Lowdham Grange Prison
Lowdham Grange is a men's prison located near Nottingham.
Applies to England and Wales
Book and plan your visit to Lowdham Grange
To visit someone in Lowdham Grange you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- have a visiting order
- book your visit at least 2 days in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
There is a maximum of 3 adult visitors in total, of which one must be 18 or older. Children must be accompanied and supervised on a visit by an adult.
The number of visits a prisoner can have depends on the ‘privilege’ level they are on, but at least 4 a month.
Contact Lowdham Grange Visits team 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 Lowdham Grange
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
Application forms are available in the visitor centre.
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone. Prisoners can also book visits via the kiosks available on their wing.
Booking line: 01159 669320
Line open Monday to Friday 9am to 4:30pm.
Visiting times:
- Monday to Friday: midday to 5pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:30am, 2:30pm to 3:30pm and 4pm to 5pm
- Bank holidays: no visits
How to book legal and professional visits
You can book a legal/professional visit by email to: legalvisits.lowdhamgrange@justice.gov.uk
Visiting times
- Monday to Friday 9am to 11:30am and 2:30pm to 5pm.
Getting to Lowdham Grange
- there is a visitors’ car park which can be used free of charge.
- the closest railway station is Lowdham.
To plan your journey by public transport use:
Entering Lowdham Grange
All visitors aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
All visitors will receive a rub-down search prior to entering the visits hall this includes any children present. Security dogs may also be present at the time of visiting, and you may be subject to search by them.
There is a strict dress code policy in place, which means visitors should wear smart/casual clothes (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses, and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons). There are strict controls on what you can take into the prison. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car - this includes pushchairs and car seats.
Personal lockers are available at no cost to visitors in the visitors’ centre.
Visitors may bring up to £20 cash in coins into the visits hall with them – unfortunately, we do not accept notes or cards.
Refreshments will be available to purchase once inside the visits hall.
Disabled access from the visitor’s centre through the hall inside the prison. Disabled toilets are also available in the visitor’s centre and visits hall.
Baby changing facilities in both male and female toilets available.
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.
Visiting facilities
There is a visitors’ centre where, family and friends can relax, buy refreshments from the tea bar, and get advice and support from the staff. There is a children’s play area with baby changing facilities, where children can play but they must be supervised by an accompanying adult.
The centre is open Monday to Friday from midday to 4:30pm and Saturday and Sundays from 8am to 4:30pm.
Family days
Family days are booked via the Kiosks on the wing by the prisoners. They are currently held every two months.
Keep in touch with someone at Lowdham Grange
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Lowdham Grange Prison.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
- Download the Purple Visits application.
- Create an account
- Register all visitors
- Add the prisoner to your contact list.
How to book a secure video call
You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.
You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.
Phone calls
Prisoners have phones in their cells . They can add telephone numbers to their list, which are checked by security and public protection before being approved.
Prisoners are responsible for adding credit to make calls form their in-cell phones.
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 Lowdham Grange Prison using EmailaPrisoner.com. Through this service, family and friends can send a message. This is then printed out and delivered by prison staff by hand.
Once you have signed up, you will receive an activation link via email which you must click on in order to activate your account and send a message.
You must buy a minimum of £5 credit in order to use the service,which runs at a cost of 40p per email and at no charge to the recipient.
Letters
You can write at any time.
Include the prisoners’ name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact the prison.
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
Gifts are not permitted to be sent into Lowdham Grange
Prisoners can apply for clothing parcels. They will be able to tell you the items they have had approved as per the national/local facilities list. Please do not send items without the prisoner first receiving authorisation as these will not be accepted.
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 Lowdham Grange
Lowdham Grange is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Lowdham Grange has a right to feel safe. The staff 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 prisoner first arrives at Lowdham 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, ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs, and answer any initial questions they might have.
Induction
When a prisoner first arrives at Lowdham Grange they will receive 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.
Everyone is given an induction booklet to keep for their own reference.
Accommodation
Around 888 prisoners live at Lowdham Grange across 14 wings. All cells are single accommodation.
Prisoners have access to a sports hall, fitness suites, weights room and an outdoor pitch. The fitness programme includes a range of team sports and classes.
Lowdham Grange prison has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing support to prisoners.
Education and work
Prisoners at Lowdham Grange are encouraged to take part in meaningful activity and gain qualifications by enrolling into education and vocational training or work in one of the prison industries or domestic roles.
Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities. These range from basic skills, such as English and maths, to distance learning with the Open University.
The programme includes training in a variety of trades and professions, including:
- Digital Skills
- Industrial cleaning
- Horticulture
- Warehousing
Work is available throughout the prison in areas such as recycling and catering. Prisoners also able to work in one of the eight industrial workshops that have contracts with outside businesses, as well as textile and tailoring/ladieswear workshops for the prison service. Prisoners can gain NVQ qualifications while working.
Lowdham Grange Prison also runs several accredited offending behaviour programmes.
Temporary release
There is no ROTL programme in place at Lowdham Grange.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends. You can contact the families and significant others lead by email to LG.Familylinkworker@justice.gov.uk
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01159 669 200 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 | 01159 669 208 | 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 line is managed separately from the prison can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. |
| 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 Lowdham Grange.
Contact Lowdham Grange
Governor: Neil Thomas
Telephone: 01159 669 200
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Lowdham Grange
Old Epperstone Road
Lowdham
Nottingham
NG14 7DA
Updates to this page
Published 15 January 2020Last updated 1 August 2024 + show all updates
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Added new information about Lowdham Grange prison including how to book a visit and related visiting information
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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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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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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 coronavirus restrictions.
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Prisons visits update
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First published.