Prisons are generally not designed as child-friendly spaces. Children who visit their imprisoned parents are often exposed to intimidating and harsh environments. However, regular and ongoing contact with a parent in prison when in children’s best interests is crucial for every child’s well-being. Prisons can evolve into more supportive and accommodating environments for families. This … Lire plus

On the morning of Wednesday, September 18, ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ was played in the Novara Prison (Piedmont, Italy), thanks to the organisation of COPE member Bambinisenzasbarre. In Italy, ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ was organised for the first time in 2015 in Milan and has since become a tool used to strengthen, enhance … Lire plus

On Sunday, September 22, the first ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ event in Germany took place at Bremen Prison, marking a memorable day for four imprisoned fathers and their nine children. The event was organised by COPE member Hoppenbank e.V., a grassroots association that supports prisoners and relatives. The gymnasium at Bremen Prison was transformed … Lire plus

On September 11, the Busto Arsizio Prison, Italy, hosted the ‘Game with Mum & Dad’. The event took place in the morning, with four imprisoned parents and seven children participating. At 10 o’clock in the morning the children, accompanied by their mothers, joined their fathers on the institution’s field. The fact that it coincided with … Lire plus

On Saturday 21 September, another ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ event was organised in the gymnasium of Jiřice Prison, Czech Republic, thanks to Prison Fellowship Czech Republic. Sixteen children participated in the event, joining 10 imprisoned fathers on the playing field. These fathers, all serving long-term sentences, had in some cases not seen their children for … Lire plus

The autumn phase of ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ kicked off on September 9 in Avellino (a town of 50,000 inhabitants, founded by the ancient Romans as “Abellinum”), half an hour from Naples, Italy. After nearly a year of preparation, the game finally began at 10am at the high-security ‘Antimo Graziano’ Correctional Facility, where 15 … Lire plus

In September, ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ resumed in Italy, allowing children and parents in prison to compete for the ball. The first 60 games organised by COPE member Bambinisenzasbarre, were played between June and July in Italian prisons in various regions, including Tuscany, Lombardy, Apulia and Sicily. These games are part of the European … Lire plus

On Sunday, September 1, Wojkowice hosted the fourth and final game of this year’s ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ series in Poland, marking a heartwarming conclusion to an initiative that has brought families closer together through the power of playing together. This special event, hosted at the largest prison unit in the Krakow district, saw … Lire plus

On Saturday, August 31, the third GWMD event in Poland was held at the Zakład Karny in Nowym Wiśniczu prison. This game brought together 11 children, 6 imprisoned fathers and 8 carers and took place in an extraordinary setting—a picturesque hilltop pitch surrounded by lush greenery. This provided an ideal background for a day filled with … Lire plus

On Sunday, August 25, the second Game with Mum & Dad (GWMD) event was held at the Oddziale Zewnętrznym Aresztu Śledczego prison in Krakow, Poland. This event marked the second of the four planned games (of football) organised by COPE member Probacja and it unfolded in an atmosphere of warmth and unity that transcended the … Lire plus