HMP & YOI Downview: Families and significant others strategy

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

We are committed to providing a wide range of opportunities that meet the diverse needs of the women in our care.

We use data, insight and prisoner feedback to shape our education, employment and wellbeing services, ensuring they remain responsive, meaningful and effective.

Our aim is to create a positive and supportive environment where women are encouraged to develop the skills, confidence and resilience needed for successful rehabilitation. By promoting learning, emotional wellbeing and greater financial independence, we support women to prepare for sustainable lives beyond custody.

Recognising that every woman’s circumstances are unique, we provide support that is tailored to individual needs while maintaining fairness, consistency and equal access to opportunities.

Through collaboration with specialist partners and community organisations, we help women address the factors that can contribute to reoffending, including housing, employment, family relationships and emotional wellbeing.

An important part of this approach is maintaining and strengthening positive relationships. We believe that strong family and social connections can play a significant role in rehabilitation, reducing reoffending and creating safer communities.

By working together with staff, prisoners, families and external partners, we aim to support women in rebuilding relationships, making positive choices and achieving lasting reintegration into their communities.

Throughout this strategy, we use the term ‘family’ to refer to anyone whom a prisoner identifies as their next of kin or primary source of support.

This may include relatives, legal guardians, close friends or support workers.

We recognise that many women in custody have experienced complex and non-traditional family circumstances, including a range of caring responsibilities and childcare arrangements.