Children of Prisoners Europe

What Children of Prisoners Europe does

Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) is a Paris-based pan-European non-profit network founded in 1999 (previously known as Eurochips) that works with and on behalf of children with imprisoned parents. The organization's primary beneficiaries are an estimated 2.1 million children across Europe affected by parental incarceration on any given day. COPE operates as a knowledge-sharing and advocacy platform rather than a technology company, developing and disseminating research frameworks, policy guidelines, educational toolkits, and stakeholder-specific advocacy resources.

COPE's core outputs include the landmark COPING Project (2010-2012, EU Commission co-funded), which was the first large-scale multi-country European research study on resilience and mental health of children with imprisoned parents; the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)5 with 56 guidelines (which COPE helped shape and which has become a reference standard); advocacy packs tailored for prison services, police, judiciary, schools, and media; the Frame Reflective Advocacy Toolkit; the Child Safeguarding Policy and Toolkit; the European Journal of Parental Imprisonment; and recurring campaigns such as 'Game with Mum & Dad' (third edition launched May 2026) and 'Not my crime, still my sentence.' The organization coordinates a pan-European member and affiliate network, participates in the Child Rights Connect Working Group on Children of Incarcerated Parents (18 organizations), and engages EU institutions, the Council of Europe, and national governments on policy reform.

COPE's business model is built on donations and institutional grants, with the European Commission's Rights, Equality and Citizenship Program as a key recurring funder. With approximately 8 employees, the organization operates as a lean advocacy body; all resources, publications, and services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, practitioners, and policymakers. Financial sustainability depends on continued EU grant cycles, member organization contributions, and individual donations solicited through the website.

Name

Children of Prisoners Europe

Legal name

Children of Prisoners Europe

Website

https://childrenofprisoners.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) is a Paris-based pan-European non-profit network that advocates for approximately 2.1 million children affected by parental incarceration, producing research, toolkits, and policy frameworks while coordinating a network of member organizations across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Advocacy Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Child welfare advocacy
• Parental imprisonment support
• Criminal justice policy
• Child rights research
• Family support services

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: COPE is supported by donations and institutional grants. The organization publishes annual reports and financial reports, indicating funding from multiple sources including EU programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

COPE is a pan-European advocacy network that produces and disseminates research, advocacy toolkits, policy frameworks, and awareness campaigns focused on safeguarding the rights of children with imprisoned parents. The organization develops publications, training resources, and policy guidance for stakeholders including prison services, police, judiciary, schools, and policymakers, and runs pan-European campaigns such as "Game with Mum & Dad" and "Not my crime, still my sentence."

Product overview

Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) is a pan-European advocacy network focused on safeguarding the social, political, and judicial inclusion of children with imprisoned parents. The organization operates not as a technology product company but as a knowledge-sharing and advocacy platform, offering publications including the COPING Project research, Advocacy Packs for various stakeholders (police, prison services, schools, judiciary), toolkits like the Frame Reflective Advocacy Toolkit, and policy frameworks including the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)5. COPE also runs campaigns such as 'Game with Mum & Dad' and 'Not my crime, still my sentence,' produces the European Journal of Parental Imprisonment, and publishes child-friendly resources like 'What I think, in images and words.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Game with Mum & Dad A European campaign facilitating contact between children and their imprisoned parents through game-based activities, designed to strengthen child-parent relationships during incarceration.
• Not my crime, still my sentence

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% of prisoners' children are at risk of increased mental health difficulties
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQUNO, based in Switzerland, is a COPE member organization that ensured COPING research findings had maximum impact on public policies by presenting the research at the UN level.
• Child Rights Connect Working Group on Children of Incarcerated ParentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOPE is part of this working group which includes 18 organizations. The group contributes to the Child Rights Manifesto and coordinates advocacy efforts.
• BambinisenzasbarreflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian member organization that obtained signature of the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding between Italian Ministry of Justice, National Ombudsman for Childhood and Adolescence, and Bambinisenzasbarre. This MoU became a landmark initiative and served as inspiration for the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)5.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO): Geneva-based child-rights advocacy body that amplifies COPE's COPING research at the UN level. Comparable as a long-standing international children's-rights advocacy organization with comparable scope on child-welfare policy.
• Child Rights Connect: International coalition of NGOs and child-rights organizations that facilitates civil-society engagement with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. COPE is a member of its Working Group on Children of Incarcerated Parents; directly comparable network/membership model.
• Eurochild: Pan-European network promoting children's rights and well-being across 35+ countries. Comparable as a similarly structured European network advocating for vulnerable children and influencing EU-level child policy.
• Save the Children Europe: Major international NGO with a Brussels-based European office advocating for children's rights at EU level. Comparable as a large-scale child-rights advocacy organization operating at EU institutions, though with a much broader mandate than COPE.

Direct peers

• Defence for Children International (DCI): International movement focused on children's rights, with presence in Europe and globally. Comparable in targeting vulnerable children, advocacy at international bodies, and producing rights-based frameworks.
• Pact (Prison Advice & Care Trust): UK charity supporting prisoners and their families, including children. Comparable as a European organization addressing the intersection of criminal justice and family/child welfare with advocacy and direct support.
• Children of Prisoners International (COPI): Note: COPI is closely related to COPE — the COPE organization itself was previously known as 'Eurochips' before rebranding. Comparable as a legacy/affiliate identity within the same organizational lineage focused on children of imprisoned parents across Europe.
• Bambinisenzasbarre: Italian NGO focused on children of imprisoned parents; flagship COPE member that originated the 2014 Italian Memorandum of Understanding and continues to drive national-level policy reform. Directly comparable mission and beneficiary population.
• Children Heard and Seen: UK charity supporting children with a parent in prison through direct services, advocacy, and research. Directly comparable beneficiary population (children of prisoners) with overlapping advocacy and support focus in Europe.

Regional players

• National Children of Incarcerated Parents (NCIP): US-based organization focused on children with incarcerated parents, providing training, resources and policy advocacy. Highly comparable mission and beneficiary population, but operating in North America rather than Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/children-of-prisoners-europe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Children of Prisoners Europe