Children Heard and Seen

Charity supporting children & families with a parent in prison in their own communities.

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

🚨We are releasing our film 'Invisible Children' this evening at 6.30pm. 🚨
The film can be viewed at this link below:
https://t.co/wdq7Yk8Ve1
This film demonstrates the importance of identification and support for children with a parent in prison. It highlights the need for this issue to be raised in Parliament and for immediate policy change to be enacted.
Thank you to @KerryMP, who will be bringing forward a 10 Minute Rule Bill on parental imprisonment next Tuesday the 21st of May.
Thank you to @Rachel_deSouza for supporting this Bill.

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

We are delighted to be one of The Room's charity partners for 2026/27, and extremely proud that members have voted for us to be the recipient of the multi-year grant. This grant will go a long way to strengthen the support we can provide to children and families who are impacted by parental imprisonment. We look forward to working alongside The Room this year and are excited to explore any opportunities that will help to improve the lives of the families we support.

A massive thank you from Children Heard and Seen to all The Room’s members, sponsors and supporters who have made this collaboration possible. We really look forward to working with you!

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

As it is Volunteer Week, we are celebrating the wonderful volunteers that help make the support we give at Children Heard and Seen a possibility. They help to run our activities in such a brilliant way, especially at our annual summer residential which this year will be from the 13th to the 16th of August at Hill End Outdoor Education Centre in Oxford. The residential weekend helps bring together children who have been impacted by parental imprisonment to reduce feelings of shame, stigma and isolation that these children and young people feel for crimes that their parents committed that were not the children’s fault.
Katy kindly volunteered last year at the residential and ran an activity with the families to create a beautiful welcome banner, Katy said “It was a fantastic afternoon running the banner painting session, the families who joined did an amazing job filling it in and I really enjoyed volunteering with the fantastic, friendly CHAS team! 😊”
Thank you Katy! If you are interested in volunteering at the residential in helping to put up tents, running an activity, helping to support a meal or in any other way then please get in touch with us at [email protected]

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

We are hosting our annual residential from the 13thto the 16th of August at Hill End Outdoor Education Centre in Oxford. We are asking for donations of sleeping bags and tents for the families we support to camp in. If you would like to donate, then please get in contact with us at [email protected]

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

As part of #VolunteersWeek celebrations, we are holding an online information session on Wednesday 3rd June at 7pm for anyone interested in volunteering at this year’s Children Heard and Seen Summer Residential 💙

From 13th–16th August, children and families affected by parental imprisonment will come together at Hill End, Oxfordshire for a weekend of connection, laughter, campfires, activities and support.

We’re looking for individuals, groups and teams who would like to get involved — whether that’s helping prepare meals, running activities, supporting families, putting up tents or simply bringing warmth and kindness to the weekend.

For many children, this is the first time they meet others who truly understand.

Find out more and register here:
https://t.co/TU7V6z4T9k

Please share 💙
https://t.co/TU7V6z4T9k

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

This week’s 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 group was full of creativity, connection, and self-expression 💜✨

From scrapbooks and affirmation pages to artwork, collages, and future dreams, children and young people created spaces that reflected who they are beyond the stigma of parental imprisonment.

For many children, these groups are more than activities. They are safe spaces to be heard, seen, make friends, build confidence, and realise they are not alone.

Children Heard and Seen currently delivers 6 online groups every week for children with a #parentinprison across England and Wales — creating connection, reducing isolation, and helping children thrive.

No child should have to carry this experience alone. 💜

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

“𝗜 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲.”

When people talk about parental imprisonment, grandparents and kinship carers are often forgotten.

In this powerful story, Penny shares how retirement became something very different after stepping in to raise her granddaughter, Rose — navigating trauma, autism, emotional outbursts, stigma, exhaustion and the imprisonment of a parent figure, all whilst trying to create safety and stability for a child she loves deeply.

It is an honest reflection on grief, resilience, love and what happens when families are left to cope alone.

Most importantly, it is a reminder that children affected by #parentalimprisonment need understanding, connection and support — and so do the family members raising them.

Read Penny’s story here:

https://t.co/LwkXKF9lLf

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

A huge thank you to Viji Alles on @BBCRadio4 for selecting Katie’s interview as Pick of the Week and urging people to give it a listen.

Katie spoke with incredible courage and honesty about the lifelong impact domestic homicide can have on children — and why children’s voices and experiences must never be overlooked.

Every time these stories are given space nationally, it helps challenge silence, stigma and misunderstanding around the realities many children are living with.

If you have been impacted by domestic homicide and would like your voice heard, please contact [email protected]

🎧 Listen here:

https://t.co/0BjmqJvIY7

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

“𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲, 𝘄𝗼𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 ���𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀.”

Following yesterday’s discussion on @BBCr4today, Children Heard and Seen is appreciative of the opportunity to help raise awareness of the experiences of children affected by parental domestic homicide.

During the interview, CEO @SarahBurrows100 spoke about adults who, as children, were forced to visit the parent who killed the other parent in prison, with some even having to live with them following release.

@BBCr4todays overnight, yet grew up with little meaningful support.

The advisory group brings together adults who experienced parental domestic homicide as a child, helping shape understanding, support, and change for children and young people today.

If you have lived experience of parental domestic homicide and would like to connect with others who understand and help influence future support, please contact [email protected] to find out more.

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

“𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵 — 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 ��𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼.”

As a child, “Katy” was forced to visit her father in prison after he killed her mother. Years later, she says simply driving down the same roads still brings back the fear.

Today on @BBCr4today @BBCWomansHour, her story laid bare the lifelong trauma many children affected by parental domestic homicide are left to carry — often without the protection, understanding, or support they need.

A new report is now calling for urgent reform across the UK and Ireland, warning that children’s voices are too often ignored in decisions about contact, care, and recovery after domestic homicide.

No child should be forced to carry trauma alone. No child should feel unheard in decisions about their own safety.

Thank you to BBC Radio 4 for creating space for this important conversation, with @SarahBurrows100 from Children Heard and Seen and Professor John Devaney discussing why a child-centred, trauma-informed response is urgently needed.

Listen to the full interview here: https://t.co/tZtrJVp5aJ

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

For years, Georgina carried a story she felt unable to tell.

A story of police raids, prison visits, public shame, bullying, isolation, and growing up known only as "𝙑𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞’𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 – 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙭𝙥𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮"

In this powerful and deeply honest blog, Georgina shares what parental imprisonment really felt like as a child and teenager — the stigma, the silence, the loneliness, but also the resilience that followed.

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖��𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙚.”

By sharing her story, Georgina hopes other children and young people affected by parental imprisonment know they are not alone.

This blog forms part of our Hidden Voices series, shining a light on the experiences so often left unheard. Read more on our website. 💙

https://t.co/fOhGBKXazz

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

Good luck today to our incredible runners, Ollie Burrows and Theo Parry, taking on the **London Marathon 💛

You’re running for children whose lives have been shattered by domestic homicide—children carrying grief, trauma, and loss that no child should ever have to face.

Today is more than 26.2 miles.
It’s about being heard. Being seen. Being supported.
We’re all behind you, every single step of the way.
If you can, please support them today:
👉 https://t.co/hhpXTk632J⁠�

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

A huge thank you to Helena Sharrott, who has bravely spoken about the murder of her daughter, Isobella Knight, for this message of support ahead of the London Marathon 2026 💛

And to our incredible runners, Ollie Burrows and Theo Parry, who are taking on 26.2 miles for children affected by domestic homicide.

When a parent is killed, the impact on a child is lifelong. Together, we’re working to ensure they are heard, seen, and supported long after the headlines fade.

Please support their journey if you can:
👉 https://t.co/hhpXTk632J

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

A huge thank you to Diana Parkes, co-founder of the @JRCSFoundation, for this message of support ahead of the London Marathon 2026 💛

And to our incredible runners, Ollie Burrows and Theo Parry, who are taking on 26.2 miles for children affected by domestic homicide.

When a parent is killed, the impact on a child is lifelong. Together, we’re working to ensure they are seen, heard, and supported long after the headlines fade.

Please support their journey if you can:
👉 https://t.co/hhpXTk632J

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

A powerful day at the Houses of Parliament with our first lived experience advisory group—adults who, as children, were affected by domestic homicide and parental imprisonment.

These are voices that are too often unheard. Today, they were front and centre.

Thank you to @KerryMP for sponsoring and truly listening to honest, challenging and important conversations about change.

We were also grateful to the @CommissionerDA office and @Jess4Lowestoft for joining us and helping to reflect the actions that must now follow.

We ended the day at the @MoJGovUK, where the Family Justice Policy Unit spoke openly about #JadesLaw and engaged with the questions that matter most.

This is what change looks like: lived experience shaping policy.

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

When you were a child, were you a victim of domestic homicide? Did your parent kill your other parent and serve a custodial sentence? Come and join Harry and Jordan (from this clip) and six other adults who also experienced this when they were children. We are hosting an advisory group at the @UKparliment Tuesday, the 21st of April sponsored by Kerry McCarthy MP. The purpose of the group is to campaign for change for children currently experience this traumatic experience and also to ensure that the support we offer for children going through this experience is shaped by lived experience and understanding.
#domestichomicide #parentalimprisonment
@Jess4Lowestoft @jessphillips

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺��𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗸𝗮𝘆.

In Minecraft, things are different.

Here, neurodiverse children and young people can build their own worlds, take things at their own pace, and connect without pressure.

Block by block 🧱🧱, confidence grows 🌸🌼
Connection follows.

Thank you to @blooming_genius for helping make this space possible.

#minecraft #parentinprison

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗻 ����

To prepare for Easter this week, we kicked off our CHaS Cooking Club — and what a start it was.

Families joined us online to make chocolate nests together, sharing simple moments of creativity, connection, and fun.

For many of the children and carers we support, these moments matter —
time to be together, to laugh, and to create something of their own.

𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿.

[Children Heard and Seen @ChildrenHandS]

𝗔𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Supporting children with a #parentin #prison can be a lot to carry —
and often goes unseen.

Time for You, Craft and Chat offers a gentle space to pause,
to breathe, to make, or just to be.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀.