‘Game with Mum & Dad’ is a global initiative led by Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE), following the model pioneered and developed by its Italian member Bambinisenzasbarre. Since 2015, this initiative has been used as a transformative tool to help maintain and strengthen the bonds between children and their imprisoned parents. Its broader mission aims to safeguard children’s rights and raise awareness about children’s needs when a parent is detained, particularly within the prison environment.
The genesis of ‘Game with Mum & Dad’
The idea for this initiative emerged in a touching way. Lia Sacerdote, President of Bambinisenzasbarre, was inspired by a simple yet profound interaction between a child and his imprisoned father. During a game between imprisoned parents and prison staff, after a father scored a goal, his son looked up at him and said: “when you come back home, we will play football together.” This statement sparked the idea that such moments of connection shouldn’t be postponed until a distant future. So Lia thought: “why wait? Let’s do it now, even in prison.” And that is how GWMD was born.
The first football game took place on December 1, 2015, in San Vittore Prison (Milan, Italy). This event laid the foundation for a growing global movement, activating prison systems up to the Italian Ministry of Justice and inviting families across many countries to participate
“We used to go to the stadium with daddy all the time, we didn’t know how to play football well, but we always had fun with him with the ball”
— Girl, 11 years old, Italy
GWMD in Cosenza (Italy) © Bambinisenzasbarre
A ‘Virtuous Circle’: the power of playing
Playing is it’s a universal language that transcends borders, cultures and social divides. Its simplicity and accessibility make it a natural tool for fostering connection. Within the context of ‘Game with Mum & Dad’, playing takes on a deeper meaning—it becomes a bridge between children and their imprisoned parents.
Through the shared experience of playing football or another sport, barriers imposed by standard prison settings are broken down and the parent-child bond has space to thrive. The game fosters an environment where both the child and the parent can forget the confines of the prison walls for a while. This dynamic not only enhances emotional connections, but also contributes to the well-being of both the child and the imprisoned parent, creating a positive loop—a ‘virtuous circle’.
The model — children as catalysts for change
‘Game with Mum & Dad’ follows the model developed in 2015 by COPE Italian member Bambinisenzasbarre. Central to the model is the involvment of prison staff and other key stakeholders. By actively engaging prison personnel in the process, the initiative helps to shift institutional attitudes toward the rights of children coming to visit their parent in detention.
Children contribute to the humanisation of the prison environment, pushing prison systems to acknowledge the importance of maintaining family connections. Their need for connection, love and stability serves as a driving force for reform within the prison system.
Looking ahead
Since its beginning in Milan, ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ has grown into an international initiative, supported and implemented by COPE network members and partners across Europe and beyond. In 2024, 54% of Italian prisons chose to carry out this project.
The goal is to expand the initiative’s reach, involving more prisons and more children.
To find out more about where games are taking place, and who is organising them, you can check the GWMD interactive concept map here.
