Change description : 2025-05-20 12:30:00: Updates to the sections: gifts and parcels, induction, accommodation, education and work. [Guidance and regulation]
The closest railway stations are Wigan North Western (360 towards Warrington) and Wigan Wallgate (Line 9 towards Higher Folds) where you can catch a local bus to Hindley. There are also taxi ranks outside the stations.
You can catch the 658 bus from Wigan bus station. The bus stops at the top of the road leading to the establishment.
By car:Car:
Travelling from Liverpool on the A580 East Lancashire Road: Exit at the East Lancashire Road/M6 (junction 24), turning left following signs for Ashton. Continue on the A58 through Ashton town centre for approximately 3 miles. Turn right at the traffic lights/T junction (signpost HM Prison). Almost immediately, turn left into Bickershaw Lane, and continue for 1 mile until you see a signpost directing left to HMYOI Hindley. Parking is signposted on left of the main gate next to the Visitor Centre.
Travelling from Manchester on the A580 East Lancashire Road: Exit the East Lancashire Road turning right at Golbourne and following the directions for Abram. Continue for approximately 2.5 miles through Golbourne. At a public house called the Dover Lock the road will bend sharply to the right, over the canal bridge. Continue for approximately 1 mile until you reach a set of traffic lights, turn right onto Bickershaw Road. Continue for 1 mile until you see a signpost directing left to HMYOI Hindley. Parking is signposted on left of the main gate next to the Visitor Centre.
Travelling on the M61 motorway: Exit the M61 at junction 5 travelling towards Westhoughton and Wigan. Stay in the left lane, at the next roundabout, take the 2nd main exit following the signs for the A58 Wigan. Turn left at the next set of traffic lights, signposted ‘Leigh’. Proceed for approximately 1 mile, pass a train station on the left and go straight on at the roundabout. After another mile turn right at the traffic lights. Continue for 1 mile to the next set of traffic lights and turn left, following the sign for Leigh A578. Turn right at the next traffic lights into Smiths Lane. Continue for 1.5 miles until you see a signpost directing right to HMYOI Hindley.
There is a visitors car park to the left of the main gate (signposted as visitors car park).
Except for urgent visits approved by the Duty Governor, all visitors to prisoners must pre-booked whether their visit is domestic or professional.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
There are refreshments available to purchase during your visit. Visitors are allowed to bring up to £25 in change, notes are not allowed.change.
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.
These will be for those aged over 13 (with some designated for younger children) and will take place over the year. There will be some in term time and some in the school holidays.
Family days will be advertised and prisoners can apply using the internal application system.
We are also using the family room throughout the year for prisoners to use, this can also be applied to use through internal application and will go through a screening process.
Keep in touch with someone at Hindley
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Hindley.
For the main switchboard please call: 01942 663100.
Phone calls
Prisoners have phones in their cells and 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.
Only specific items are allowed. Contact Hindley for more information.
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.
Hindley’s chaplaincy team provides a wide range of multi-faith services as well as guidance and support to those of all faiths and none.
Arrival and first night
We have prisoners as transfers from other establishments. All prisoners transferring are required to be sentenced.
All prisoners arriving at Hindley follow a reception process where their immediate needs are identified and any safeguarding issues addressed.
All prisoners transferring will be provided with anhave in-cellaccess telephoneto anda allphone telephonecall numbersand arethe transferredfirst across from their previous prison.
First night arrangements will be explained to them by an earlyEarly daysDays officer,Officer, in addition they will have an assessment with a healthcare professional.
All new prisoners will be located on AFir wing,Wing, this is our Early Days Centre, they will spend their first night at Hindley on this wing.
Induction
There is an induction timetable in place where all prisoners will have meetings with staff and peer mentors from each department in the prison
The earlyEarly daysDays processProcess is also supported by ‘thethe Insiders’Insiders, whothese are peerRed mentors
-Band prisoners who provide additional support to prisoners both during the early days and when they have moved to other residential units.
Each prisonerperson who arrives at Hindley gets an induction that lasts about 2a days.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
complete job and education applications suited to their sentence plan or interests
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Hindley has 8 residential units housing up to 590 prisoners:
A
A-D inductionwings unit
B, C and D each hold up to 84 prisoners
E
Elm unit – recoveryHouses andthe incentivisedRecovery substanceand freeISFL living
Funits
Fir unit – generalEarly population
DaysCentre
Acorn – Pre-pipePre unitPipeUnitfor prisoners referred fromform the OPD pathway
Care and Separation Unit
Education and work
All prisoners have access to education and training provided by Novus.
Prisoners can work on their literacy,literacy and numeracy and digital skills before progressing to vocational training in catering and hospitality, joinery, construction multi skills, barbering, and business. highways and painting and decorating.
Novus alsoPrisoners offerscan mentoringalso qualificationsstudy for those who support their peers, and a liferange skillsof coursesports for those prisoners progressing towards living independently on release.qualifications.
Prisoners can alsowork studyin for a range of sportsroles qualificationsat withinHindley ourfollowing gympathway provision.
Thereprogression isin athe largefollowing sportsareas; hall,kitchen, 2gym, weightliftingchapel, areas,library, exercisegardens, areawaste andcentre, outdoorthe pitcheslaundry forand prisonersTier ofOne allworkshop fitness(laptop levels.
Webreakdown).Therearealso facilitatea thewide Dukerange of Edinburghpeer Awardsupport Schemerole andopportunities offerfor programmesmen workingto alongsideaccess Manchesteracross City in the Community.prison.
PrisonersThere canis work in a rangelarge ofsports roleshall, at2 Hindleyweight-lifting followingareas, aexercise workplacearea inductionand withoutdoor educationpitches in:for cleaning,prisoners kitchen,of gym,all chapel,fitness library,levels.
ThereManagementTeam.Inadditionthereare also a wideselection range of peernon-accredited supportcourses roleavailable opportunitiesto formen prisoners to accessaddress acrossidentified the prison.needs.
CallIf this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threateninglife-threatening,pleasecallor emailtheSaferCustodyhotline,safercustodyhindley@justice.gov.uk. Youcanalsocomplete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’Prisoner’s FamiliesFamily 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.
Updates to the sections: gifts and parcels, induction, accommodation, education and work.
23 September 2022
Updated visiting information: New visiting time slots for family and friends visits, new visiting times for legal visits. Refreshments now available on visits.
1 April 2022
Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
16 March 2022
Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
14 January 2022
Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
10 January 2022
Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
24 August 2021
Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
21 May 2021
New visiting times and booking information added.
18 May 2021
Additional guidance about new COVID-19 variant in the Bolton and Blackburn areas.
30 April 2021
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.
21 December 2020
Updated visit info
4 December 2020
Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
2 December 2020
Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
6 November 2020
Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
18 September 2020
Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
20 August 2020
Updated information about secure video calls.
6 August 2020
Updated: Hindley visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.