refugees across Europe. Provides organizational oversight and funding support.
• Keeping Children SafeminorOthersOrganizational membership for safeguarding standards and resources
• Calais AppealminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in the refugee support ecosystem
• Destination UnknownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in the refugee advocacy network
• Together With RefugeesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK-based coalition network for refugee support

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• War Child: International humanitarian organization focused on the protection and wellbeing of children affected by conflict. Comparable in child-protection mission and advocacy orientation, though operating at much broader scale across multiple conflict zones globally.
• Save the Children: Largest global NGO focused on children's rights, welfare, and development, including refugee and displaced children. Comparable in child-rights mission and beneficiary overlap, though vastly larger and broader in scope and geography.
• UNICEF: UN agency dedicated to children's rights and wellbeing globally, with significant programming for refugee and displaced children. Comparable in child-rights mission and policy advocacy, though operating as a vastly larger multilateral institution.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): International humanitarian medical organization providing emergency medical care in conflict and crisis zones, including refugee contexts in northern France. Comparable as a major humanitarian actor operating in the same geography, though focused on medical rather than play-based child protection.

Direct peers

• Help Refugees: UK-based charity that channels funding and support to grassroots refugee aid groups across Europe, including northern France. Comparable as a refugee-support organization with shared partner ecosystem and overlapping beneficiary focus, including child welfare.
• Right To Play: International organization using play as a tool to protect and educate children affected by conflict, poverty, and displacement. Highly comparable in methodology — play-based child development and protection in crisis contexts — though operating at much larger scale globally.
• Utopia56: French NGO operating in Calais, Paris, and other locations to provide shelter, food, and support to refugees and displaced people, including unaccompanied minors. Directly comparable as a France-based grassroots NGO serving displaced populations in northern France with similar volunteer-driven model.
• L'Auberge des Migrants: Long-running grassroots volunteer organization operating in Calais providing direct aid, food, and shelter support to displaced people on the northern France coast. Directly comparable as a Calais-based grassroots humanitarian NGO serving the same beneficiary population and overlapping partner network.
• Calais Appeal: Volunteer-led organization providing food, clothing, and basic services to refugees in the Calais area. Project Play is a listed partner, indicating overlapping operational territory, beneficiary population, and grassroots volunteer model.

Others

• forRefugees: UK charity that operates as Project Play's umbrella organization, raising money and providing grants to small volunteer groups supporting refugees across Europe. Included as an adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than a direct peer, given its funder/grantor role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ProjectPlayFR
• Facebookfacebook.com/projectplayfrance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-play-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/projectplayfrance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Project Play