GovWire

Book and plan your visit to Askham Grange

All visitors aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID for all visitors.

To visit someone in Askham Grange prison you must:

• be on that persons visitor list
• book your visit between 28 days in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

Up to 4 adults are permitted. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Visitors can be from different addresses.

All prisoners are entitled to 2 visits every 7 days on a Saturday and a Sunday.

You can book your visit online or by telephone. You can also register for secure video calling.

Booking line: 0300 060 6513
Monday to Friday, 9.15am to 4pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

• Saturday and Sunday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm

Earliest arrival: 1:45pm

Latest arrival: at the discretion of the prison.

Visitors must enter through the front gate where they will be booked in for their visit by a member of staff at the Gate House. Phones and other devices will need to be placed in a locker at the Gate House before progressing any further into the establishment, visitors will then be directed to visits where they will park in the spaces provided and then enter the visits hall where they will show photographic ID. Only people on a visit will be allowed access to the prison grounds. We have no facility to allow visitors or animals to remain in cars or walk the grounds.

All visitors may to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Each adult visitor is allowed a reasonable amount of money to buy food and drink from the tea bar in the visiting hall.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Askham Grange. Nothing can be taken into the visits hall except baby food/changing equipment. Medication must be declared to staff prior to the visit commencing.

You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled, and you could be banned from visiting again.

How to book legal and professional visits

Email: HMPPSvisitbooking@justice.gov.uk

Legal visiting times:

• Monday to Friday, 9am to 11:30am and 1pm to 3pm.

Help with the cost of your visit.

If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:

• travel to Askham Grange
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

Visiting facilities

The family-friendly visitors centre at Askham Grange is run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT), a national charity. Visitors are offered a warm welcome, information and support.

Family days

Family Days are held throughout the year and coincide with school holidays, these will be advertised internally. Prisoners will be able to apply to attend with their nominated family members.

Getting to Askham Grange

Find Askham Grange on a map

The closest railway station is York. From there, you can take a bus to Askham Richard except on Sundays. There is also a taxi rank at the station.

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

There is a visitors car park at Askham Grange, including space for Blue Badge holders.

Keep in touch with someone at Askham Grange

There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Askham Grange.

Secure video calls

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:

• Download the Prison Video app
• Create an account
• Register all visitors
• Add the prisoner to your contact list.

How to book a secure video call

Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.

You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners do not have phones in their rooms so they will generally have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.

They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security on arrival so you will be able to speak to them during their first few days.

Additionally, Askham Grange has 2 phones which accept incoming calls that women can pre-book. You can ask them for the number.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Askham Grange using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Askham Grange.

Letters

Include the persons name and prison number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prison number, contact Askham Grange.

All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.

You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.

If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:

• are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
• do not have a debit card

This will allow you to send money by post.

Gifts and parcels

Prisoners are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts.All these items must have been pre-approved prior to the prisoner receiving them.

Make sure to include the persons name and prison number on the parcel.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.

For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.

Life at Askham Grange

Askham Grange is committed to providing a safe and educational environment for women. This includes helping women build family relationships and develop work and life skills.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Askham Grange has a right to feel safe. The staff at Askham Grange are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners Families helpline website.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by the City of York Safeguarding Adults Board.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoners first arrives at Askham Grange

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