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Mission, Values and Vision
To create life changing moments for children who have been victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment.
Treat People Royally, Keep Moving Forward and Make Moments Matter
Every local council in the United Kingdom is served by a Starfish KIDS Camp.
It's the goal of The Starfish Alliance to help transform communities around the country and around the world by interrupting the cycles of neglect, abuse and abandonment for children in the foster care system. Where neglect and abuse took place in a child's life because of a breakdown of relationship, we rebuild healthy, loving relationships through week-long summer camps and mentoring programmes.
Confronting Abuse. Changing Lives. Transforming Communities.
The Christian church has been at the forefront of social charity since it began. Helping children in need is key to true faith (Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27). Whilst our work is based on a Christian ethos, our programmes are for children of all faiths (or none). While our national leadership and local camp leaders adhere to an orthodox Christian faith, there is no faith requirement for campers. We train our volunteers to ensure all children feel safe and welcome regardless of religious or spiritual background.
Born in California, raised in rural Kansas, Bryan began his professional career in radio and advertising before going into full-time Christian ministry with university students. In 2011, he and his family moved to Wales to start Capital City Church in Cardiff. While there, the Elliotts and their ministry team launched the first Royal Family Kids Camp (now Starfish KIDS Camp) for looked after children in the UK.
“Churches need to find their niche when it comes to community service,” Bryan says. “Foster care services in Britain are stretched beyond belief, and it seemed like the right thing for us to do.”
Bryan works to raise funds and other resources for Starfish, and volunteers each year at their local camp in Cardiff. He and Misty now pastor a growing church in Bedwas, Wales. He as a B.S. in Communications from Sterling College, and a Masters in Theological Studies from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
A passionate mum, Misty was one of the original directors of the first camp in South Wales. She, too, is from Kansas, and has been directly involved in various aspects of ministry and work with Starfish. Misty oversees the recruitment of new camps and volunteers, and is the chief liaison for all camp operations. She also volunteers every year at her local Starfish KIDS Camp. She has a B.A. in Music Education from Sterling College.
The Elliotts live in South Wales, enjoy long walks in the Welsh countryside, and have four children spread out between the U.S. and Britain.
Kathy and Mark have been involved with the first UK Starfish KIDS Camp from its start in 2016 and serve as Grandma and Grandpa.
Kathy has a background in nursing, health visiting and early years education as well as having a diploma in counselling; Mark worked as a consultant psychiatrist based in Merthyr Tydfil for 22 years until retirement in 2017.
They now provide regular childcare for their preschool grandchildren. They are longstanding members of Rhiwbina Baptist Church in Cardiff and are actively engaged with church life.
Clayton and Judith have been involved with The Starfish Alliance from the very outset and are both passionate about the work of the charity.
Clayton is a bank manager and has worked in finance throughout his career. Judith has a banking background but for the last 10 years changed her career, passed her BA(Hons) in Youth and Community Work and is now a full time Foster Carer.
Together, Clayton and Judith have been fostering children for the last 6 years. Clayton and Judith also are involved in church life at Peniel Pentecostal Church in Glynneath.
There are several ways you can get involved with The Starfish Alliance. From starting your own camp as a church all the way to personally volunteering. Even your business can get involved! Find out more below on the many ways to get involved.
In 1985, an assistant pastor named Wayne Tesch and his wife, Diane, saw a need to provide hope to local foster children in Costa Mesa, California. They created a week-long summer camp for foster children ages 6-12.
After the first five years of hosting camps through their church, the Tesch’s realised the need was bigger than just Costa Mesa. So in 1990, Wayne left his position at the church to form and become CEO of the new charity, Royal Family KIDS Camp, Inc.
From 1990-2008, the organisation grew steadily, serving more children each year and equipping more leaders from churches to serve children in care. Royal Family KIDS refined its training program and franchised its model so that its ultimate mission – to serve every child in care ages 6-12 – would be possible.
In 2008 the organisation expanded to include a school year mentoring program called, "Royal Friends Club," headed by Joanne Feldmeth, the former executive director for Child SHARE, a non-profit leader in the U.S for recruiting foster parents.
Today, over 100,000 children have attended the camps since 1985, with 275 clubs and mentoring programs around the world. Countries currently hosting camps and mentoring programs are the U.S., Australia, Chile, South Africa, Ghana, Poland, Namibia, and the United Kingdom (Wales).
In 2015, Bryan and Misty Elliott brought the Royal Family KIDS model to Cardiff, Wales. In 2018, after three consecutive successful camps, RFK was launched as a national charity under the new name, Starfish Alliance. The camps, now called Starfish KIDS Camps, continue to adhere to the Royal Family KIDS model, mission values and vision.
We are proud to work in patnership with For The Children (Formerly Royal Family Kids). Founded in 1985 by Wayne and Diane Tesch, to provide a safe place for children who have been subjected to abuse and neglect.
Starfish Alliance, Britannia House C1, 3 Caerphilly Business Park, Van Road, Caerphilly, CF83 3GG