Children Heard and Seen support children, young people and their families who are impacted by parental imprisonment. They strive to support their needs, listen to their concerns and ensure that their voices are heard. All support is offered at no cost to the family and without need for agency referral.
The Company’s grant to Children Heard and Seen has enabled them to provide intensive weekly 1:1 support to an additional 55 children with a parent in prison. One-to-one sessions provide children and young people with a safe space to explore their feelings about the parent in prison,
utilising our workbook that was designed in consultation with children and young people. The workbook allows children and young people to look at every stage of a prison sentence and to identify and express their feelings about each stage. The workbook includes sections such as ‘What I can control’, where the child and practitioner work on managing and processing difficult emotions surrounding their parents imprisonment by discussing what things in life we can and can’t control.
The grant was also used to fund weekly children’s and carer’s groups. These groups include the Invisible String Group, which is for parents and carers of children who are 3-10 years old, and are struggling with separation anxiety, loneliness and loss. The group is run with the focus on exploring the intangible yet unbreakable connections between all attendees. Sessions provide an opportunity for children to process feelings of loss and grief associated with missing their parent. The Youth Advocates Group gives teenagers with a parent in prison the opportunity to
find creative ways to explores feelings through group discussions and guided exercises. Attendees choose their own themes, enabling them
to foster a sense of independence and autonomy. The Draw & Explore Group is an art group enabling children the opportunity to express and process complex emotions surrounding their parent’s imprisonment using therapeutic techniques.
This quotes sums up how important the work of Children Seen & Heard:
I just wanted to share some fantastic news with you both. Tom has passed his entry examination and been offered a place at _______ school! I just want to say we are so incredibly grateful to CHAS for picking Charlie as Tom’s mentor. If it wasn’t for you guys and him this wouldn’t be possible.
You guys are the only ones that could possibly understand. But When Tom’s dad committed murder and got sent to prison you can’t describe the feeling. It’s though it’s not just the victims life that’s been taken away, it was also mine and Tom’s. He lost the chance to a good start in life, lost the chance to have a carefree childhood, without worries. He gained a weight on his shoulders for the rest of his life and he also lost his dad, almost like a death. I can honestly say it has eaten away at me knowing what that has been done to Tom and the childhood that was snatched away from him overnight.
However this has literally gave Tom another chance in that, what his dad done will not define him or his future. For that I will be eternally grateful to CHAS. Not just for this, but every step of the way you guys have been there for us. Thanks so much from the both of
us.’
– Quote from the mum of a 15 year old boy.
