Bring a Group - Creative Writing Residentials - Arvon

BRING A GROUP

A group of young adults on an Arvon writing course

Every year, Arvon works in partnership with many organisations ranging from charities, arts organisations, socially disadvantaged groups and community groups to higher educational institutions and businesses.

Our centres provide the perfect environment for imagination to thrive, and for writing and language skills to improve. The experience also helps with self-belief, confidence and communication skills. For many, these five days can be life-changing.

Our weeks with groups of adults and young people are generally for 16 participants.

Two professional writers will be chosen by Arvon to lead the week, according to the needs of the group and in consultation with you. A third guest writer will visit for a mid-week reading. There are workshops, individual tutorials, time and space to write and a chance to share and celebrate each other’s writing.

Courses take place in the beautiful rural setting of our centres in Yorkshire, Shropshire and Devon, with a combination of single and shared rooms. Groups live, write and eat together, cooking their evening meal in teams, with recipes and food supplied and organised by the Writing House Directors.

The weeks are residential. They last from 4pm on a Monday afternoon until 10am on a Saturday morning. You’ll be staying in houses with amazing historical and literary connections – Ted Hughes used to live in our Yorkshire centre, the dramatist John Osborne owned our Shropshire site, and our Devon centre is a 16th Century house built on a site mentioned in the Domesday book.

We also foster long term partnerships, often working with organisations to bring groups year after year. Explore case studies of our work with groups here. Arvon also has an ongoing partnership with The Jerwood Charitable Foundation. Each year this unique programme has offers nine aspiring writers the opportunity to participate in a year-long mentoring scheme. Read more here.

We are always keen to develop new partnerships and projects. If you have any questions or would like to make a booking please email Sophie at learning@arvon.org

OFF THE SCALE! Our whole experience has contributed to the enormous, incredible & outstanding continual growth & development. Also, Sheepwash was awesome. Thank you!

— Mouthy Poets - participant

My most proud achievement is believing in myself to write and share my poems. The most enjoyable time was when everyone was in the same room sharing ideas and performances.

— Writing the Game - participant

I really enjoyed making new friends that I wouldn’t normally talk to and being able to find a quiet place by myself and just write.

— Writing the Game - participant

CONTACT

Sophie Lloyd-Catchpole
Learning and Partnership Manager
Email: learning@arvon.org

Groups Case Studies

St. Augustine’s Centre

Groups

Arvon worked with St. Augustine’s where nine of members enjoyed a week of creative expression at Lumb Bank.

Read more

Good Chance

Groups

Participants worked with Roger Robinson and Malika Booker to help them identify ideas important to them, and developed these ideas into…

Read more

Virtual Schools

Groups

Fewer than one in three Children Looked After reach the expected standard in reading and writing at the end of Key…

Read more

Start360

Groups

Start360’s Switch onto Employment programme is designed to meet the literacy and numeracy needs of disadvantaged young people who face learning…

Read more