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HMP/YOI Askham Grange
HMP/YOI Askham Grange is an open prison near York for adult women. It supports women preparing for release through resettlement, release on temporary licence, education, employment, family contact and mother and baby provision.
A public sector women’s open prison and young offender institution for women aged 18 and over. HMP/YOI Askham Grange is an open resettlement prison supporting rehabilitation, release on temporary licence, education, community work and preparation for release.
HMP/YOI Askham Grange is an open prison near York for adult women. It supports women preparing for release through resettlement, release on temporary licence, education, employment, family contact and mother and baby provision.
Monthly snapshot: 24 August 2026
Operational capacity is the capacity reported for this prison in the same monthly bulletin.
Official monthly spreadsheet · Ministry of Justice publication
HMP/YOI Askham Grange holds women aged 18 and over who have transferred from other prisons and are preparing for release. It is an open resettlement prison, and women may progress to community education, unpaid activity, paid work and other forms of release on temporary licence, subject to individual risk assessment and time left to serve.
The 2024-25 IMB report recorded that around 90% of the population were White British and that around 30% to 40% declared diagnosed or suspected neurodiverse needs. These are report period figures and not a current population profile.
HMP/YOI Askham Grange provides a mix of single rooms and shared dormitory accommodation. The establishment includes the main house, annexe, Mother and Baby Unit and Acorn Centre. Women who need ground floor accommodation because of disability or health needs can be accommodated.
| Unit | Function | Prisoners and accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Main House | Historically, 51 single rooms plus dormitories accommodating up to six women each. | |
| Annexe | Historically, 21 additional bedrooms. | |
| Mother and Baby Unit | Accommodation for up to 10 mothers and 11 babies. The latest IMB report describes provision for mothers with babies up to 18 months old. | |
| Acorn Centre | Historically, 20 single rooms and one double room. | |
| Acorn House | Separate five bedroom family facility used for women to spend time, sometimes overnight, with children and a female adult relative. It may also support private child contact, adoption and children’s services sessions. | |
| Monitored bedsit | Short term monitored accommodation for a woman who is unwell or at risk of self harm. |
Healthcare is provided by Practice Plus Group. The latest IMB report records nursing assessments and medication reviews for new arrivals, long term condition care plans, prescription processing and medicine delivery arrangements.
The report also records mental health support, counselling and psychology input, psychiatric input, a social prescriber and neurodiversity support. Availability of individual clinical services and appointments should be confirmed locally.
Education and skills are provided by Novus. The most recently reported offer includes barista training, food safety and hygiene, customer service and hospitality, horticulture, information technology, financial capability, employability and professional development.
Women can also access distance learning, including Open University courses. Hair and beauty training is available through York College.
Substance misuse support is provided by Inclusion. The prison supports weekly community attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery meetings, with transport provided.
The 2024-25 IMB report found no evidence that drug or alcohol use was a material concern during that reporting year.
A referral pathway has been agreed with York social services for prisoners with social care needs. The 2024-25 IMB report stated that no prisoner required social care during that reporting year.
This should not be treated as a guarantee of current provision or waiting times.
The Sanctuary provides worship, quiet reflection and pastoral support. The 2024-25 IMB report recorded Christian, Muslim, Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness and Pagan provision, alongside Songs of Praise and Café Church.
This is an annual report description rather than a confirmed current weekly timetable. Visitors and prisoners should confirm current faith services with the prison.
The library is staffed by a part time librarian supported by prisoner library assistants. It provides books, newspapers, jigsaws, DVDs, large print books, audiobooks and foreign language books.
Activities include a book club, reading promotions and Storybook Mums, which allows recorded stories to be sent to children.
Physical activity includes health and wellbeing drop ins with the PE instructor, chair-based exercise and external walking clubs. Prisoners can work towards gym instructor qualifications.
The exact gym timetable and activities should be checked locally because the most detailed publicly available information is from the 2024-25 IMB reporting period.
In prison work includes kitchen, cleaning, café, gardens, library and front of house work for the prison conference facility.
Subject to individual risk assessment and time left to serve, women may progress to community education, unpaid activity, paid work and other release on temporary licence opportunities. The employment hub has reported links with Amey, GXO, CIDON, GMI and LNER, including construction and office roles, as well as hospitality and retail opportunities.
HMP/YOI Askham Grange is an open resettlement prison. The Offender Management Unit manages risk assessment, release on temporary licence and release planning through appointments and drop ins.
Support can include planning for accommodation, employment, health and mental health care, and drug or alcohol services. Women without settled accommodation may need temporary accommodation, including approved premises.
Women initially work inside the prison before becoming eligible for external work. Subject to individual risk assessment, women may progress to community education, unpaid activity, paid work and other forms of release on temporary licence.
Voluntary four session psychologically informed intervention to support women moving from closed to open conditions, understanding emotions and developing coping strategies. The latest confirmed delivery evidence is from the 2023 HMIP inspection.
Progression programme allowing eligible women, following risk assessment, to undertake community education, unpaid activity, paid work and other temporary release opportunities.
Distance learning provision, including Open University study. The 2024-25 IMB report recorded 17 completed distance learning courses.
Library activity allowing mothers to record stories for their children.
Weekly community attendance supported by the prison, subject to individual arrangements.
Weekly community attendance supported by the prison, subject to individual arrangements.
Weekly community attendance supported by the prison, subject to individual arrangements.
Family events held several times each year, generally during school holidays. Prisoners apply internally for places.
On site nursery provision run by Action for Children for eligible mothers and babies.
Saturday and Sunday, 1:45pm to 3:45pm.
Visits must be booked in advance. Visitors can book online through the GOV.UK prison visits service or call 0300 060 6513, Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm.
A visitor must be on the prisoner’s approved visitor list. Visits can be booked up to 28 days in advance. Prisoners are entitled to two visits in every seven day period.
Visitors aged 16 and over must bring accepted identification. At least one visitor must be aged 18 or over. Up to four adults may visit, and children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Visitors book in at the Gate House. Phones and other electronic devices must be left in Gate House lockers. Visitors, including children, may be searched and security dogs may be used.
Nothing may be taken into the visits hall except baby food and changing equipment. Medication must be declared before the visit. Adults may take a reasonable amount of money for the visits hall tea bar.
Only people attending a visit may enter the prison grounds. There is no facility for people or animals to wait in vehicles or walk around the grounds.
The family friendly Visitors’ Centre is run by Prison Advice and Care Trust, known as PACT. PACT provides a welcome, information and support for visitors. Family days take place during the year, generally during school holidays, and prisoners apply for places internally.
HMP/YOI Askham Grange is at Askham Richard, near York.
By train: York is the nearest railway station.
By bus: a bus runs from York to Askham Richard except on Sundays. Check live travel information before travelling.
By taxi: taxis are available from York railway station.
There is a visitor car park, including Blue Badge spaces.
The visitor car park includes Blue Badge spaces. The prison can accommodate women who need ground floor accommodation because of disability or health needs.
The public information does not provide a detailed accessibility specification for the Visitors’ Centre. Visitors with particular access needs should contact the prison before travelling.
PACT provides visitor welcome, information and support, and works with families to promote positive contact and contribute to release planning.
Family days take place several times during the year, generally during school holidays. Women can apply internally for a place.
The prison also has a Mother and Baby Unit, with an on site nursery run by Action for Children. The 2024-25 IMB report stated that women with babies could take part in education and vocational training while the nursery provided care.
Secure video calls are available through the Prison Video app and must be requested by the prisoner.
Prisoners can call approved contacts using purchased telephone credit. Voicemail and Email a Prisoner are also available, subject to prison rules.
HMP/YOI Askham Grange opened in January 1947 and was the first women’s open prison of its type. The prison occupies a Victorian country house built in the 1880s, with extensions added in the mid 1990s, including the Mother and Baby Unit.
It is now a public sector open prison and young offender institution for women aged 18 and over. Its role is to support women who have transferred from other prisons as they prepare for release through rehabilitation, education, employment, family contact and release on temporary licence.
25 September 2023
HMP & YOI Askham Grange is a women’s open prison on the outskirts of York. Its primary aim is to promote effective rehabilitation through release on temporary licence and other resettlement activities. We judged that outcomes for women remained good across all of our healthy…
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