🚨We are releasing our film 'Invisible Children' this evening at 6.30pm. 🚨 The film can be viewed at this link below: youtube.com/watch?v=LsAaWCED… 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.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹. Today, Parliament debates Paris's Law, following a campaign supported by over 107,000 people. Paris Shears has used her own experience of domestic abuse to expose how control can continue through the criminal justice system. At Children Heard and Seen, we recognise that imprisonment does not necessarily end coercive control. Children can remain caught in patterns of manipulation, fear and emotional harm, while the parent caring for them may continue to experience abuse. Children are victims in their own right. Their experiences must be recognised, their safety prioritised and their voices heard. Thank you to Paris Shears for turning personal experience into a national call for change, and to Irene Campbell MP @lucydahlia for bringing this debate to Parliament. We hope today's debate marks an important step towards greater recognition of coercive control and its impact on everyone affected, including children. 📺 Watch live from 4.30pm: parliamentlive.tv/ Read Paris's powerful account: parislaw.co.uk/about-me/blog #ParissLaw #CoerciveControl #DomesticAbuse #ParentalImprisonment #ChildrenHeardAndSeen

“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣? 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙?” At the 2026 @womenofyear Awards, Founder and CEO, @SarahBurrows100, received the @lorraine Trailblazer Award for her extraordinary dedication to children impacted by parental imprisonment. In this powerful extract from her acceptance speech, Sarah asks us to confront the realities faced by children who have witnessed domestic abuse, violence and unimaginable trauma. “𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢?” With 𝟱𝟯% of children identified as being at risk of harm from their imprisoned parent, we must stop assuming that maintaining family ties is always in a child's best interests. Every child's safety matters. Every experience deserves to be recognised. Every voice deserves to be heard. 🎥 Watch Sarah's full acceptance speech here: youtu.be/YHyDdgJytaQ #ChildrenHeardAndSeen #WomenOfTheYear #LorraineTrailblazerAward #CWPiPday

🏆💜 We are absolutely delighted that Children Heard and Seen’s Founder, @SarahBurrows100, was named the winner of the @lorraine Trailblazer Award at yesterday’s Women of the Year Awards! This recognition is not only a celebration of Sarah’s incredible work, but another opportunity to shine a light on children impacted by parental imprisonment, whose voices too often go unheard. A huge thank you to @womenofyearear, Lorraine and everyone involved in making the event so special. Congratulations to all the other incredible winners! It was a privilege to be surrounded by so many inspirational women, all making a difference in their own way. We couldn't be prouder! 💜 #WomenOfTheYear #LorraineTrailblazerAward #ChildrenHeardAndSeen

🏆 𝗦𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗛 𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗭𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲! 🏆 What a morning. ❤️ Our Founder and CEO, @SarahBurrows100, walked into the @lorraine @ITV studio this morning believing she was one of three finalists. She walked out as the 2026 winner of the 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 @womenofyear 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘇𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱. For more than a decade, Sarah has fought to make sure children with a parent in prison are recognised, heard and supported. Speaking to Lorraine this morning, Sarah said: “𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮.” Children Heard and Seen began around Sarah’s kitchen table in 2014. Everything that has grown from there has only been possible because of the strength and courage of the children and families we support, who have trusted us with their experiences and helped shine a light on an issue that has remained hidden for far too long. And, of course, alongside them are our incredible staff, volunteers, supporters and partners who have shared Sarah’s determination to create change. Today, that national spotlight is shining a little brighter. We could not be prouder of you, Sarah. ❤️🏆 #Lorraine #WomanOfTheYear #TrailblazerAward #ChildrenHeardAndSeen

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁. Parental imprisonment rarely exists in isolation. It can sit alongside domestic abuse, sexual offending, trauma, bereavement and other complex experiences. That’s why our support isn’t one-size-fits-all. At Children Heard and Seen, we create highly specialised peer, therapeutic and lived-experience spaces, including: 💜 Trauma Recovery following Domestic Abuse 💜 Holding the Child, Healing the Parent – for parents/carers facing a future of raising or sharing a child with someone who has committed a sexual offence 🎨 Therapeutic Art Groups – delivered by trained Drawing and Talking practitioners 🎮 Therapeutic Minecraft – using a safe digital ‘sand tray’ to help children explore their worlds and experiences 💜 Domestic Homicide Lived Experience Focus Group – ensuring lived experience directly shapes how services are developed and delivered Because sometimes finding the right support means finding a space where you don’t have to explain why your experience is different. A space where you are understood.

🐾 𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗻! 🌍 This week, children and young people in 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 began a brand-new six-week Animal Explorers project, bringing together those who share the experience of having a parent in prison. Through animals and the natural world, they’ll explore habitats, ecosystems, conservation and the impact of climate change, building STEM skills through research, design, budgeting, problem-solving and creativity. 🌱🔬🎨 Just as importantly, they’re connecting, creating, laughing and having fun in a space where parental imprisonment is understood and doesn’t need to be hidden or explained. Their experience of parental imprisonment is part of what connects them — but it doesn’t define who they are or what they can become. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄? 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲. 💙🐾 #ChildrenHeardAndSeen #ParentalImprisonment #CreateAndConnect #AnimalExplorers #STEM #Conservation

This week in during online @FreedomProgramm group, the focus was on The Sexual Controller — exploring sexually abusive and controlling behaviours, the tactics used, and how living with them over time can break down a person’s confidence, autonomy and sense of safety. For some families, the period before a parent goes to prison has been characterised by fear, instability, coercion and abuse within the family home. And imprisonment does not necessarily bring that abuse to an end. Control and abuse can continue from a prison cell. Recent @MoJGovUK data found that 53% of children identified with a parent in prison were recorded as being at risk of harm from that parent. That is why support for the parent or carer who remains at home matters too. The Freedom Programme group provides a space to understand what has happened, recognise patterns of abusive behaviour and begin recovery. Supporting a parent or carer to rebuild safety, confidence and control in their own life can help create the conditions for recovery across the whole family.

When Katie* was a young child, her father killed her mother. He maintained parental responsibility, and Katie was made to spend weekends with him when he was released. Katie is one of 18 adults with lived experience who are part of Children Heard and Seen's Domestic Homicide Advisory Group. Together, we are campaigning for the rights of children affected by domestic homicide, so that the child's best interest is considered in every situation. Listen to the full interview on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour here: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002w5…

New Ministry of Justice UK data reveals that 53% of children with a parent in prison are at risk of harm from their imprisoned parent. People often assume that children who have a parent in prison will always simply miss their parent, and long for their return home. The reality is far more complex. When a parent is sent to prison, children often experience a variety of conflicting emotions, from missing their parent in prison, to being glad that they are now safe from them and fearful of their release. For some children, strengthening family ties with a parent in prison is not the answer; it may be inappropriate and, in some circumstances, unsafe. Support for children with a parent in prison must 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 be child-focused and individually tailored to what is in their best interests. This clip is taken from 'Waiting for the Out' on the @BBC, adapted from @AndyWPhilosophy's acclaimed memoir 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦.

𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻. 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀. New @MoJGovUK data identified 𝟯𝟮,𝟱𝟳𝟵 children aged 𝟬–𝟰 with a #parentinprison. They may not understand why things have changed. But they feel the change. The absence of a parent, different routines, changes at home and the emotions of the adults around them can all be experienced by even the youngest children. That’s why supporting the parent or carer is so important too. At Children Heard and Seen, we help parents and carers build the confidence and tools to talk to children in age-appropriate ways, respond to their feelings and behaviours, and create the security and stability they need to thrive. Because supporting the person caring for the child is also supporting the child. #ChildrenHeardAndSeen #ParentalImprisonment #EarlyYears #ParentCarerSupport

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵. New @MoJGovUK data shows that 𝟱𝟮% of children identified as having a parent in prison had no associated address information available. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿? Because without location information, children cannot be connected through this process to their local authority and the support that may be available to them. We finally have greater recognition of the scale of parental imprisonment. But counting children is only the beginning. At Children Heard and Seen, we believe identification must lead to an offer of support in the child’s own community — not another system waiting for a child or family to ask for help. Children should not have to find specialist support by chance. #ChildrenHeardAndSeen #ParentalImprisonment #EarlyIntervention #ChildrensVoices

53% of children identified were recorded as being at risk of harm from their imprisoned parent. This new @MoJGovUK finding matters. For many children, a parent's release doesn't simply mean “reconnecting as a family”. It can mean fear about seeing them again, being confronted unexpectedly in the community, or uncertainty about what happens next. This is why specialist support is so important. At Children Heard and Seen, we help children and those caring for them with safety planning, preparation for release, navigating unexpected contact, and ensuring the child's voice is heard in social care and multi-agency assessments. Family ties matter — but only when they are safe and in the child's best interests. Every child deserves support that starts with their needs, their voice and their safety. #ChildrenHeardAndSeen #ParentalImprisonment #Safeguarding #ChildrensVoices

Today, the @MoJGovUK has published new national data on children with a parent in prison. The new estimate is stark: 𝟮𝟭𝟵,𝟬𝟬𝟬 children had a parent in prison in England and Wales between October 2023 and October 2024 — around 𝟮% of all school-aged children. But the publication tells us much more than the scale. More than half (𝟱𝟯%) of the children identified were recorded as being at risk of harm from the imprisoned parent. Only 𝟯𝟮% were recorded on prison visitor lists — an important reminder that having a parent in prison does not necessarily mean that a child visits them, or that maintaining contact is always safe or in their best interests. We are particularly pleased to see the Ministry of Justice draw on evidence from Children Heard and Seen, noting our finding that 𝟲𝟳% of the children we support do not visit prison. For many years, we have called for children affected by parental imprisonment to be identified, heard and offered support based on their individual needs — not assumptions about what their relationship with the person in prison should look like. This new evidence reinforces why that matters. Behind the figure of 219,000 are individual children whose experiences can include loss, stigma, trauma, domestic abuse, financial hardship and significant changes to family life. They should not remain invisible. We welcome this important step forward in understanding the scale and circumstances of parental imprisonment — and will continue working to ensure that evidence leads to meaningful change for children. gov.uk/government/publicatio…

Katie* bravely gives her account on @BBCRadio4 Woman's Hour of what she can remember as a child when her father was convicted of killing her mother. This was in the 1980s, and very little support was offered, as Katie* and her family were forced to deal with the impacts of losing both parents overnight on their own. Shockingly, very little has changed. 40 years on, we still do not even know how many children are affected by domestic homicide each year, and there is no statutory support available. Children Heard and Seen hold a monthly Domestic Homicide Advisory Group with 17 adults who have lived experience of domestic homicide. Together, we are campaigning for the voices of these children to be heard, so that they can receive the support they need and deserve. Listen to Katie's full interview on Woman's Hour here: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002w5…

Over 200 schools from across the country have accessed our Parental Imprisonment Training in the past 6 months. We are delighted that teachers and school staff are being appropriately equipped with the understanding and resources to effectively support children with a parent in prison in the school environment. At Children Heard and Seen, we have long campaigned for support for children with a parent in prison to take place in schools. Children should have the opportunity to discuss their feelings around having a parent in prison, should they wish to, with a safe and trusted adult in the school environment. Policy around children with a parent in prison currently focuses on establishing a mechanism to identify these children. We will continue campaigning to ensure these children are not left behind, but offered tailored, targeted support so they are able to flourish into adulthood.

🎬 When I Grow Up Our When I Grow Up film is an excellent resource for early years settings and schools, helping children develop empathy and understanding around what it can mean to have a parent in prison. A simple, child-friendly way to open conversations, challenge stigma and remind children that a parent’s prison sentence should never define their future. 💛 Download the full film: childrenheardandseen.co.uk/2… #WhenIGrowUp #ChildrenHeardAndSeen #ParentalImprisonment #Schools

🎨 Creativity, connection and a little time for yourself. This week our online creative group for parents and carers explored 𝗣𝗼𝗽 𝗔𝗿𝘁 — with some fantastic results! 💥🖌️ Even better, the session was led by someone we support, sharing their creativity and skills with the group. It’s exactly what these sessions are about — creating a relaxed space for those caring for a child with a #parentinprison to connect, chat, laugh and support one another. A huge thank you to all our funders and supporters who help make spaces like this possible. 💛

"𝑰𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒖𝒓 2𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 - 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓!" This weekend over 300 children and family members impacted by parental imprisonment travelled down to Oxford to take part in our annual Summer Residential. Families travelled from as far as Durham and St. Austell to celebrate their shared experiences and forge long-lasting connections. These residentials are growing in size and impact each year, and would not be possible without the invaluable support from volunteers and partnership organisations in the community. Over a third of the 82 volunteers who so generously gave their support this weekend have lived experience of parental imprisonment. Young people we have supported as an organisation came back as young adults, adults who had a parent in prison as a child led creative activities such as yoga and crafts, and a grandparent we started supporting over 11 years ago offered face painting. It is so brilliant that families we support are able to access this event, and have shared with us the power the residential has to reduce social isolation, and feelings of shame and stigma among children with a parent in prison. However, this remains the only event of its kind anywhere in the country. The Children's Minister @JoshMacAlister recently assured us that the government pilot project to identify and support children with a parent in prison will offer '𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴'. There is no further information on what this will look like, however, and who will be providing this support. As families from all across the country book next year's Summer Residential, we at Children Heard and Seen hope this is a genuine commitment from the government, so children with a parent in prison will not always have to travel hundreds of miles to access support in their own communities.

Children Heard and Seen Residential 2026 has come to an end. Four incredible days together at Hill End where over 300 family members impacted by parental imprisonment, came together. From Forest School, Laser Tag to CHaS Has Got Talent, climbing wall, football, crafts, live music, the Teddy Bears’ Picnic, BBQs, ice cream parlours, laughter and so much more. But the residential is about so much more than activities. It’s about children and families affected by parental imprisonment coming together, making friendships, trying something new, having fun and spending time with people who understand. A huge thank you to every single person who made this weekend possible – our wonderful volunteers, staff, activity providers, community partners, businesses, funders and everyone who donated items, food, equipment, time or expertise. Thank you especially to all the children, young people, parents and carers who travelled from across England and Wales to join us.