About Over The Wall
We are a national charity that supports children and young people facing serious health challenges through transformational residential camps in communities across the UK.
What we do
Our free, therapeutic recreation camps help to develop the confidence, self-esteem, coping strategies and relationships of our campers.
We strive to make each camp a memorable, fun and empowering experience. All in a physically and medically safe environment.
“A place where kids can kick back, relax and raise a little hell”
– Paul Newman
Our Vision
Our vision is that all children and young people, living with the challenges of serious illness and disability, can access transformational therapeutic recreation camp programmes, free of charge.
Our History
Over The Wall was officially founded in 1999 by UK businessman, Joe Woods, inspired by the inspirational camps being run in the US by Joe’s friend – the late Oscar winning actor and philanthropist Paul Newman.
Why ‘Over The Wall’?
Simple really. It’s because we believe in helping seriously ill children escape from and reach beyond the boundaries of their illness.
Our Trustees
Our Trustees are drawn from all walks of life, including parents whose children have visited camp, medical professionals, volunteers and senior business people. All are united by a desire to continuously improve outcomes and services for seriously ill children and their families.
Ever thought about becoming a Trustee or a non-Trustee Board Member? If you would like further information please get in touch.
our
trustees
- Joe Cronly -Chairman
- Richard Chapman
- Anthony Diamandakis
- Catherine Doran
- Jonathan Goring
- Duncan King
- Dr Lara Lohr
- Neil McDonald
- Paul Raeburn
- Andrew Richards
- Jocelyn Sharp
- Anne Stevens
- Dr Bianca Tiesman
- John Welsh
Our Patrons
Sir Kenneth Branagh
“I’m proud to be a Patron and avid supporter of this wonderful little UK children’s charity. I have watched, often in wonder, how Over The Wall’s small team of staff and their fabulous volunteers, have consistently delivered the most wonderful, life-changing experiences to seriously ill children and their families – year after year and always free-of-charge.”
– Sir Kenneth Branagh
Gordon Cooper
Gordon Cooper is a non-exec director and co-founder of TCC Global NV, an international marketing company servicing the retail industry.
His early career was in advertising for two UK agencies and later on in sales roles for two publishing companies based in Italy and France. At TCC he was based in Milan and New York for over 25 years before returning to the UK in 2014. He currently sits on the board of Summit Media an e-commerce specialist and the TCC Foundation. Also involved with a number of other charities & NGO’s
Our Ambassador
As well as being a serial adventurer and motivational speaker, James Ketchell is also a tireless ambassador for the work we do at Over The Wall.
In 2014 James became the first person to have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, summited Mount Everest and cycled 18,000 miles around the world in what the media dubbed “The Ultimate Triathlon”.
“I didn’t feel worried about anything because Over The Wall is the best place in the world.”
-Camper