Key findings Key findings This report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), presents the findings from 717 questionnaires completed by children detained at three secure training centres (STC) and five young offender institutions (YOI), plus a separate specialist unit at one site, between 2 October 2018 and 2 April 2019. All surveys were conducted to support unannounced inspections of each establishment. Differences across the custodial estate • • • The majority of children were held in YOIs (84% of respondents). Where significant differences were found, the responses of children in STCs tended to be more positive than those in YOIs. The survey revealed large disparities in the experiences of children held in different establishments. Background characteristics of children • • • • • More than half of respondents (53%) were from a black and minority ethnic background. Nearly one in 10 (9%) indicated that they were from a Traveller community. Just 2% were female. Over half reported having been in the care of a local authority (52%). One in 10 (10%) said that they had children of their own. Day-to-day life • • Children in YOIs were significantly less likely than those in STCs to report positively about aspects of day-to-day life such as being able to shower every day, having clean and suitable clothes for the week, and accessing stored property when needed. Less than one-third (32%) of children said that the food was good or very good, and just over one-third (37%) reported that they got enough to eat at mealtimes always or most of the time. Time out of cell • Children held in STCs reported having significantly more time out of their cell or room than their counterparts in YOIs. Ninety-four per cent of children in STCs said that they spent more than two hours out of their rooms on both weekdays and weekends. However only 71% of children in YOIs reported more than two hours out of cell on weekdays and just 27% reported the same at weekends. Health and well-being • • Just over one-third (34%) of children said they had health problems, including mental health, but only 63% of these respondents reported that they had received help for these problems. Just over half of respondents (52%) said they were able to spend time in the fresh air most days. Children in Custody 2018–19 11