Children Heard and Seen

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Children Heard and Seen, is a charity that works to mitigate the effects of parental imprisonment on children, young people and their families.

We aim to provide quality services for children with a family member in prison. Children with a parent in prison are at a much greater risk of experiencing mental health problems, often manifesting as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and/or eating disorders. Negative school experiences such as bullying, persistent truanting, and a failure to achieve in educational settings are also common in this demographic, alongside an increased likelihood of committing criminal offences. Despite this, there is currently no statutory framework in place designed to support, or even identify, these children. We are the only UK charity dedicated to supporting this isolated and stigmatized group of young people, supporting 262 children this year alone. We offer family support work, 1-1 support, a volunteer mentor for 12 months, Drawing and Talking therapy sessions in school, music projects and holiday activities. Our service is unique in its tailored approach to dealing with the complex needs of families. We work with families to find the best ways to uplift their children and help them to cope with the harms suffered as a result of parental imprisonment. The value of our work has been recognised by outside organizations throughout our development. In 2019, Children Heard and Seen were delighted to be awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. We are also incredibly proud to be awarded the Outstanding Regional/Local Organisation Award by the Criminal Justice Alliance in December 2020 for our innovative approach to supporting vulnerable families throughout the pandemic. Our objectives

To provide quality interventions and support. To enable children and young people to fulfill their potential. To reduce intergenerational and parent re-offending. To work innovatively in partnership with stakeholders, other partners and funders

Key Facts

60% of women in prison have children. A prison sentence separates 17,000 children a year from their mothers.
65% of boys with a convicted parent go on to offend themselves.
25% of children with a parent in prison are at risk of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, eating and sleeping disorders.

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 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. ❤️

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

23/10/2026

🎬 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:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hear-my-voice-online-film-screening-premiere-tickets-2002552062125

19/10/2026

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 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: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/

Read Paris's powerful account: https://www.parislaw.co.uk/about-me/blog

18/10/2026

: Founder of Children Heard and Seen charity wins Woman of the Year Trailblazer award The founder of a charity which supports children and families with a parent in prison was caught unaware during a television appearance by news that she has won an award for her work. Sarah Burrows, Founder and Chief Executive of Children Heard and Seen, thought she was attending the filming of the Lorraine current affairs show, broadcast live on ITV, as an interviewee. https://insidetime.org/newsround/founder-of-children-heard-and-seen-charity-wins-woman-of-the-year-trailblazer-award

14/10/2026

“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣? 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙?”At the 2026 Women of the Year Awards, Founder and CEO, Sarah Burrows 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: https://youtu.be/YHyDdgJytaQ

13/10/2026

🏆💜 We are absolutely delighted that Children Heard and Seen’s Founder, Sarah Burrows 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 Women of the Year , 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! 💜

13/10/2026

I had a truly inspiring day yesterday at the Women of the Year awards, as the guest of Sarah Burrows from Children Heard and Seen. Sarah was the worthy winner of the Trailblazer Award, voted for by viewers of ITV’s Lorraine. This award is given to “a woman who has tirelessly challenged the status quo, illuminated critical issues or championed those lacking a voice”. She gave a powerful speech about the ‘invisible children’ with a parent in prison, which left women in the room visibly moved.

The Campaigning Champions award was given to four women, Kathy Weir, Lindsey Burrows, Jo Slater and Annie Moody, whose lives were upended when their husbands – all outstanding rugby players – were stricken by Motor Neurone Disease.

The Lifetime Achievement award was given to Dame Prue Leith and then we all gave a standing ovation as Gisele Pelicot took to the stage to receive the Woman of Courage award. It was a real privilege to hear her speak, with the quiet conviction and bravery for which she has become known. We left wearing badges she’d given us, saying ‘shame must change sides”. All in all, it was a remarkable day.

Address

Children Heard And Seen, The Hill End Outdoor Education Centre, Eynsham Road, Farmoor
Oxford
OX29NJ

Telephone

07557339258

Website

http://childrenheardandseen.co.uk/

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