WHO ARE WE?

Xkeys Ltd is a company owned and run by brothers Richard and Lawrence Bernstein. The company name is rarely used because we run camps which all have their own identities:

XUK (Experience UK): our summer residential camp for children and teens aged 6-17.

Cross Keys: our specialist day camp where 6-13 year olds choose to focus on Sport, Art or Drama each week. 4-5 year olds take part in a wider range of activities.

Mini Minors: our largest day camp where children aged 3-13 split into smaller age groups to take part in a huge range of activities.

Our Birthday Party Service and Swim Club are also run under the 'Mini Minors' banner.

Each year that we run camps and activities, our systems improve, activities develop and we get better at what we do. Throughout all this improvement and change we have maintained four core principles. We believe that:

1. Children have most fun in a welcoming and friendly environment. So we create one.

2. A camp is only as good as its staff. Recruiting and training the best people is priceless. So, we have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that only the best are invited to our tough group interviews and only the best of the best are offered the opportunity to work for us.

3. Parents can only relax when they know their children are safe and having fun. So, everything we do is underpinned by safety and we build the fun and games from there.

4. Parents have to work hard enough as it is and always appreciate a helping hand. So, we’ll do all we can to make your life easier through the booking process and during camp.

THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE COMPANY:

Richard Bernstein (The Man in Charge)
Richard started working at a local camp when he was at school. At 19, after training as a manager at Marks and Spencer, he wanted to run his own company and make a difference. Richard believed passionately in kids getting the most out of their childhood and wanted all children to get the opportunities he did when he was young. At this point he decided to start Cross Keys, a camp that children adore because they can focus on their passions in a cosy, friendly and safe environment.

Ten years on, he has managed nearly 200 camps. He works in our office all year round, planning camps, developing booking systems, recruiting staff, and improving every aspect of the business.

Richard's view:
"I consider myself very lucky. I work with fantastic people to make a real difference to children’s leisure time. When I was a boy I was fortunate enough to play lots of sport and always get involved in drama activities at school. I want all children to get the same opportunities I had, embrace activities and forge new friendships.

 

Lawrence Bernstein: (Richard’s brother & Co-Director)
Lawrence went to Cambridge University and then worked full-time in the city for over 5 years. He specialised in marketing before setting up his own consultancy. He started working with Richard in 1999.

Lawrence's view:
"I'm a marketing consultant. My other business projects are managed to ensure I get to spend some time working with Richard. This is a fantastic environment to work in and managing the day camps has been the most enjoyable time I've ever had at work."

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