Wealstun Prison

Book and plan your visit to Wealstun

To visit someone in Wealstun you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• Use your Visiting Order within 28 days (at which point it will expire)
• have the required ID with you when you go
• Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the entire visit. Up to 3 adults may attend per prisoner. There is no set limit on children, however seating is restricted to 3 chairs per prisoner due to space constraints.

In exceptional cases, visitors aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied. This must be requested in writing and approved by the Governor in advance, by a legal guardian. Requests must show long-term circumstances preventing adult accompaniment (not short-term issues like holidays). Approved visitors must bring valid ID. Any existing safeguarding restrictions will be taking into account and checks may be carried out with services such as Probation, Police or Social Services where required.

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 Wealstun prison
• Somewhere to stay overnight
• Meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: 01937 444 599

The booking line is open Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 12:30pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

• Monday, 2:15pm to 4pm
• Tuesday, 8:45am to 11am and 2:15pm to 4pm
• Wednesday, 2:15pm to 4pm
• Thursday, 8:45am to 11am and 2:15pm to 4pm
• Friday, no visits
• Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm

These times include booking-in, entry, searching and exit arrangements to allow your actual visit to last one hour.

The visitors centre will open about 30 to 45 minutes before visiting starts to support the booking-in process. When possible, we hope this will increase the contact you can have with a prisoner beyond the 1 hour entitlement.

Prisoners on the basic level of the Incentives and Privileges policy framework are only entitled to a one hour visit. Their visits will be timed so that the visit ‘contact time’ begins one hour before the session ends.

How to book legal and professional visits

You can book a legal/professional visit by email to LegalVisits.Wealstun@justice.gov.uk

Face-to-face Legal and probation visiting times

• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am to 9:45am, 10am to 10:45am, 2:15pm to 3pm and 3:15pm to 4pm

Online Legal visiting times

• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am to 9:45am, 10am to 10:45am, 2:15pm to 3pm and 3:15pm to 4pm

Online Probation visiting times

• Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 9:45am, 10am to 10:45am, 2:15pm to 3pm and 3:15pm to 4pm

Getting to Wealstun

Find Wealstun on a map

The closest railway stations are Leeds (12 miles from the prison) and York (15 miles). You can take a 45 minute bus ride to the prison, as taxis can be expensive.

To plan your journey by public transport:

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

There is a large visitor car park with Blue Badge parking spaces close to the visitor centre.

Entering Wealstun

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

All visitors are reminded that once you leave the prison, you will not be allowed to come back in. This rule helps us protect the integrity of searching arrangements and to keep the prison safe.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Wealstun. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker, which are free to use. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

Refreshments and snacks are available to purchase in the visits shop. Each adult is permitted to bring in up to £60 in cash only for purchases during the visit. This includes for any children accompanying.

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.

Visitor dress code

Wealstun aims to create a family environment that is appropriate for adults and children of all ages. The following dress code will apply for all visitors:

• no vests
• no ripped jeans
• no football tops
• shorts length must be below the knee when standing
• no sliders/flip flops
• no clothing that promotes hostility or hatred to another race/religion/belief and so on

Women/children over the age of 10:

• no gym/sportswear
• no crop tops
• no vests as a single garment
• no ripped jeans
• shorts and skirts must be below the knee when standing
• no sliders/flip flops
• no football tops
• no clothing that promotes hostility or hatred to another race/religion/belief and so on

Children under the age of 10: no sliders/flip flops.

All prisoners are reminded to inform their visitors of the correct dress code.

Failure to follow this dress code may result in visitors not being permitted to enter the establishment.

Wealstun’s dress code follows the central policy Management of security at visits policy framework - dress code for visitors - annex-h

Visiting facilities

There is a visitor centre which is available on visiting days, where you can get help booking-in for your visit.  

The visitors centre opens 30 to 45 minutes before visiting begins.

(On days with morning and afternoon visits, it is closed between 12:30pm and 1:30pm for lunch.)

You will have to leave most things in a locker inside the visitor centre before entering the visits hall. Lockers are free to use.

The visits room has a children’s play area and there are toilets and baby changing facilities just outside.

Family days

We currently run family days during school holiday periods for children up to the age of 18 years old. Participants are generated through a strict application process.

Family days can only be applied for by prisoners.

Keep in touch with someone at Wealstun

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

Phone calls

Prisoners have phones in their cells but they will always 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 when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.

Calls can be made by prisoners at these times:

• Monday to Friday, 7am to 10:30pm
• Weekends and bank holidays, 7am to 10:30pm

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 Wealstun 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 Wealstun.

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

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.

Read more about how it works

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Wealstun.

All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened, checked and photocopied. The original will be returned on discharge.

National Prison Radio’s Family and Friends request show

National Prison Radio broadcasts into prison cells across England and Wales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Family and friends can stay connected with their loved ones in prison by sending song requests, written messages and voice recordings. They are then read and played out on weekly episodes. 

You can send in a message, and hear the show, at  nationalprisonradio.com

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

No gifts can be sent in.

Clothing and footwear parcels

Prisoners on enhanced behaviour can apply for approval to receive one clothing parcel, from the day they achieve enhanced status. Life sentenced prisoners can receive one clothing parcel per year, starting on the day of their sentence.

Prisoners are provided with a list of items permitted items (including colours, patterns etc).

Purchased items from approved retailers (Sports Direct and M&M Direct) must be sent directly from suppliers. Any other parcels received will be stored at the prison and will be issued upon prisoners release. You can request for this to be handed back when visiting the prison.

All parcels are searched. Non-permitted items will be removed or destroyed (perishable items such as food).

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, Prison education and library services, Annex A.

Life at Wealstun

Wealstun is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.

Wealstun is serious about reducing the risk of re-offending so prisoners are expected to take part in their sentence plans and demonstrate good citizenship and behaviour at all times. Behaviour will affect their privileges in prison, whether they are re-categorised and considered for early release.

The prison has a strict drug policy which includes mandatory drug testing and investigating the supply and use of drugs. There are many drug treatment programmes on offer, a drug support wing, help from peers and a personal officer scheme.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Wealstun 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.

A Listener scheme (supported by the Samaritans) is available for those who need to talk and there is peer support, race equality representatives and an information desk.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Wealstun, 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 Wealstun 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

Wealstun houses around 900 prisoners, mostly in single cells, but there are 56 double cells.

Education and work

Wealstun offers a range of education opportunities which includes maths, English, digital and vocational training. Reading support and development is also provided.

Work opportunities at Wealstun have a focus on promoting skills for employment and both full-time and part-time roles are available. The work includes production and packing workshops, catering, gardens, waste management and laundry.

There are also offending behaviour programmes on offer to help address behaviour and substance abuse.

Organisations Wealstun works with

The prison is supported by charities specializing in substance and gambling addiction, sexual health and victim support.

Healthcare is provided by the Practice Plus Group.

Prisoner complaints

Prisoners have access to a tracked complaints system, for which response times are in place. This also included a process to escalate a complaint. There is a confidential complaints process for sensitive matters. Prisoners also have access to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, who will also follow up with complaints.

Family and friends are encouraged to support these processes via email and calls, however, should allow adults in custody to raise complaints themselves using the systems in place.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

To contact family services you can call 01937 444 620 or email FamilySupport.Wealstun@justice.gov.uk.

The prison is supported by charities specialising in substance and gambling addiction, sexual health and victim support.

Healthcare is provided by the Practice Plus Group.

Support at Wealstun

The charity JIGSAW offers family support services.

It offers:

• practical support to maintain family ties, including child contact
• emotional support for prisoners and families
• help in signposting prisoners and their families to other organisations that can help with individual issues

Concerns, problems and complaints

Contact category	Phone number	Additional information
Non-emergency	01937 444 774	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.

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Wealstun in response to independent inspections.

If you have any other problem contact Wealstun.

Contact Wealstun

Governor:Governor Diane(acting): LewisMichael Rayner

Telephone: 01937 444 400
Open 24 hours
Find out about call charges

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Address

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