Foston Hall Prison and Young Offender Institution
Foston Hall is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Derbyshire for women aged 18 and over.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Foston Hall
To visit someone in Foston Hall you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 2 days in advance
- have the the required ID 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 Foston Hall.
Contact Foston Hall if you have any questions about visiting.
Help with the cost of your visit
If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:
- travel to Foston Hall
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 0300 060 6516
Find out about call charges
The booking line is open:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: midday to 5pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
A visit can be booked a minimum of 2 working days before your visit date (subject to availability) and a maximum of 28 working days before the visit (subject to availability).
You must book your first visit by telephone.
Visiting times:
- Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm
How to book legal and professional visits
All legal/official visits must be booked by email to [email protected] between 9am and 1pm. Any bookings received after this will be dealt with the following day.
Legal visiting times:
- Monday to Friday: 9:30am to 10:30am, 10:30am to 11:30am, 2pm to 3pm, 3pm to 4pm
Getting to Foston Hall
The closest railway station is Tutbury and Hatton, which is a short taxi ride from Foston Hall. Buses run from Burton-on-Trent and Uttoxeter.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is limited parking at Foston Hall, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Foston Hall
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children.
Refreshments are available to purchase during your visit.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Foston Hall. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. 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.
Visiting facilities
There is a visitors centre outside the main gate with toilet facilities. The children’s play area is available to use.
There is also a tea bar and a small play area in the visits hall.
Family days
HMP Foston Hall run regular themed family visits throughout the year. Usually during school holidays from 10am to 3pm with lunch included. Prisoners can apply for these.
Keep in touch with someone at Foston Hall
You may not be able to speak with someone at Foston Hall during their first few days. This is because it can take time to approve who they can be in touch with.
Prisoners do not have phones in their cells so they will always need to call you rather than you call them.
Phone calls
Prisoners can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security. Every prisoner is given £2 credit for telephone calls when they first arrive.
You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.
Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.
The switchboard number is 01283 584 300.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app
- Create an account
- Register all visitors
- Add the prisoner to your contact list.
How to book a secure video call
You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.
You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.
Video call times:
Booth 1
- Monday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday: 9am to 12pm
- Thursday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 9am to 12pm
Booth 2
- Monday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday: 9am to 12pm
- Thursday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 9am to 12pm
Booth 3
- Monday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday: 9am to 12pm
- Thursday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 9am to 12pm
Booth 4
- Monday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday: 9am to 12pm
- Thursday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 9am to 12pm
Booth 5
- Monday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday: 9am to 12pm
- Thursday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 9am to 12pm
Court room
- Monday to Friday: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
You can send emails to someone in Foston Hall using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Foston Hall.
Letters
Include the prisoners name and prison number on the envelope. If you do not know their prison number, contact Foston Hall.
All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers.
Send money and gifts
You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in 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 in Foston Hall are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Foston Hall for more information on what’s allowed.
Make sure to include the prisoners 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.
For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
Life at Foston Hall
Foston Hall is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Foston Hall 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.
If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a person in Foston Hall, call the crisis line on 01283 584319.
Foston Hall also trains prisoners to be ‘listeners’ for those who need support during difficult times.
Arrival and first night
When a prisoner first arrives at Foston Hall, they are taken to the First Night Centre. They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs. They will be given a meal and offered a pack of essential items, including drinks and snacks.
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.
Induction
Each prisoner that arrives at Foston Hall 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 300 prisoners live at Foston Hall across 7 units holding up to 60 women each.
Education and work
Prisoners can study a range of subjects within the education department to help them find work on release, including cleaning services, hairdressing and beauty therapy.
They can also gain experience and qualifications in the gardens, gym, textile workshop and kitchens.
Foston Hall only run Thinking Skills Programme as an accredited programme.
Working with Anger is also run but is not accredited.
Temporary release
Foston Hall 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.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
The lead on supporting the Families and Significant Others provision at Senior Leader Team level, is the Head of Reducing Reoffending.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01283 584319 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 | 01283 584351 | 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. |
| Prisoners’ Families Helpline | 0808 808 2003 | The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. |
| Unwanted Prisoner Contact | 0300 060 6699 | If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email [email protected] or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have any other problem contact Foston Hall.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Foston Hall in response to independent inspections.
Contact Foston Hall
Governor: Helen Clayton-Hoar
Telephone: 01283 584 300
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Fax: 01283 584 301
Find out about call charges
Follow Foston Hall on Twitter/X
Address
HMP/YOI Foston Hall
Foston
Derby
Derbyshire
DE65 5DN
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Updates to this page
Published 2 October 2019Last updated 14 February 2024 + show all updates
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Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.
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Updated Govenor
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated physical contact guidance
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Updated rules for sending in money and gifts.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Updated visit info
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Added confirmation of secure video calls being made available at this prison.
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updated survey link
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Prison visits update.
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Updated visiting times, now for 7 days.
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First published.