Children Heard and Seen

16/06/2026

A huge congratulations to Russ Massie KPM on being awarded the King's Police Medal in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours.

In 2021, Russ established Operation Paramount—an innovative approach that, for the first time, enabled children affected by a parent's imprisonment to be identified and signposted to specialist support. We were delighted to support its implementation from the very beginning.

Children Heard and Seen was proud to support Russ's nomination for this honour. Through her reference, our Founder and CEO, Sarah Burrows recognised Russ's exceptional leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for children and families affected by parental imprisonment.

Congratulations again, Russ, and thank you for your vision, leadership and dedication to ensuring children with a parent in prison are heard, seen and supported.

To learn more about Operation Paramount and its launch, watch this short film: https://vimeo.com/824106079?fl=pl&fe=sh
Thames Valley Police

15/06/2026

💜 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲... 💜

At Children Heard and Seen, we deliver the Freedom Programme to parents and carers whose abusive partner is serving a custodial sentence.

When someone goes to prison, it's often assumed that the abuse has ended because the immediate risk has reduced. In reality, many survivors continue to live with the lasting effects of coercion, control and trauma. They may still feel frightened, struggle to trust their own judgement, worry about the future, or find themselves rebuilding their lives without the specialist support they need.

The Freedom Programme recognises that recovery doesn't begin and end with a prison sentence. It provides a safe, supportive space to understand the tactics used by perpetrators, recognise abusive and controlling behaviours, rebuild confidence, and move towards healthier, safer relationships.

This week, we explored the Sexual Controller, discussing how sexual coercion, pressure and manipulation can be used as forms of abuse. We also looked at why consent is fundamental to healthy, respectful relationships, and how understanding boundaries, choice and mutual respect is an important step towards freedom from controlling behaviours.

💜 𝗕𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲.

13/06/2026

💙 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱, 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 💙

Children Heard and Seen is pleased to introduce Holding the Child, Healing the Parent, the newest addition to its online community support programme.

This weekly drop-in group is for parents and carers navigating the impact of an ex-partner's arrest or conviction for a sexual offence. It provides a safe, confidential space to connect with others who understand, reflect on the challenges they may be facing, and develop strategies to support both themselves and their children.

The group recognises the weight many parents may be carrying: shock, grief, fear, stigma, uncertainty, and the loss of the future they had imagined. Through compassion, validation and understanding, it aims to help families feel less alone while strengthening their ability to support their children through difficult times.

🕗 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 | 𝟴.𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺 – 𝟵.𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺 | 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

The group joins a growing programme of support, meaning Children Heard and Seen now delivers five weekly online groups for parents and carers, bringing together people with shared experiences to reduce isolation, build connections, and access specialist guidance and understanding.

If you would like to find out more, please contact [email protected].

11/06/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddl4jq9d3do

Annabel Rook was killed by her partner on the 17th June 2025.

"Above all else, she was a much-devoted mother. She was also a superb daughter, sister, and for so many, a close friend"

The children behind the headlines, forgotten children, invisible children. Again, two children are left behind devasted by the loss of their mother, Annabel Rook, from their father’s actions. They are facing a lifetime of navigating their trauma and grief, where is the support for children in this situation?

The 2020 Femicide Census estimates that at least 80 children a year are left motherless in the UK by domestic homicide. In 19% of cases it’s unknown if the victims had children under 18.

Why are these only estimates? Why, as a country, are we unable to recognise and support these children behind the headlines?
If you were affected as a child by these issues, come and join our focus group and come and help support change.

05/06/2026

🌟 Celebrating Our Incredible Volunteers 🌟

As part of , we want to take a moment to recognise the incredible volunteers who make so much of our work possible.

At Children Heard and Seen, our volunteers give their time, energy, skills and compassion to support children and young people affected by parental imprisonment. Whether mentoring a child, supporting a group, helping at events, sharing professional expertise or taking on fundraising challenges, they play a vital role in helping children feel heard, seen and supported.

This weekend, one of our fantastic volunteers, Rachel Parsley , is taking on the huge challenge of completing the 100km Lake District Ultra Challenge in support of Children Heard and Seen. 💚

We are incredibly grateful for Rachel's commitment and determination, and we'll be cheering her on every step of the way.

To Rachel, and to every volunteer who supports our work, thank you. We simply couldn't do what we do without you. Your dedication makes a real difference to the lives of children and families across England and Wales.

Good luck, Rachel 💚

If you'd like to support Rachel's challenge, you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rachel-parsley-3

03/06/2026

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!

29/05/2026

We are hosting our annual residential from the 13th to 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]

23/05/2026

As part of 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://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/volunteer-with-us-at-the-2026-summer-residential-tickets-1990182734132

Please share 💙

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/volunteer-with-us-at-the-2026-summer-residential-tickets-1990182734132

Learn how you can volunteer at this year’s Summer Residential and help create a safe, unforgettable weekend for children and families.

22/05/2026

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 across England and Wales — creating connection, reducing isolation, and helping children thrive.

No child should have to carry this experience alone. 💜

21/05/2026

“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 need understanding, connection and support — and so do the family members raising them.

Read Penny’s story here:

https://childrenheardandseen.co.uk/2026/05/20/a-parents-story-20-penny/