HMP Guys Marsh

Shaftesbury, Dorset

Contact: Jane Snedden
Phone: 07990 685454

Opened in 1960 as a borstal, Guys Marsh became a young offenders institution (YOI) in 1984. After completion of perimeter fencing in 1992 it became a closed establishment and started to accommodate adults. It is now a category C prison and closed YOI. Guys Marsh has constantly changed and grown from a YOI holding 300 and within 18 months it has become a combined YOI and Prison holding up to 570.

There are currently 9 living units: 2 units holding 142 young offenders, 5 units holding 348 prisoners, 1 unit holding 40 enhanced prisoners and 1 unit in a less secure setting holding 40 enhanced prisoners. The latter 7 units all hold adult prisoners.

The Education Department offers a wide variety of subjects ranging basic skills of literacy and numeracy, IT skills, Social and Life Skills to integrated workshop basic skills courses. Other courses include, Fork Lift Truck driving, Customer Service, Horticulture, Spanish, Quality Control, Key Skills and Hospitality.

The establishment runs accredited programmes: Enhanced Thinking Skills and the Prisons – Addressing Substance Related Offending drug rehabilitation.

There is also a variety of work available to all prisoners including Farm/Estates. Laundry, Carpentry, Industrial Cleaning, Braille, Bricklaying and a number of contract production workshops. Some of the workshops run recognised external qualifications. 50% of prisoners require drug rehabilitation treatment, 20% are foreign nationals and 70% require Basic Skills.