The games
Each local event culminates with a game of football inside a prison involving parents and their children.
This requires a lot of preparation with the children, with the parents inside and outside prison, prison staff, as well as local and national authorities.
(If playing a game of football isn’t possible for practical reasons, other sports or games can be used.)
Children’s experiences of the event are collected
The following principles and values apply at all times:
Child safeguarding: We actively seek to prevent harm, abuse and distress of children in all of our actions, whether deliberate or unintentional.
Child participation: We involve children in preparing and executing the event. We listen to what they have to say.
We combat all forms of discrimination and encourage participants to express openness and tolerance. The events are gender neutral with girls, boys, fathers and mothers involved.
Who we are
Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) is a pan-European network working with and on behalf of children with imprisoned parents.
Our vision
That every child be guaranteed fair, unbiased treatment, protection of his or her rights, and equal opportunities regardless of gender, social, economic or cultural heritage.
Our mission
To safeguard the social, political and judicial inclusion of children with an imprisoned parent, while fostering the pursuit and exchange of knowledge which enhances good practices, and contributes to a better understanding of the psychological, emotional and social development of these children.
Participating
in the 2024 edition
of Game with Mum & Dad
Participating in the 2024 edition of Game with Mum & Dad will be Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain (Catalonia), Switzerland and the UK (England and Scotland). More are likely to join this second edition. Do get in touch if you’re curious or interested.
Alternative Sociale has been working in Romania to raise awareness on issues resulting from the interaction of children with the justice system, either as victims, perpetrators or from having imprisoned parents. Alternative Sociale contributed to the improvement of the conditions for hearing children in police stations, prosecutor’s offices and courts of law.
Aangan Trust is an organisation working with government departments, community groups and civil society partners across India to ensure the most vulnerable children are safe, including those with a parent in prison.
Bambinisenzasbarre is a non-governmental organisation based in Milan, Italy working to support the child-parent relationship with specific attention on the unexpected and potentially traumatic separation from the detained parent.
Caspae is an organisation operating in Portugal and carrying out, among others, projects devoted to the promotion of the rights of children with imprisoned parents.
Exodus Nederland is a Dutch association aiming to support prisoners in their successful transition back into society after incarceration.
Families Outside is the only national charity that works solely to support the families of people affected by imprisonment in Scotland. Our purpose is to improve outcomes for children and families affected by imprisonment so they can live healthy, active lives free from stigma and disadvantage.
The Generalitat de Catalunya is the autonomous government of the community of Catalonia in Spain. The Department of Justice has a secretariat in charge of criminal policy, reintegration and attention to victims.
Hoppenbank e.V. is a recognised association operating in free assistance to those in conflict with the law in Bremen, Germany. One of their main tasks is to support former prisoners, those imprisoned and those at risk of imprisonment to find a job and reintegrate into society, by assisting in the fields of job seeking, activities, release preparation, addiction counseling, housing and confinement avoidance.
NIACRO in an organisation working in the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Northern Ireland Probation offering advice to all those in contact with the criminal justice system, as well as services to people visiting prison and helps those in prison resettle once released.
Prison Fellowship Czech Prison offers a broad range of support to all those affected by crime to victims, to prisoners, to released prisoners, to families, and especially to the children of prisoners.
Małopolskiego Stowarzyszenia Probacja provides support to the families of people who have been incarcerated in Poland, with a particular focus on children. Probacja aims to help these children overcome the trauma of having to live without one or both of their parents.
Relais Enfants Parents is active in the Belgian regions of Brussels and Wallonia. It provides professional psychological support to help maintain and support the bond between a child and his or her incarcerated parent.
