Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution
Cookham Wood is a young offender institution (YOI) in Rochester, Kent, for boys and young men aged 15 to 18.
Applies to England and Wales
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HMYOI Cookham Wood will be repurposed and operate as an adult male prison as early as Summer 2024. This page will be updated as more details are available.
Book and plan your visit to Cookham Wood
To visit someone in Cookham Wood you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 3 working days in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
The young person can have up to 3 adults and 3 children (under 18) at each visit. At least one visitor must be an adult.
If the young person is on remand they can have 3 visits a week.
If the young person has been convicted (they have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing) they can have one visit a week.
Contact Cookham Wood if you have any questions about visiting.
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 Cookham Wood
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
Cookham Wood is currently operating a limited visits schedule for family only.
Booking line: 01634 202 557
The booking line is open Monday to Thursday, 9am to 3pm and Friday 9am to 2:30pm (Excluding Public and Bank Holidays)
Find out about call charges
You can book your visit online.
Visiting times:
- Monday: 2:30pm to 4pm
- Thursday: 2:30pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 2:30pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 2:30pm to 4pm (Excluding Public and Bank Holidays)
How to book legal and professional visits
Legal visits are available on:
- Monday: 9:30am to 10:30am or 10:45am to 11:45am
- Tuesday 2pm to 3pm or 3:15pm to 4:15pm
- Wednesday: 9:30am to 10:30am or 10:45am to 11:45am
- Thursday: 2pm to 3pm or 3:15pm to 4:15pm
- Friday: 2pm to 3pm or 3:15pm to 4:15pm
(Excluding Public and Bank Holidays)
You can book a legal visit by emailing legalvisits.cookhamwood@justice.gov.uk
Getting to Cookham Wood
The closest railway station is Rochester. There is no direct bus service from the station to Cookham Wood but there is a taxi rank outside.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Cookham Wood
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the Young Offender Institute. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting Cookham Wood.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children.
There will be refreshments available during your visit.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Cookham Wood. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.
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.
Dress code
Cookham Wood operates an appropriate dress code. Failure to adhere to the dress code when visiting children at HMYOI Cookham Wood may result in access to the establishment being denied.
- No football tops
- No low cut, revealing or see-through clothing
- No ripped jeans
- No short skirts, short shorts, or hot pants
- No offensive tops with violence or drug references
- No steal toe cap boots
- No hats, gloves, or scarfs unless of a religious nature
Family days
Family days give young people a chance to spend time with their family.
The young person will need to apply for a family day. If the application is successful you can spend the day with them at Cookham Wood and meet the staff who care for them.
Keep in touch with someone at Cookham Wood
You may not be able to speak with someone at Cookham Wood during their first few days. This is because it can take time to approve who they can be in touch with.
Cell phones do not accept incoming calls so the young person will always need to call you rather than you call them. However, as a parent or carer you will be given a phone number for your young person’s caseworker (during the first week) so that you can contact them if you have concerns.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this Young Offenders Institute you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app
- Create an account
- Register all visitors
- Add the young person to your contact list.
How to book a secure video call
You can request a secure video call with someone in this Young Offenders Institute via the Prison Video app.
You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.
Secure video calls are on Wednesday only via prison video app.
Phone calls
Every child or young person in Cookham Wood has a phone in their cells and can make outgoing calls. They are given £2 credit for calls when they arrive.
A child or young person in Cookham Wood can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by the casework team.
As part of the ongoing transition of HMYOI Cookham Wood from a Young Offender Institution to an adult prison, all children and young people in custody have been given more credit on their phones so they can discuss this with parents, legal guardians, their Youth Offending Teams and social workers.
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 Cookham Wood using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Werrington.
Letters
Include the person’s name and prison number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prison number, contact Cookham Wood.
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
People in Cookham Wood are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Cookham Wood for more information on what is allowed.
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 children and young people in custody 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 them.
For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
Life at Cookham Wood
Cookham Wood is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where young people can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every child and young person at Cookham Wood has a right to feel safe. The staff at Cookham Wood 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 custody visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.
Arrival and first night
When a young person first arrives at Cookham Wood, 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.
They will also be given a pack of essentials including food and toiletries.
Induction
Each child or young person who arrives at Cookham Wood 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
Cookham Wood can house up to 178 boys and young men. Everyone gets their own cell with a phone, sink, toilet and shower.
Behaviour
Every week the young person’s progress is assessed. This includes how they’ve treated others and whether they’ve attended education.
With good behaviour, young people can earn rewards and privileges including more money, extra visits and a television for their cell.
Free time
Young people can take part in sports, fitness and other activities in their free time.
Faith services
Young people at Cookham Wood have access to a multi-faith chaplaincy service.
Education
Each young person is offered 30 hours of education a week provided by Novus, including 3 hours of physical education.
Subjects on offer include English, maths, IT, business, arts and humanities, and a range of vocational qualifications.
Earning money
Young people in Cookham Wood can earn money by taking part in education.
Spending money
Young people can spend money on things like phone credits, extra food and approved items from a catalogue in their unit.
Temporary release
Young people can sometimes take part in activities outside Cookham Wood. This is known as release on temporary licence. It is often used for things like college placements, work experience and family visits.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01634 202 500 if you think someone in custody 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 | 01634 673032 | Call this number if you have concerns about a child or young person’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 child or young person being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the Young Offenders Institute, 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 someone in custody 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 Cookham Wood.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Cookham Wood in response to independent inspections.
Contact Cookham Wood
Governor: Paul Crossey
Telephone (24 hours): 01634 202500
Fax: 01634 202501
Find out about call charges
Address
HMYOI Cookham Wood
Sir Evelyn Road
Rochester
Kent
ME1 3LU
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Updates to this page
Published 29 August 2019Last updated 14 March 2023 + show all updates
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Governor change to Paul Crossey.
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Secure video calls update.
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Updated governor name
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Added link to information about testing for physical contact.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Updated visits information in line with national lockdown.
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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
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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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Updated: HMP Cookham Wood visiting times and visiting procedure changes during coronavirus.
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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.