Over The Wall Camp's New Home
Welcome to Our Next Chapter!
Welcome to the Future of Over the Wall Camp
We are excited to announce that we have signed a minimum 40-year lease for the former Ockbrook School, near Derby, which will become our new headquarters and future base for our award-winning residential and other programmes.
We have a ton of work to do to make the site ‘camp ready’ for opening in 2026, which will then be followed by further phased development to make this a world-class site for our transformational services.
As the saying goes… a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step….we’d love for you to join us and be a part of this journey!
Over The Wall UK Children's Charity
More than 1 in 10 children in the UK have a long-term illness and owing to advances in paediatric clinical treatment, more children than ever are living longer with a chronic health condition.
Many of these children remain in treatment for lengthy periods and are often unable to engage in normal childhood activities, leaving them isolated, lonely, and vulnerable. Parents tell us they can feel overwhelmed and powerless watching their children become increasingly withdrawn and unable to enjoy their childhood.
Founded in 1999 by the late Hollywood actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and UK businessman Joe Woods, we empower children and their families to explore beyond their perceived limitations to rediscover the magic of childhood.
Awarded ‘Outstanding Provider’ status by Ofsted, our programmes achieve many transformational outcomes, with our greatest testimony coming from the parents and carers of our campers, who tell us they are amazed at the difference we have made to the confidence and self-esteem of their children.
Why We Need A Permanent Home
Currently serving up to 1,000 beneficiaries a year and covering more than 130 different illnesses and conditions, our programmes are supported by a team of paediatric clinical professionals trusted by parents, the NHS, and charity partners to ensure that the highest standards of medical care underpin all that we do.
When Over the Wall was founded, we did not have our own site. Rather, our delivery model was akin to a ‘travelling circus,’ relying upon finding appropriate premises, such as private boarding schools and activity centres throughout the UK and renting them for short periods to run our programmes.
As the charity grew, this mode of delivery became increasingly more limiting because the type of premises needed in terms of amenities, activity provision, location, size, and availability were always in short supply, and our use always involved a compromise relative to our quite specialised requirements, such as disabled access and clinical care facilities. There are also significant inefficiencies with the travelling, set-up and closing of multiple venues. Owing to these factors, Over The Wall effectively reached its growth ceiling of around 1,000 beneficiaries in 2019, but recognised some years beforehand that we would be forever constrained unless we found our own site.
The lack of a physical site has also held Over The Wall back in marketing, community engagement, and fundraising. Our short-term stays at various locations leave only a faint and disappearing footprint, which makes it difficult for partners, supporters, and donors to engage and identify with the charity.
Our Future Home in Ockbrook, Derby
Our goal is to create a safe place where every child with a long-term illness is supported and empowered to live their best childhood. For many of our beneficiaries, our camps may be their only chance to spend time away from home with others like themselves.
After an extensive search over many years, we have secured a long-term lease for the former Ockbrook private school near Derby, which regrettably went into receivership in June 2021. The development of this site will be transformational, allowing us to:
- Greatly increase the number of beneficiaries we serve annually,
- Enrich the camp experience, delivering an even greater impact to our beneficiaries,
- create partnerships with regional children’s hospitals, strengthening referral pathways,
- Support children with more complex and diverse health challenges,
- Trial new programmes, and
- Support other charities to deliver residential programmes.
Get Involved
Your involvement is the catalyst for change! Whether you’re a long-standing resident, a former student, an ex-member of staff at Ockbrook, or are just interested in getting involved to help others less fortunate – we would like to hear from you. Together, we will build a legacy that generations to come will be proud of.
Sign Up To Find Out More
Completing the short questionnaire below will allow us to properly respond to your desire to be engaged, whether you simply want to be kept informed about what is happening or become more involved in our project.
By providing your personal information to Over The Wall, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described in our Privacy Policy. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. You have the right to access, correct, restrict, or delete your information, as well as the right to object to its use for marketing purposes. We will keep your details secure and will never sell your details to third parties. We operate on an ‘opt-in only’ communication policy, meaning we will only send you marketing communications if you explicitly consent. You can manage your communication preferences at any time by contacting us at info@otw.org.uk or calling 02392 477110.
