Askham Grange Prison and Young Offender Institution
Askham Grange is an open prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Askham Richard, near York, for women aged 18 and over.
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Book and plan your visit to Askham Grange
To visit someone in Askham Grange prison you must:
- be on that person’s 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.
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
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 0300 060 6513
The booking lines are open:
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Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 12pm to 5pm
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Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Visiting times:
- Saturday and Sunday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
Earliest arrival time is 1:45pm and latest arrival time is 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 visit’s 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
To book, you can 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
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:
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.
Phone calls
Prisoners do not have phones in their cells 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.
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.
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 person’s 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 person’s 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.
Arrival and first night
When a prisoners first arrives at Askham Grange, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.
They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.
Induction
Each prisoner who arrives at Askham Grange gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:
- health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
- any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
- personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
- other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Around 100 women are at Askham Grange in a mixture of dormitories and single cells.
It has a mother and baby unit for women with children under 18 months old. All women with babies get their own cells.
Education and work
Each woman in Askham Grange creates their own learning plan as part of their induction. There are opportunities for classroom learning as well as vocational training and community-based paid work placements.
Temporary release
All prisoners are able to apply for release on temporary licence which allows them to leave the prison for short periods of time. It can be used to gain work experience in the local community, maintain family ties and prepare for release.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
HMP Askham Grange’s Families and Significant Others lead is the Head of Reducing Reoffending and Offender Management Unit.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01904 772 000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| Contact category | Phone number | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency | 01904 772 026 | Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website. |
| Staff Integrity Hotline | 0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine) |
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously. |
| Prisoners’ Families Helpline | 0808 808 2003 | The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. |
| Unwanted Prisoner Contact | 0300 060 6699 | If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have any other problem contact Askham Grange.
Independent inspections
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Askham Grange in response to independent inspections.
Contact Askham Grange
Governor: Julia Spence
Telephone (24 hours): 01904 772 000
Fax: 01904 772 001
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP/YOI Askham Grange
Askham Richard
York
YO23 3FT
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Updates to this page
Published 21 October 2019Last updated 15 February 2024 + show all updates
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Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.
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Information on multiple sections have been updated.
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Updated visiting information: Visits have been suspended.
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Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated physical contact guidance
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
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Covid update
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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Covid update
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Updated: HMP Askham Grange visiting times and visiting procedure changes in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated information to include confirmation of secure video calls being available at this prison.
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Prison visits update.
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First published.