Vacances & Familles

What Vacances & Familles does

Vacances & Familles is a French non-profit association (loi 1901), founded in 1962 by Malou Barbe and headquartered in Montreuil, that enables vacation access for disadvantaged families across France. The organization serves families who are beneficiaries of CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) or MSA (Mutualité Sociale Agricole) vacation assistance, including single-parent families and families with disabled members. It operates through 8 regional delegations and multiple departmental antennas, supported by 37 paid staff, 15 Service Civique volunteers, and a network of 1,500 volunteers nationwide. In its most recent operating year, the organization accompanied 8,088 people (including 4,949 children and 1,224 single-parent families) on 68,210 vacation days across 300+ accommodation sites in seaside, mountain, and countryside locations.

The association's core service combines three components: (1) the primary vacation support program providing accommodation, on-site activities, and three-phase accompaniment (before, during, and after the stay); (2) VF-Horizon, an online personal portal for vacationers to manage accounts, funded through France Relance, the Ministry of Health, the Paris municipality, and CNAF; and (3) a Benevolat recruitment platform hosted on Benevolt.fr. The association holds Agrément Tourisme Social et Familial from the Ministry of Tourism (number 01 07 01, since 2007), is recognized as an organization of general interest (enabling 66% tax-deductible donations), is an approved Social and Solidarity Enterprise, and is registered as a travel operator with Atout France.

The business model is a multi-stream non-profit funding structure rather than a commercial revenue model. Income is derived from institutional public funding (CNAF quadrennial convention, DGCS multi-year objectives convention, ANCV partnership since 1989, FDVA grants), tax-deductible individual and corporate donations processed via HelloAsso and Leetchi, beneficiary family membership fees, and in-kind solidarity rental contributions from private accommodation owners. The organization has no disclosed revenue figure, no app, and no public pricing. Strategic positioning is reinforced through membership in sectoral coalitions including UNAT, OITS, UNAF, UNIOPSS, CNAJEP, and the Collectif 'Vacances, ensemble faisons vivre la solidarité!'.

Name

Vacances & Familles

Legal name

Vacances et Familles

Website

https://vacancesetfamilles.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Tourism Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Multigenerational Travel Agencies (THAKAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Multi-Generational Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAD), Travel Support & Pre-Trip/On-Trip Personal Assistance (HSACAIAK)

Keywords

• Social tourism services
• Family vacation assistance
• Non-profit association
• Volunteer accompaniment
• Solidarity accommodations

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreuil

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: The association receives donations from individuals and companies. Donations are deductible up to 66% for tax purposes as V&F is recognized as an organization of general interest.
2. Membership Fees: Beneficiary families must become members of the association and participate in financing their vacation project.
3. Public Funding and Subsidies: Supported by institutional partners including CNAF (convention quadriennale), DGCS (convention pluriannuelle d'objectifs), ANCV since 1989, and regional councils. Also receives FDVA funding.
4. Solidarity Rental: Private individuals can rent their primary or secondary residence at solidarity rates during unoccupied weeks to beneficiary families.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vacances & Familles is a French non-profit association that enables disadvantaged families to access vacation stays through a network of 300+ accommodations across France (seaside, mountains, countryside) accompanied by personalized volunteer support before, during, and after their trip. Beneficiary families must receive CAF or MSA vacation assistance, and the association helps them with budgeting, transportation, and organization to gradually build vacation autonomy.

Product overview

Vacances & Familles operates as a unified non-profit service centered on facilitating vacation access for underserved families in France. The core offering consists of three interconnected components: the primary Vacances & Familles vacation support service (providing accommodation across 300+ locations, activities, and volunteer accompaniment before/during/after stays), the VF-Horizon personal vacancier space for account management, and the Benevolat Platform for volunteer recruitment and mission management. The organization functions as an association recognized as being of general interest and approved by the tourism ministry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vacances & Familles (Core Vacation Support Service) The main service enabling families in difficulty who are beneficiaries of CAF or MSA vacation assistance to access holidays through accommodation arrangements (300+ locations across France), cultural and sports activities, and personalized accompaniment before, during, and after their stay. Families must become members and co-finance their vacation project.
• VF-Horizon (Personal Vacationer Space) An online personal portal for beneficiary families (vacanciers) to manage their accounts, access vacation-related information, and communicate with the association. Funded by France Relance, Ministry of Health, Paris municipality, and CNAF.
• Benevolat Platform A volunteer management and recruitment platform hosted on Benevolt.fr that allows individuals to search for and apply to volunteer missions within Vacances & Familles regional associations, including mission search, organization profiles, and volunteer onboarding features.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2144 families go on vacation per year with V&F support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ANCV (Agence Nationale des Chèques Vacances)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989ANCV is a public establishment promoting vacation access for all. V&F has been a historical partner since 1989, benefiting from social action funding for family assistance (accommodation, animation, and transport).
• CNAF (Caisse Nationale des Allocations Familiales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNAF is a major actor of national solidarity, present throughout France through 102 family allowance funds. V&F is supported by CNAF under a quadrennial convention (convention quadriennale).
• DGCS (Direction Générale de la Cohésion Sociale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGCS designs, manages, and evaluates public solidarity policies. V&F is supported by DGCS under a multi-year objectives convention (CPO - convention pluriannuelle d'objectifs).
• UNAT (Union Nationale des Associations de Tourisme et de Plein Air)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNAT represents and defends non-profit actors who welcome nearly 4 million vacationers annually through accessible offers. V&F collaborates with UNAT on the scientific council for vacation access (Conseil Scientifique de l'Accès au Départ en Vacances).
• VVF (Villages Vacances Familles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVVF is a key player in the Social and Solidarity Economy, referent for family tourism. A member of UNAT and OITS, VVF has been committed to the same founding values for over 50 years as a solidarity operator.
• OITS (Organisation Internationale du Tourisme Social)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOITS promotes access to leisure, vacation, and tourism for all - youth, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. It aims to promote sustainable and supportive tourism. VVF is a member of OITS.
• HOMAIRmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in the early 90s, Homair is the historic brand of European Camping Group offering nearly 250 destinations in France and Southern Europe. In 2022, offered 100 stays to V&F; in 2023, increased to 200 stays for families in difficulty.
• EDGAR SUITESmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2016, Edgar Suites offers Urban Suites in the heart of cities. In 2022, offered 100 nights to V&F; in 2023, increased to 250 nights for families accompanied by the association.
• CAMPINGS.COMmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading European platform for outdoor accommodation booking with nearly 4500 establishments in 10 countries. Part of FrenchTech120 and certified Great Place to Work.
• ODALYSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey player in tourist accommodation with over 400 locations in France and Southern Europe. With 1300 collaborators, manages 128,000 beds.
• TOHAPImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBorn from the merger of Village Center and Vacances Directes, Tohapi offers over 200 campings in France and Europe with core values of friendliness, freedom, pleasure, simplicity, and security.
• France BénévolatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized as a public utility association focused on developing associative volunteer engagement for active citizenship. A collective of associations with a double network, voice for associative volunteering, and resource provider.
• UNIOPSScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniopss has united, defended, and valued the non-profit solidarity sector since 1947. Present throughout France through 22 regional unions and over 100 national federations, representing 25,000 establishments and 750,000 employees.
• CNAJEPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw 1901 association born in 1968, bringing together over 70 national youth movements and popular education associations for dialogue and representation on youth issues.
• UNAF (Union Nationale des Associations Familiales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNAF organizes dialogue between families represented by their associations and public authorities. Established March 3, 1945, to represent all French families in family policy.
• Service CiviquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoluntary commitment for the general interest open to 16-25 year olds (expanded to 30 for people with disabilities). V&F has been approved since October 2014 to host young people on 'Ambassador of Vacations' missions.
• Recherches & SolidaritéscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA non-profit expert network for all forms of solidarity. V&F works with Recherches & Solidarités to conduct studies on volunteering and annual satisfaction surveys.
• Institut Européen de Développement Humain (IEDH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEDH is an association created in 1998 providing tools and methods for volunteers in associations to better understand their role and reality. V&F has been working with IEDH for several years on training topics.
• Habitat et HumanismemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement founded in 1985 by Bernard Devert to respond to exclusion and isolation of people in difficulty. Acts for housing, social inclusion, and recreation of social bonds.
• CACHE CACHEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized in ready-to-wear and accessories manufacturing and sales. Committed to organizing a t-shirt sales operation (4 models for women and children) and donating 2€ HT per product sold to V&F.
• Interface TourismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunication, public relations, social media, and marketing agency specialized in tourism. Represents destinations and private tourism actors on French, Italian, Spanish, and Dutch markets with over 80 collaborators.
• Collectif 'Vacances, ensemble faisons vivre la solidarité!'coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of social support structures and solidarity tourism hosts based on the 1998 anti-exclusion law. Members have gathered for 20 years around a charter to make vacation access effective for all.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vacances Ouvertes: French association focused on access to vacations for populations facing social difficulty. Co-publishes the Partances review with V&F and sits on the UNAT Conseil Scientifique de l'Accès au Départ en Vacances — near-identical mission and beneficiary base.
• Ligue de l'Enseignement: Major French popular-education federation that runs 'Vacances pour tous' programs for families and youth, including subsidized stays. Comparable mission of broadening vacation access for lower-income families.
• Vacances Pour Tous (UNAT network): Consumer brand of UNAT federation offering affordable vacation stays across France. Competes for the same solidarity-tourism beneficiary pool and operates from the same regulatory framework (Agrément Tourisme Social).
• UNAT (Union Nationale des Associations de Tourisme et de Plein Air): Federation representing 4 million annual vacationers through French non-profit tourism actors. V&F is a member and collaborates on the scientific council for vacation access — a structural peer shaping the same ecosystem.
• ATES (Association pour le Tourisme Équitable et Solidaire): French network promoting equitable and solidarity tourism, with member organizations focused on social inclusion through travel. Overlaps with V&F on solidarity-tourism positioning and donor/funding sources.
• VVF (Villages Vacances Familles): Solidarity-economy family-vacation operator with 50+ years of aligned mission. V&F explicitly lists VVF as a core strategic partner, and both serve French families seeking affordable, accessible vacations through a network of accommodation sites.

Broad incumbents

• Croix-Rouge française: Major French humanitarian organization with programs supporting families in difficulty, including vacation and leisure initiatives. Operates at substantially greater scale than V&F and competes for institutional funding.
• Secours Populaire Français: Large French charity running 'Journée des Oubliés des Vacances' and other vacation-access programs for disadvantaged families. Significantly larger scale and brand recognition; competes with V&F for donor euros and beneficiary visibility.

Emerging players

• Habitat et Humanisme: French movement focused on housing and social inclusion for families in difficulty; listed as a Major V&F partner. Adjacent mission around family social reinsertion, with partial overlap on family-support programs.

Others

• ANCV (Agence Nationale des Chèques-Vacances): Public-sector agency promoting vacation access and a core institutional partner of V&F since 1989. Not a direct competitor but a programmatic enabler that shapes the entire French social-tourism market V&F operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VF_Asso
• Facebookfacebook.com/vacancesetfamilles
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vacances-familles

Compliance4 records

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 Vacances & Familles