Featherstone Prison
Featherstone is a men’s prison in the village of Featherstone, near Wolverhampton.
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Book and plan your visit to Featherstone
Featherstone is at stage 3 in the National Framework for Prisons. We are now preparing to open for visits and we will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
Find out more about visiting someone in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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
- use secure video calling
You can also contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003.
Keep in touch with someone at Featherstone
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a resident during their time at Featherstone.
Secure video calls
Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends need to download the purple visits app, create an account, register all visitors, and add the prisoner to their contact list.
Phone calls
Residents have phones in their rooms but these can only make outgoing calls 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 Featherstone using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the resident, depending on the rules at Featherstone.
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 Featherstone.
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.
Gifts and parcels
You can only send items to people in Featherstone in exceptional circumstances. Residents can apply to the governor for permission.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Life at Featherstone
Featherstone 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 Featherstone has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
All safeguarding processes are overseen by the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board.
Featherstone also trains residents to be ‘listeners’ for those who need support during difficult times.
Arrival and first night
When a resident first arrives at Featherstone, 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. All rooms in the first night centre have phones that can be used at any time.
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 checked on regularly throughout their first 24 hours at Featherstone to make sure they are supported through their induction.
Induction
Each person who arrives at Featherstone 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.
All new residents will be given a key worker who will come and get to know them.
Accommodation
Around 690 men live at Featherstone across 7 house units. There is a mixture of single and shared rooms.
Facilities include a gym and library.
Education and work
Education at Featherstone is provided by Novus. They run a number of academic courses including Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 Maths and English and ITQ.
They also run vocational courses including:
- hospitality
- horticulture
- painting and decorating
- carpentry
- brick laying
- cleaning
- barbering
Residents can also complete higher level qualifications through the Open University.
There are a wide range of activities and interventions available for residents to develop their skills and progress through their sentence.
Featherstone also runs specialist qualifications in RMF rail track, motor vehicle and tyre fitting.
Residents can also work in a wide range of workshops, including industries, construction, textiles and a print shop.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Support at Featherstone
Families can get help and advice from the family engagement team at the visitors centre.
Problems and complaints
If you have a problem contact Featherstone. If you cannot resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Featherstone in response to independent inspections.
Contact Featherstone
Governor: Laura Whitehurst
Telephone (24 hours): 01902 703 000
Fax: 01902 703 001
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Featherstone
New Road
Featherstone
Wolverhampton
WV10 7PU
Safer custody hotline
If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a man in Featherstone, contact the safer custody team.
Email: safercustody.featherstone@justice.gov.uk
Safer custody hotline: 01902 703081
In an emergency, contact the main switchboard.
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Last updated 5 May 2021 + show all updates
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Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
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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 coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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First published.