Children Heard and Seen

05/11/2026

𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗻 - 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲

Five years ago, Children Heard and Seen launched a pioneering partnership with Thames Valley Police's Violence Reduction Unit, with one simple but powerful aim: to identify children with a parent in prison and ensure they receive the support they need, as early as possible.

What began as a pilot in Oxford City has since expanded across multiple geographical areas, helping more children and families who might otherwise have remained unseen and unsupported.

Because children should never have to face the consequences of parental imprisonment alone.

This partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when agencies work together, recognising that early identification can change a child's experience and future.

A huge thank you to Sergeant Russ Massie, his former colleagues at Thames Valley Police, and everyone at Children Heard and Seen who has helped turn that original vision into something much bigger.

💚 Five years of partnership. Five years of progress. And a continued determination to ensure no child is left invisible.

Take a look back at the media coverage from when it all began:

🔗 https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2021-11-05/pilot-scheme-changing-lives-of-children-with-parents-in-prison

05/11/2026

💚 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 | 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀. 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲.

Children and young people affected by parental imprisonment are too often overlooked, unheard and excluded from decisions that shape their lives.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻.

This , we're celebrating the incredible young people who are turning their lived experiences into a powerful force for change.

At Children Heard and Seen, our Youth Action Group brings together young people determined to challenge stigma, raise awareness and influence the policies and practices that affect children like them.

🎬 Their voices are at the heart of our new film, 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙈𝙮 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚.

Through powerful and moving accounts, children and young people share the realities of having a parent in prison, the challenges they face and what needs to change.

On 25 November, 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆, we're bringing their voices to a wider audience through the online premiere of Hear My Voice.

💚 Because it's not enough for young people to be heard. Their voices must lead to meaningful change.

🎥 Join us for the online premiere. Hear their stories. Be part of the change.

🔗 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2002552062125?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/11/2026

💚 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 – C𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.

Tonight, and every Wednesday, families affected by parental imprisonment come together for an evening of fun, friendship and connection.

These weekly sessions give children the opportunity to build confidence, make friends and feel less alone, while parents and carers benefit from peer support in a safe, non-judgemental environment.

From stargazing and archery tag to cinema nights and pumpkin painting, there's always something exciting happening! And of course, the evening finishes around the campfire with marshmallows! 🔥

💚 If you live in the Thames Valley area, are caring for a child with a parent in prison and would like to join us, please email [email protected]

02/11/2026

Domestic Homicide.

We welcome this evening Jess Asato for Lowestoft Jess Phillips MP and Kerry McCarthy to our Domestic Homicide Advisory Focus Group. This group membership is 18 adults who have lived experience of domestic homicide / parental imprisonment, whether that’s their experience when they were a child, or are currently caring for a child. We meet together virtually.

The purpose of the group is to campaign to ensure that the rights of children impacted by domestic homicide are not overlooked. This includes campaigning for proper identification and support for children who are bereaved by domestic homicide, and campaigning for Jade’s Law to be fully enacted, and applied retrospectively to existing sentences.

30/10/2026

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

On behalf of Children Heard and Seen, Sarah Burrows 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 Katy Barrow-Grint 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.

29/10/2026

On October 29th 2025, we were delighted to premier’ The Children Behind the Headlines’ at Portcullis House. We held it in collaboration with Joanna Simpson Foundation
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.

Jess Asato for Lowestoft 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.

This film raises awareness of the impact domestic homicide has on c...

29/10/2026

We must listen. We must challenge. We must act.

Children Heard and Seen attended an event at UK Parliament to discuss the IDAS Family Court report 2026 and discuss how we can improve safety and outcomes for children and young people.

It was hosted by Alison Hume MP and we were joined by Dame Nicole Jacobs Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Alex Davies-Jones MP Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls.

Listening to IDAS Survivor Ambassadors Claire Throssell MBE and Hannah Parkin 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.

Cristina Odone from Fair Hearing joined to share her expertise and highlight the need for change and support.
Dr Marie Tidball MP Jess Asato for LowestoftAsato MP, Clive Betts MP, Rachel Maskell MP Adam Jogee MP joined the event.

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. ❤️

28/10/2026

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 Sarah Burrows spoke to Jayne Secker at Sky News 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 https://youtu.be/H96H7H32vpQ

27/10/2026

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 and 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 Anna Williamson and producer Naomi Channell 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*: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6m45ZIMHMmoOnfu4GSy0XB