On Wednesday 18 June, Relais Enfants Parents, a member of Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE), held the first-ever ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ event in France, taking place at La Santé prison, in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
‘Game with Mum & Dad’ is an international initiative led by COPE, inspired by the pioneering work of its Italian member Bambinisenzasbarre. Since 2015, the programme has offered a vital platform to support the emotional needs of children with imprisoned parents. By encouraging meaningful interaction between children and their imprisoned parents, the initiative promotes children’s rights and raises awareness of their specific needs.
The event on 18 June took place in the prison gymnasium from 1.00pm to 4.00pm and brought together 18 imprisoned fathers and 33 children for a series of games designed to strengthen their bond.
Activities included:
- Free-throw basketball for the older children
- Hula hoop games, where children made up their own challenges
- Two football games between fathers and children, the signature event of the ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ campaign
The football games were refereed by a clown and volunteers collaborating with Relais Enfants Parents, creating a fun and supportive atmosphere. A special poster, inspired by Paris Saint-Germain’s recent Champions League win, made the games even more meaningful for the participants.
One young girl, aged 10, joked, “I’m not playing football because I’m the strongest and I would score all the goals!”
Each child was also given a canvas to draw on, which they could give to their fathers as a memory of the day.
“My dad wanted me to keep the canvas as a memory instead. He drew this for me!”, shared one young girl.
As a keepsake, every child received an ‘Introduction to Writing’ box to help them remember this special visit with their parent.
GWMD is particularly significant in France, where maintaining strong family connections during imprisonment is vital for children’s emotional wellbeing. France has one of the highest prison populations in Europe, with over 81,000 people in prison as of early 2023 and an occupancy rate exceeding 130% in many facilities *, leading to challenging conditions for families to maintain contact. In this context, initiatives like GWMD create essential opportunities to nurture family bonds in a supportive, engaging environment. These joyful and meaningful experiences help strengthen emotional ties, promote resilience and provide children with a sense of security amid the difficulties posed by imprisonment.
The Relais Enfants Parents has long played a vital role in supporting children with a parent in prison. The GWMD initiative builds on this by creating a space where families can reconnect through play—offering an experience that’s inclusive, meaningful and enjoyable for children of all ages. It fosters cooperation and quality time, helping to strengthen bonds that are often strained by separation.
Following the success of this first edition, there is hope that the event will be repeated and extended to other prisons across France, giving more families the chance to share moments like these.
The Relais Enfants Parents (REP) is a French non-profit organisation, that for 30 years has been supporting children separated from imprisoned parents by facilitating visits and creative programmes in prisons. Funded by public and private partners, REP trains volunteers and creates child-friendly environments to nurture family connections during imprisonment.
* Source: Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics (SPACE I), 2023
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