FAQs

Working-class experiences are diverse and may be reflected through a range of indicators relating to an applicant’s upbringing, access to opportunities, social capital, and family circumstances. Ultimately, we trust applicants to self-identify. 

In addition to the criteria above, it may be helpful to consider that factors which may suggest greater socio-economic advantage include: 

• Parents or carers working in professional, managerial, senior leadership, or highly specialised occupations 
• Parents holding university degrees, particularly where higher education was expected as a natural progression 
• Access to professional networks through family or close contacts 
• Attendance at fee-paying schools 
• Significant family financial support during adulthood 
• Family ownership or substantial assets 
• Extensive access to arts, cultural, or industry opportunities through family connections 

No. The mentors, tutors and expertise available will be in scripted drama, so we will only support drama or comedy-drama projects.  

Examples of TV programmes in this genre include: Adolescence, Small Prophets, Bait, Eric, Two Weeks in August, Lost Boys and Fairies, Blue Lights, Happy Valley, I May Destroy You, It’s A Sin, Slow Horses, Succession. This list is, of course, non-exhaustive! 

No. This programme is for TV writers only. 

No. This particular opportunity is only for writers working on a screenplay. However, we do offer courses for playwrights – explore our playwrighting courses here and find out more about our grants process here. 

For the residential writing weeks, Arvon will cover standard class travel costs, taxis where needed between train stations and Writing Houses, and petrol at 55p/mile. We also have a small fund to put towards other costs incurred by spending the week away from home and will speak with each successful applicant about what they need to take part in the programme. We will endeavour to ensure that nobody is excluded from this opportunity because of financial reasons. 

No – in fact, we particularly encourage those who have never been able to join an Arvon course before to apply.

No. We encourage those who have come to screenwriting through non-academic routes to apply.   

We are looking for original writers with a unique voice, so generative AI should not be used in your synopsis, script, or application.

Adaptations of third-party materials will not be accepted. Submissions must be your own original work. You may apply to adapt your own work from another format (e.g. stage) to screen, but you must have the right to do this. 

This is a writing development programme. As part of it, you will have the chance to strengthen your TV networks and understanding of the industry, but this programme will not necessarily lead to an agent or production of your work. 

Participation in this scheme requires a significant commitment. You must be available to attend a writing residential from 12- 17 April 2027 at The Hurst. We expect you to have at least a few hours every week to commit to your screenwriting project.  

No. We appreciate and value collaboration in writing; however, this particular programme is structured to support five individual writers on their writing journeys. You and your collaborative partner/s are very welcome to submit separate applications. 

Please click here for general access information. For further questions specific to access, please email access@arvon.org.

Please email screenwriting@arvon.org and we would be happy to help.   

Yes. We can accept video or audio applications. Please email screenwriting@arvon.org to discuss.   

This programme involves three mandatory week-long residential courses. All five screenwriters on this programme must be able to attend all three courses: we cannot change the dates to accommodate you. 

These will take place at our two more accessible Writing Houses, The Hurst (which is fully wheelchair accessible) and Lumb Bank (which has fully accessible communal spaces and several wheelchair accessible bedrooms). Where needed, we also allow carers and PAs to accompany writers free of charge. Please visit Access  to find out more.

We will offer financial support to cover costs incurred by spending the week away from home, including all travel costs. 

If residential courses still aren’t accessible to you, we would invite you to explore our online screenwriting courses instead. Find out more about our grants process here if cost is an issue. 

Feel free to get in touch with us via access@arvon.org if you have any further questions about access. 

No. Due to the anticipated high volume of applications, we are asking writers to submit only one application. 

No, please only submit an excerpt from a screenplay. This programme is for screenwriters who are early in their career, but who have some experience writing screenplays. We will, however, accept film or TV scripts as a sample of your writing.

If you don’t yet have 10 pages of any kind of screenplay, this programme may not be suited to you.

However, Arvon offers other courses for screenwriters and playwrights, including Starting to Write courses – explore our courses here and find out more about our grants process here.

You must live in the UK, and plan to continue living in the UK until November 2028. You don’t need British citizenship or to prove your visa status to apply.