Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre (IRC), Bedfordshire, is the main removal centre for women and families. It originally opened in 2001, with Serco taking over the management, operation and maintenance for the contract in 2007.

The centre holds a maximum of 405 residents, including 284 single women's spaces and 121 family spaces. Rooms in the family unit are twin-bedded and interconnected in pairs to allow families to be located together. Serco is committed to caring for the residents at Yarl's Wood with decency and respect, providing the dedicated facilities which children and families require. Education is provided for school age children on weekdays in two separate classes; one for children aged between 5 and 11 and one for children aged 11 to 16. There is a nursery for children under 5 open every day.

Yarl's Wood has a dedicated healthcare team including GPs, Nurses, Health Visitors, Midwives, Dentists and Counsellors.

Activities for adult detainees include; a library, sports, arts and crafts and dedicated computer rooms to develop IT skills. There are also opportunities for paid work for the adults and a youth centre for the children.

Since taking over the contract, Serco have made many improvements to the centre trying to achieve more of an open regime and community atmosphere. The centre has received excellent OFSTED inspection of the Nursery, enlarging the Youth Club and removing the wire from around the family unit. The most recent addition was the new school which opened at the end of 2009, providing the children in our care with a "going to school" experience and new enhanced learning facilities.

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