Children Heard and Seen

Established in 2014, Children Heard and Seen (CHAS) was founded to fill the gap in support for children impacted by parental imprisonment. With over 1,500 children and their families already supported, we stand as the only charity dedicated to serving children within their communities. Our commitment is to meet their needs, lend an ear to their concerns, and advocate for their voices to be heard and valued in policy decisions. 

The precise number of children impacted by parental imprisonment in the UK is not known. According to a recent study called Better Outcomes through Linked Data from the Ministry of Justice, it is estimated that over 192,912 children are affected each year. However, there is currently no formal process in place to identify these children and provide them with support. Children Heard and Seen is advocating for a change in government policy that would establish a method of identifying these children and offering them the necessary support.