Children with Parent in Prison-Game with Mum & Dad

Raising awareness about the rights of children with imprisoned parents is not easy. The issue often remains invisible and meaningful change inside prison systems can take years. In this context, Game with Mum & Dad (GWMD) has emerged as a powerful starting point for dialogue with decision-makers, opening conversations that can lead to institutional change.
Beyond directly supporting children navigating parental imprisonment, GWMD also has been serving as a catalyst for a coordinated and sustained approach to protecting the rights and well-being of children with imprisoned parents. By bringing families, prison staff and public authorities together around a simple but meaningful activity, the initiative has been helping to create the conditions for deeper structural change.

The project so far

Between 2024 and 2025, the programme reached more than 4,137 children and 2,643 parents across 13 countries worldwide. During this period, the initiative continued to expand internationally, including India and Argentina, demonstrating that the model can be successfully adapted across diverse prison systems and cultural contexts.
At its core, the project offers children rare opportunities to spend time with their imprisoned parents in a positive and more natural environment. These moments of connection are widely recognised as vital for children’s emotional well-being and development, particularly when families are separated by imprisonment.

How has the project created change inside prison systems?

In each participating prison, the initiative begins a year-long process of dialogue and collaboration involving prison administrations, ministries, local authorities, social workers, families, children and other relevant stakeholders. This shared ownership has helped ensure the initiative is not perceived as an external project but rather as a process developed within the prison system itself. As a result, the programme supports long-term sustainability while encouraging a broader cultural shift toward recognising children’s rights and the importance of child safeguarding within prison environments for children with a parent in prison.
In Poland, for example, the project is now entering its third consecutive year, with activities expanding into new regions — a clear indication that the model is gaining institutional support and momentum.
In Bremen, Germany, where prison-based initiatives for children of imprisoned parents had previously been very limited, the 2025 GWMD activities had a particularly strong impact. Despite economic constraints and limited public funding, the initiative generated visible change. Prison staff reported feeling inspired and motivated by the experience, and the programme quickly became an effective entry point for advocacy and dialogue with the regional Ministry of Justice and other public authorities. In this context, GWMD helped bring the issue of children with imprisoned parents into institutional discussions and demonstrated the practical value of child-centred approaches within prison settings.
Across participating prisons, the initiative has contributed to greater attention to child safeguarding and family-sensitive practices, reinforcing the importance of considering children’s needs when designing prison policies and procedures.

Looking ahead to 2026

In 2026, the COPE Network aims to further strengthen and expand the initiative.
In the Czech Republic, a “Roma Family Day” is planned for the second half of 2026. The event in the Liberec region will bring together Roma children, caregivers, imprisoned parents, community leaders and professionals for a day of sports, cultural celebration and family activities. Its goal is to challenge the negative stereotypes that Roma communities often face in society.
The overall focus of the 2026 edition of GWMD will be on supporting additional prison administrations to adopt the model, deepening institutional engagement and bringing the programme to more regions where children are affected by parental imprisonment. As the project grows, its guiding idea remains the same: creating small but meaningful moments where children and parents can reconnect. Moments that not only strengthen family bonds, but also open the door to wider conversations about how prison systems can better uphold the rights and well-being of children.