Children Heard and Seen

Peer Support and Group Activities.

Peer Support and Group Activities

We provide peer support work and group work for children and family members impacted by parental imprisonment. These sessions combat feelings of shame by showing children that they are not alone. Groups can take place either online or in-person.

Children's Groups

Our groups provide an opportunity for children with a parent in prison to realise they are not alone, and reduce feelings of stigma, shame and social isolation often associated with their parent’s imprisonment. They are designed to be non-intrusive environments where children can freely explore their feelings surrounding their parent’s imprisonment with other children who share their experiences.

Our aim is to improve the emotional wellbeing of children who attend, allowing them to maximise their own potential in other areas. 

Our current group work programme is listed below, however it does regularly change due to need and demand. 

Online Children’s Groups
  • Children Heard and Seen Everywhere (CHASE) – arts and crafts group exploring themes and topics for U10s
  • Create Aspiration Love Mental Wellbeing (CALM) – Group for children aged 8+
  • Imagine and Invent – Stem based group for ages 8+. 
  • Drawing and Talking – therapeutic group with drawing and talking trained practitioners
  • Minecraft Group – Minecraft used as a therapeutic tool to connect children affected by parental imprisonment in a fun and interactive way, so they know they are not alone.

Parent/Carer Groups

Our parent/carer support is for the non-offending parent/carer, whether or not they are still in a relationship with the parent in prison.

Parents have the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation and form peer-support groups, aided by our trained staff. We 6-8 different adult support groups a week. These include groups for adults impacted by specific offence types, such as domestic abuse, and sexual offences.

Our current group work programme is listed below, however it does regularly change due to need and demand. 

Online Adult Groups
  • Comfort Group – group that shares hopes and advice that deals with the journey of families affected by parental imprisonment
  • Exploring Trauma – Support for individuals that have been impacted by trauma
  • Support group for mothers caring for children with a father in prison for sexual offences 
  • Kids Matter Parenting Programme – 6-week parenting support group

Activity Days and Residential Weekends

Summer Residential

Our annual Summer Residential is an opportunity for children and their families to come together and celebrate their shared experience in a safe and non-judgemental environment. Children are able to roam free around the 67 acres of Hill End, taking part in activities such as football, boxing, creative art activities, nature trails, and so much more. The weekend provides an opportunity to reduce social isolation, feelings of stigma and forge long-term, sustainable peer support networks with others in similar situations.

One of the highlights of the weekend is a visit from three Police Officers. They speak to young people and answer any questions they may have about the police. For many children, their only previous experience of Police Officers is the arrest of their parent. The weekend is a great opportunity to show young people the Police Force in a different, more positive light and rebuild relationships with authority

Activity Days

We also hold monthly in-person activity events in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Birmingham. These include activities at local museums, botanical gardens, libraries, wildlife parks and other activity centres, as well as our annual Christmas and Easter parties. One of our most popular group activities in Oxford is a project with Modern Art Oxford, where each month children impacted by parental imprisonment explore different themes through art.

These sessions focus on different themes each month, such as belonging, control, and exploration. Children are able to demonstrate their originality and creativity, whilst improving their self-esteem and raising aspirations. In December 2023, the artwork created throughout the year was showcased in a pop-up exhibition – ‘Hand in Hand’.
‘Hand in Hand’ shows the creativity, individualism and solidarity of children with a parent in prison. 

Refer to Children Heard and Seen

If you are caring for a child with a parent in prison and would like to access support for yourself or your child, please get in touch at info@childrenheardandseen.co.uk