HMP and YOI Styal: Families and significant others strategy

You can find visiting information and book a visit on the Styal Prison main page.

We recognise the importance of the role families and support networks have in helping the women in our care successfully resettle back into communities.

We seek to reduce the impact a custodial sentence has on family ties, relationships, and parenting through taking a positive approach to maintaining and developing family ties.

We will develop the way work with families, local authorities, children’s services, charitable organisations, and community partners to ensure the best possible support to those in custody, their families and contributing to better outcomes for effective resettlement.

We also recognise that strengthening family ties can help a person’s emotional and physical wellbeing, improving both personal and prison safety and security.

Our visitor’s centre is open to visitors up to one hour before visits.

All adult visitors should expect to provide photographic ID upon arrival.

The visitors centre has lockers, toilets and a children’s play area.

The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) work with us in the visitors centre.

A soft play area is available for young children.

PACT provide a children’s play coordinator who develops activities and resources for children of all ages, including those with neurodivergent needs.

PACT can provide ‘at table’ boxes and activities to help parents to play with and interact with their children.

We can also advise and lead on activities for older children visiting prison. 

PACT work with the women in custody with any family-related issue.