Styal Prison and Young Offender Institution
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-23)

Styal is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Wilmslow, Cheshire, for women aged 18 and over.

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Book and plan your visit to Styal

To visit someone in Styal you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list (only the prisoner can add you to or remove you from their visitor list)
- book your visit at least 48 hours in advance
- have the the required ID (#entering-styal) with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Styal.

Contact Styal (#contacts) if you have any questions about visiting.

Help with the cost of your visit

If you get certain benefits or have a health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-prison-visits), including:
- travel to Styal
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online (https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits) or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.

Visiting times:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2pm to 4pm (maximum of 20 prisoners)
- Friday, no visits
- Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am to 11:30am (open house only) and 2pm to 4pm (maximum of 20 prisoners)
Visitors should arrive 15 minutes before your booked time slot.

How to book official visits

To book official visits, email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Official video visit times:
- Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 11:30am and 1:45pm to 5pm
Official face to face visit times:
- Tuesday, 9:30am to 10:30am and 10:45am to 11:45am
- Thursday, 9:30am to 10:30am and 10:45am to 11:45am
Getting to Styal

Find Styal on a map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.23928,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xd6724a6f04702223!8m2!3d53.3406335!4d-2.23928&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

The closest railway stations are:
- Styal Station - a 10 minute walk to the prison
- Wilmslow Station - a 5 minute taxi ride to the prison
To plan your journey by public transport:
- use National Rail enquiries (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/)
- use Traveline for local bus times (https://www.traveline.info/)
There is a car park at the prison. Parking is limited and there are no designated spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Styal

All visitors, aged 18 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/management-of-security-at-visits-policy-framework-open-estate/acceptable-forms-of-identification-id-when-visiting-a-prison-in-england-and-wales-annex-a).

All visitors will need to be given a rub-down search, including children.

No cash is allowed inside the prison. You will need to leave any valuables in a locker before entering the visitor area.

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 run by Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) (https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/).

There is a waiting area, small play area, refreshments and toilets.

Family visits

Children’s visits take place once per month. These are for 3 hours, food and drink are provided and no visiting order is required.

Keep in touch with someone at Styal

You may not be able to speak with someone at Styal during their first few days. This is because it can take up to 48 hours to approve who they can be in touch with.

One supervised phone call is allowed on arrival in the First Night Centre. If a prisoner has restrictions in place they will not be able to make a call.

Prisoners do not have phones in their cells so they will always need to call you rather than you call them.

If you need to contact someone in Styal urgently, phone the switchboard (#contacts) and ask to speak to the Duty Governor or Orderly Officer.

Phone calls

Prisoners can only phone you if you are named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service (https://prisonvoicemail.com/).

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 Styal using the Email a Prisoner service (https://www.emailaprisoner.com/).

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Styal.

Secure video calls

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app (https://prisonvideo.com/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.

Read more about how it works (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-a-prisoner-using-a-video-call)

Letters

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

If you do not know their prison number, you can use their date of birth instead or you can find out their prison number (https://www.gov.uk/find-prisoner).

All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers.

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 (https://prison.radio/national-prison-radio/#songrequest)

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison (https://www.gov.uk/send-prisoner-money).

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 (https://send-money-to-prisoner.service.gov.uk/help/apply-for-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. Contact Styal (#contacts) for more information on what’s allowed.

Make sure to include the person’s name and prison number on the parcel.

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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-education-and-library-services-for-adult-prisons-in-england/annex-a-sending-and-handing-in-of-books-to-prisoners).

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Life at Styal

Styal is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills and focus on their personal development.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Styal 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 (https://www.prisonersfamilies.org/pages/category/need-urgent-help?Take=24).

Styal also has a peer mentoring scheme. Trained prisoners give the other women advice and tell them about agencies that can help them. Some also organise book clubs to help improve reading skills.

Arrival and first night

When people first arrive they stay in the First Night Centre for up to 48 hours before moving to their accommodation.

They are interviewed by an officer and are introduced to living in custody. The officer will explain the prison rules and they will be offered a hot meal, shower and a phone call to their family or partner.

After that, they will see a nurse who can help with any healthcare needs.

They will be given toiletries and be able to buy a grocery pack or a vape pack. They can borrow money from the prison if they have no cash on them when they arrive.

New prisoners will also meet the duty chaplain, mental health nurse and domestic abuse support worker during their first 48 hours to help with any concerns they might have.

Induction

Each prisoner that arrives at Styal 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 450 prisoners live at Styal.

The accommodation is a mix of dormitories and individual cells.

Styal also has a Mother and Baby Unit for prisoners with babies up to 18 months. The unit is run by the Action for Children (https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/) charity.

Faith services

The diverse chaplaincy team offers weekly services, personal development courses, bereavement support and a quiet space for personal prayer.

Education and work

The education at Styal is provided by Novus (https://www.novus.ac.uk/) and includes:
- English and maths
- Hairdressing and beauty
- Functional skills
- Essential Digital Skills Qualifications (EDSQ)
- Construction
- Horticulture
- Fitness and health
- Hospitality and catering
Prisoners in the Mother and Baby Unit can take part in programmes that support the development of their child. There’s also a crèche so mothers can attend other education classes.

The library, provided by NOVUS (https://www.novus.ac.uk/), has several computers for learning as well as a range of books, CDs and DVDs.

Temporary release

Prisoners at Styal can be considered for release on temporary licence. It depends on where they are in their sentence and a thorough risk assessment.

Women can be considered for childcare resettlement if they can show that they were the primary carer of their child before they came into custody and will be again on release. This also depends on a thorough risk assessment.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends (https://www.gov.uk/support-for-families-friends-of-prisoners).

Support at Styal

Styal works hard to help families keep in contact.

Family services at Styal are provided by PACT (https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/hmp-styal).

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call xx-xxxx-xxxx if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problem contact Styal (#contacts).

Inspection reports

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Styal (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/styal-yoi-action-plan) in response to independent inspections.

Contact Styal

Governor: Nicky Hargreaves

Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Monday to Friday, 7am to 8pm Weekends and Bank Holidays, 7am to 5pm Fax: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Address

HMP/YOI StyalWilmslowCheshireSK9 4HR

See map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.23928,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xd6724a6f04702223!8m2!3d53.3406335!4d-2.23928&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey (https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/themount/).