I’m running the Chester 10k to raise money for Children Heard and Seen, a charity that supports children and young people who have a parent in prison.

Children Heard and Seen exists for a group of children who are often invisible. In the UK, many children experience the imprisonment of a parent, yet there is no automatic system to identify or support them. These children can be left carrying confusion, shame, grief and trauma on their own. The charity provides trauma-informed, child-centred support through one-to-one work, mentoring, group activities and family support, helping children feel safe, understood and less alone.

This cause is deeply personal to me. As a child, I had a parent in prison after my dad killed my mum. At the time, I received no support at all. There was no one to help me understand what had happened, no space to talk, and no recognition of what I was carrying.

That’s why this charity matters so much to me and why I want to help make a change. Children Heard and Seen is doing the work that wasn’t there when I needed it, making sure other children don’t have to go through similar experiences alone.

I’m running the Chester 10k to raise funds and awareness so this vital support can continue. Any donation, no matter the size, will help ensure that children affected by parental imprisonment are truly seen and heard.

Thank you so much for your support