Updated on Jul 2nd 2012 at 9:38 PM from the JustGiving API

Yippee! I've hit my fundraising target of £1,425... Well chuffed- thanks all! Want to see if I can get to £2,000!

There are an estimated 160,000 children in the UK who have a parent in prison; more than twice the number of children in care and six times the number of children on the child protection register. A lack of official records means this number may be even higher. Children of prisoners are one of the biggest groups of children in need in the country.

Children who have a parent in prison are more likely to experience poverty, mental ill health, poor housing and are also likely to offend. This vulnerable group of children are often overlooked.

The majority of sons of prisoners - a shocking two thirds of them - will become offenders themselves.

Barnardo’s have been working with the children and families of offenders for over 10 years through 21 services across the UK. It runs services across the UK which help children to overcome the difficulties they face when mum or dad is sent to prison. We know from experience that the harmful effects on a child of losing a parent in this way can be buffered and the damaging cycle can be broken. Barnardo’s holistically support children of prisoners; aiming to reduce the isolation, financial hardship and stigma attached to having a parent in prison, and to increase the social, emotional and mental wellbeing of the young person.

You'll be pleased to know that 95p in every £1 goes straight to the kids who need it most.

Find out more about Barnardo's here:

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/?gclid=CO_dyrOlw7ACFTMetAod9mBlWg

Thanks for donating!