Ash House

Ash House can hold around 50 women/girls. There are four parts of the house (called landings). Everyone has their own room which is about 2m x 3m. The room is furnished with a bed, desk and wardrobe. You will not have a toilet in your room but there is a separate shower room with toilets and washing facilities on each landing. This will change in 2006 as the Prison Service intend to put a toilet and wash hand basin in every room. You will have a television in your room.

If you are pregnant or have a young baby you will be given a mother and baby room which is bigger than the normal rooms. A baby can stay with its mum in prison until it is around 9 months old.

On each landing there is also a dining/recreation room.

The atmosphere is Ash House is quite relaxed and prison staff do not wear a uniform in Hydebank Wood. The majority of staff in the women’s unit are female as is the Governor responsible for Ash House.

Although there are also male young offenders at Hydebank Wood you will have little or no contact with them.