Children Heard and Seen

🚨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.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month On behalf of Children Heard and Seen, @SarahBurrows100 attended the Oxfordshire Lieutenancy Cherwell regional gathering at Broughton Castle. Representatives from policing, the voluntary sector, schools, businesses, faith groups and civic leadership attended to discuss domestic abuse. It was an honour to hear domestic abuse survivors tell their story. It was a privilege to listen to @ktbg1 talk about her work on teenage relationship abuse. There were many interesting conversations on how partners can work better together to prevent domestic abuse, and how we can intervene much earlier. Thank you for the invitation Sally Scott, the Lord Lieutenant and Deputies, Martin Fiennes - what a wonderful host.

On October 29th 2025, we were delighted to premier’ The Children Behind the Headlines’ at Portcullis House. We held it in collaboration with @JRCSFoundation We wanted to shine a light on the importance of children receiving appropriate support when they are impacted by domestic homicide. Sadly it remains that children who are impacted are still unheard and unsupported. @Jess4Lowestoft kindly sponsored the event. Jordan and Harry, who feature in the film, were the 2nd and 3rd children we supported as an organisation back in 2014. We are immensely proud of the successfull young men they have become, and appreciative of their support in raising awareness of what is needed for children impacted by domestic homicide. Although our support has grown and developed since then, the issues for children with a parent in prison remain the same. If you haven’t watched the film please do. m.youtube.com/watch?v=qpuqxV…

We must listen. We must challenge. We must act. Children Heard and Seen attended an event at @HouseofCommons which discussed the IDAS Family Court and Domestic Abuse report. Listening to Claire and Hannah share their heartbreaking experiences was both harrowing and deeply moving. Their stories highlight the devastating consequences when domestic abuse and risk are not properly recognised by the family court system. Children Heard and Seen was represented by a team member, Carly Rice who said “As someone with lived experience of the system’s failures, this is deeply personal to me. At Children Heard and Seen, we support families navigating the family court system, offering practical guidance, court support and help to understand what can often feel like an overwhelming process” But support alone is not enough. We urgently need meaningful reform, better recognition of domestic abuse, robust risk assessments and accountability. A child’s safety must ALWAYS come before an adult’s expectation of contact. We must challenge the assumption that contact is always in a child’s best interests, regardless of the risks. Thank you to Claire and Hannah for their courage in sharing their stories. We must listen. We must challenge. We must act. Children deserve a system that puts their safety first. ❤️

𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁. Recent headlines surrounding Meghan Markle and her father have once again highlighted the devastating impact allegations of sexual offences can have on families. In December 2023, our founder @SarahBurrows100 spoke to @JayneSeckerSky at @SkyNews about the often forgotten secondary victims of sexual offences. “𝙒𝙚'𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙬, 𝙛𝙖𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧, 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙥.” Sarah described children unable to return to school, families forced to move home and the shame and stigma they face for something they have had absolutely no involvement in. 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲. At Children Heard and Seen, we continue to support children affected by parental imprisonment, including those whose parents have committed sexual offences. No child should be judged, blamed or punished for the actions of their parent. 🎥 Watch Sarah's interview youtu.be/H96H7H32vpQ

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮? When Gemma was just three years old, her mother was murdered by her father. Despite the enormity of what she had experienced, Gemma describes growing up without the safeguarding, protection or professional support she so desperately needed. Decades later, children affected by #domestichomicide and #parentalimprisonment are still being overlooked. Their experiences remain too often unheard, their needs unrecognised and their voices silenced. Gemma's story also highlights a deeply concerning issue. Despite killing her mother, her father retained parental responsibility and continued to make decisions about her life. Jade's Law represents an important step forward in protecting children, but what about those who have already lived through these devastating experiences? The law is not retrospective, leaving children and families affected by historic cases without the same protections. This is something Children Heard and Seen believes must change. We are incredibly grateful to Gemma for her bravery in sharing such deeply personal experiences, speaking out about what happened to her and using her voice to advocate for other children. Our sincere thanks also go to @awilliamsonTV and producer @Naomi_TV for giving Gemma the space to tell her story and helping shine a light on the experiences of children affected by domestic homicide and parental imprisonment. At Children Heard and Seen, we know that these children must be identified, listened to, protected and supported. No child should have to navigate such devastating experiences alone. Gemma's story is a powerful reminder of why these conversations matter, and why they must lead to meaningful change. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of *The Affair with Anna Williamson*: open.spotify.com/episode/6m4… #ChildrenHeardandSeen #JadesLaw #DomesticHomicide #ParentalImprisonment #HearMyVoice

🎬 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗠𝗬 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘 – 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗠 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗘𝗥𝗘 25th November 2026 | 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 Hear their experiences. Hear their call for change. Alongside our official film launch at Portcullis House, Westminster, Children Heard and Seen invites you to join the online premiere of 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝘆 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲. This powerful new film gives young people impacted by parental imprisonment the opportunity to share their experiences in their own words. They want their voices to influence national policy, improve how children are identified and supported, and ensure that those coming after them do not face the same gaps in support. Join us online, hear their stories and be part of the call for change. 🎟️ Book your free place: eventbrite.co.uk/e/hear-my-v… #CWPiP #HearMyVoice #ChildrenHeardAndSeen

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