By Children of Prisoners Europe | organisation
On 30 May 2026, the third edition of the European Game with Mum & Dad (GWMD) project officially began, kicking off at Rapotice Prison in Czechia, marking the start of another season dedicated to strengthen the bond between children and their imprisoned parents.
At its heart, the concept of Game with Mum & Dad is simple: children and their imprisoned parents get to spend a few hours playing football or other sports together, a seemingly ordinary experience that in prison becomes something extraordinary. For one day, families are given the chance to interact through play rather than across visiting-room tables under rules and restrictions.
Since its launch in 2023, Game with Mum & Dad has reached some 3,400 children and 2,300 imprisoned parents, delivering 157 sports events in 57 prisons across Europe, together with India and Argentina.
A strong start to the 2026 season
The first GWMD events of 2026 brought together around 100 children and 60 imprisoned parents. Games have already taken place in:
Whenever possible, games were held in the outdoor spaces of prisons, such as in Czechia, Poland and Italy. These settings help create an atmosphere that feels less institutional and more like an ordinary family sports day.
"Finally, I could run around and play with my dad outside the prison." — child, Brno prison, 6 June 2026
“Every time there is a GWMD match, I always score goals when my dad is the goalkeeper. But he wasn’t angry, he’s very happy.” — child, Italy
“This is much much more meaningful than a normal visit, and I get to spend more time with my child.” — imprisoned father, Bremen prison, 26 June 2026
"The organisation was amazing. For the first time, I didn't feel like a person in prison." — imprisoned father, Rapotice prison, 30 May 2026
Building on three years of momentum
Together with Czechia, the 2026 edition will take place in Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Romania, with additional countries expected to join throughout the year.
The project's growing reach is one of its clearest indicators of success. In countries that have taken part in previous editions, the number of games continues to increase, reflecting the trust built with prison authorities and their growing commitment to family-focused initiatives. Portugal, which organised 1 game in 2025, will host 5 this year, while Germany has expanded from 4 games in 2024 to 9 in 2026. In Bremen (Germany), this growth is particularly significant, as Game with Mum & Dad was among the first family-focused initiatives in the region.
This year also marks an important milestone in Romania, where a women's prison will take part in the project for the first time.
The full calendar of Game with Mum & Dad events scheduled for 2026 is available on the project’s website.
As the season continues, the project will keep working to ensure that children’s voices remain at the centre of prison policies and practices. Your donation can directly support the organisation of these events — helping cover essential costs such as sports equipment, T-shirts for children, event coordination, travel and child safeguarding measures — so that a greater number of children can spend meaningful time with their imprisoned parents.
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