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Planning a visit

If you're visiting a young person in a secure children’s home, secure training centre or a young offender institution you must arrange your visit first.

Each centre has its own rules about visits so check:

• what times you can visit
• how many people can visit
• how often you can visit
• what identification you need to bring with you
• if there are any forms you need to complete before you visit
  

Find out more about visiting someone who’s locked up by following the link ‘Visiting someone in prison’, below.

• Visiting someone in prison (crime and justice section)

Other people that can visit

People whose job it is to support the young person can visit them at any time. These people could be:

• social workers
• people from the youth offending team
• probation officers
• legal advisers (like barristers and solicitors)
• ‘independent visitors’ from the local council
  

An ‘independent visitor’ visits young people that are in care, or have little or no contact with their family, when they are in custody. The local council must arrange this visit soon after the young person arrives at the secure centre.

• Youth offending teams: what they are

Who can visit a young person and how often

If you are a member of the young person’s family or their friend, you are allowed to ask to visit them. If you are under 18 you must be accompanied by an adult.

In general, you can visit a young person once a week if you are a family member or friend. However, this can vary - you should check with the secure centre to see if you can visit more often.

The number of people who can visit can vary, but generally only three people at a time are allowed. If you want to bring more people, you will need to get permission from the secure centre first.

Getting help with travel costs

If you are a member of the young person’s family you can sometimes get help with the costs of visiting them. You do this by claiming for some money back for things like train tickets or petrol.

You can only make a claim after you visit. You have to prove the train ticket or fuel was used to visit a young person.

Travel claims for visiting a young offender institution (YOI)

The Prison Service runs a scheme for the families of young people placed in YOIs.

To claim for a visit to a YOI you should call the Prison Service on:

0845 300 1423 (Monday to Friday, 10.15 am to 11.45 am and 2.15 pm to 3.45 pm).

Travel claims for visiting secure children’s homes

You should contact the young person’s youth offending team to claim for a visit to a secure children’s home.

The document AVS1 (below) will give you information on this, and you need to complete form AVS2.

• Download 'AVS1 - Assisted visits scheme - information for relatives' (PDF, 36K)

• Download 'AVS2 - Assisted visits scheme - claim form for relatives' (PDF, 41K)

• Help with PDF files

Travel claims for visiting a secure training centre (STC)

If you are visiting a young person in an STC you can claim for the cost of:

• one visit a week for up to two adult visitors (16 years or older)
• up to three children (15 years or younger)
  

This will cover:

• the cost of a return fare by public transport, or a contrbution towards fuel if you travel in your own vehicle
• costs of an overnight stay if your journey unexpectedly takes a long time
• a contribution towards any meals if you are away from home for more than five hours

The scheme can help with registered childminder costs if you have young children that you are unable to bring with you,

Call the STC you’re visiting on the numbers below. You should ask for the Youth Justice Board monitor, who will be able to tell you how to make a claim.

• Oakhill: 01908 866 021
• Hassockfield: 01207 565 619
• Rainsbrook: 01788 528 806
• Medway: 01634 823 305

• Download 'Assisted Visits Scheme - claim form for visits to STCs' (PDF, 114K)

• Help with PDF files

If you can’t afford a train ticket or need help with booking one

If you need a train ticket before you go, contact the STC - they may be able to provide one for you.

For assistance to visit a young person on remand, contact the young person's youth offending team.

• Download 'Assisted Visits Scheme - train ticket request form for STC visits' (PDF, 99K)

• Help with PDF files

• Youth offending teams: what they are