Guidance
Coldingley Prison
Coldingley is a prison for adult men in Woking, Surrey.
Prison visits are temporarily suspended following instructions for people to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. We will update here as soon as this changes. You can also follow @HMPPS on Twitter and read a rolling update page.
There are a number of other ways to contact someone in prison if you are unable to visit them. You can:
- leave a voice message using the Prison Voicemail Service
- send them an email using the email a prisoner service
- write to them
You can also contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003.
Book and plan your visit to Coldingley
To visit someone in Coldingley you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit in advance
- have 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 person can have. You can check this with Coldingley.
Contact Coldingley 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 Coldingley
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
Visiting times:
- Monday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Wednesday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Thursday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Friday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Saturday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Sunday: 9:30am to 11am, 1:45pm to 3:45pm
Enquiries only: socialvisits.coldingley@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
How to book legal and professional visits
You can book by telephone.
Visits must be booked 24 hours in advance.
Booking line: 01483 344 310
Monday to Friday: 9am to midday, 2pm to 3:30
Find out about call charges
Visiting times are Thursdays, 9am to 11:30am.
Getting to Coldingley
The closest railway station is Woking.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a visitor car park with disabled parking for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Coldingley
All visitors aged 16 and older need to bring one of the following types of photo ID:
- passport
- driving licence
- benefit book
- senior citizen’s public transport pass
- annual public transport season ticket (with photo card)
- employer ID card (if it shows the name of the visitor and the employer)
- European Community identity card
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs, have your fingerprint taken and your eye scanned.
Coldingley has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £15 in coins (notes are not allowed). The money can be used to buy food and drink from the vending machine in the visiting hall.
There is wheelchair access, disabled toilets and mobile hearing loops for those who need them.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Coldingley. 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. No items can be brought into Coldingley and passed to a resident.
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 no-smoking visitors centre outside the prison. Family support workers offer help and information to residents and their families. A playworker is usually there to welcome children and show them the play area equipped with books and toys.
Family days
These are held on a regular basis. They are longer visits and allow men to be with their children and families in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Residents can apply for them.
Keep in touch with someone at Coldingley
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a resident during their time at Coldingley.
Phone calls
Residents do not have phones in their rooms so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.
They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.
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.
You can send emails to someone in Coldingley using the Email a Prisoner service.
Letters
You can write at any time.
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Coldingley.
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 also send:
- postal orders
- cheques
- cash
Postal orders and cheques should be made payable to The Governor and include the resident’s name and prisoner number on the back.
Gifts and parcels
You can not hand any parcels or items in at the prison, except books.
People in Coldingley are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Coldingley for more information on what’s allowed.
Life at Coldingley
Coldingley is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Coldingley has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
All safeguarding processes are overseen by Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board.
Arrival and first night
When a resident first arrives at Coldingley, 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.
They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.
Induction
Each person who arrives at Coldingley 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
There are over 500 men at Coldingley, mostly housed in single rooms.
There is a gym fitted out with weights and a badminton court and TV is available for residents who have earned privileges.
Education and work
As a resettlement prison, Coldingley only accepts residents who are prepared to work full-time and willing to take part fully in a resettlement programme.
The only residents accepted have a minimum of 2 years to their release date. If residents are participating in The Forward Trust’s 12-step programme, they too will be considered.
All men must be willing to commit to the drugs testing programme.
There is a standard day for all residents. It includes full-time work in workshops, vocational training, education and the drug-treatment programme.
There is a new modern training and education centre, a prisons IT academy, business training, sports and varied industrial workshops.
Temporary release
Men at Coldingley can not get release on temporary licence (ROTL).
Organisations Coldingley works with
The prison works with the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) which offers support to families and friends of those in prison.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Support at Coldingley
The prison advice and care trust workers offer a wide range of relationship, parenting and family learning courses to encourage residents to make a fresh start.
To find out more about these courses:
Email: pact.coldingley@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 01483 344 476
Problems and complaints
If you have a problem contact Coldingley.
If you cannot resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.
Contact Coldingley
Governor: Jo Sims
Telephone (24 hours): 01483 344 300
Fax: 01483 344 427
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Coldingley
Shaftesbury Road
Bisley, Woking
Surrey
GU24 9EX
Safer custody hotline
If you are worried about a resident at this prison, contact the Safer Custody team.
Telephone: 0800 4961475
Leave a message, and make sure you include your name and telephone number, the reason you are calling and the name and prisoner number of the person you’re calling about. The prison will call you back within 24 hours.
In an emergency, call the switchboard.
Published 7 April 2020