WHO ARE WE?

Xkeys Ltd is a company owned and run by brothers Richard and Nicholas 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.

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
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 well over 200 camps. He works in our office all year round, planning camps, developing booking systems, recruiting staff, and manages XUK, our residential camp.

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. Our Residential activity camps are now so popular we are getting daily calls from countries all over the world and our day camps continue to be one of the largest activity camps in North London.

 

Nicholas Bernstein: (Richard’s brother & Co-Director)
Nick studied Japanese and Psychology at Durham University before training to become a chartered accountant. A few years in the city made Nick decide he wanted to run his own organisation and get involved with Richard . Nick is in charge of the office and our staffing.

Nick's view:
"I love the fact that all our hard work culminates in children having great experiences at our camps. We attract youngsters and teens from all round the local area for our day camps, and as far as Australia for XUK, our UK based residential camp. If I can help be a positive influence on these children at the same time as working with my brother then that is a perfect working environment! "

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