Action for Children have contracts with the Ministry of Justice to deliver the services on four of the six mother and baby units in England that are run by HMPPS.
Our Mother and Baby Units provide a unique and supportive environment that enables babies to remain with their mothers who are serving a custodial sentence or are on remand.
Mothers are supported and encouraged to build strong bonds with their babies and improve their future lives.
Our Units help babies to thrive by offering trusted and evidence‑based parenting support alongside high‑quality nursery care. They also provide targeted support and intervention for mothers.
Our units
- HMP Askham Grange in York.
- HMP Eastwood Park in South Gloucestershire.
- HMP New Hall in Wakefield.
- HMP Styal in Cheshire.
A Mother and Baby Unit in HMP Askham Grange
I've had a range of support including weaning, budgeting and looking after my baby. It's helped me now and will continue to in the future.
Assessment
When mother's arrive, they are assessed to understand their needs. A support plan is then put in place to help them make positive changes in their lives. This can include support with basic baby care, budgeting, communication skills, bereavement and loss, substance misuse, and many other challenges.
This plan is developed alongside the courses available within the wider prison as part of the mother's sentence plan. It also includes weekly group sessions provided by Action for Children. These sessions cover a range of topics, such as the Solihull Approach, antenatal and postnatal parenting, the Nurture parenting programme, and baby massage, among others.
Mother and Baby Unit in HMP Styal
Early Years
Our Unit nurseries are Ofsted registered and, where inspected, have received a ‘Good’ rating.
They provide high quality and stimulating care that helps babies on the Unit to grow and develop. We ensure that their needs are continuously met through regular community experiences with groups, leisure activities, and play resources outside of the prison environment.
The nursery staff are highly qualified and work closely with Family Support Practitioners. Together, they plan and deliver support to help mothers and their babies achieve the best outcomes.
The nursey is a warm and welcoming environment. There's a good range of activities and equipment for babies mental and physical stimulation, as well as bonding time with their mum.
Our Team
The team works closely with multi-agency professionals to support mothers at every stage. This includes help during the application to the Mother and Baby Unit, antenatal support groups, ongoing care for mothers and their babies, and support to prepare for release with our "through the gate" support.
This is delivered through regular review meetings attended by a wide range of professionals involved with the family, as well as fathers and other carers. These meetings help make sure that opportunities for bonding and positive changes are fully supported while families live on the Unit.
The team's wide range of professional experience allows them to work effectively with other services, ensuring that the baby's best interests are always top priority.
A Royal visit
In February 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting our Royal Patron, the Princess of Wales, at our Mother and Baby Unit at Styal Prison and Young Offenders Institution in Cheshire.
She met new mums and former service users who returned to tell her about the support provide by the unit and the positive difference it has made to their children. She also met with specialist staff supporting new mothers, and visited a nursery for their babies.
