Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Children can visit their mothers outside regular visiting hours. These visits can take place Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 11:45am, either in the visits hall or on the mother and baby unit. Prisoners can apply for these visits internally.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Visitors must adhere to the prison dress code that applies, further details can be requested on your first visit.
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £10 in coins (notes are not allowed).
There are strict controls on what you can take into Eastwood Park. 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.
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.
Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.
Visiting facilities
Refreshments are available to purchase during your visit. There is a children’s play area available to use.
There is a visitors centre at Eastwood Park, which includes toilet facilities. Visitors are offered a warm welcome, information and support. It is open on visiting days.
The visits room is on the ground floor and wheelchair accessible. Pushchairs are not allowed in the room. Drinks and snacks are available from the cafe and there is a small play area for children.
You may not be able to speak with someone at Eastwood Park during their first few days. This is because it can take time to approve who they can be in touch with.
Prisoners have phones in their cells but these do not accept incoming calls so they will always need to call you.
Phone calls
Prisoners in Eastwood Park can call anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by the 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 at Eastwood Park are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Eastwood Park 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 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.
Eastwood Park is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release and reduce the chance of reoffending.
Arrival and first night
When a prisoner first arrives at Eastwood Park, 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 Eastwood Park 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 400 prisoners live at Eastwood Park in a mixture of cells for 1, 2 or 3 prisoners. There are phones in every cell.
It has a mother and baby unit for prisoners with children under 18 months old.
Education and work
Prisoners can study a range of subjects within the education department to help them gain employment on release including:
English
maths
cleaning
IT
beauty
hospitality
horticulture
retail
customer service
catering
Other courses include victim awareness, peer mentoring and budgeting.
They can also get work experience through placements in the kitchen and canteen, the gardens, laundry, library, gym, cafe and other areas.
Temporary release
Eastwood Park prisoners have the opportunity to leave the prison for short periods of time. This is known as release on temporary licence. It can be used to gain work experience in the local community, maintain family ties and prepare for release.
Organisations Eastwood Park works with
Several local voluntary and community organisations provide support to the prisoners, including The Forgiveness Project, Nelson Trust and One25.
Call 01454 382 188 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
01454 382 323
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.