Access Information

In person 

• We can provide information in large print and other formats, such as word documents or PDFs. 

• If you need handouts ahead of time and in different formats, we can arrange this for you. 

• We can provide information on coloured paper 

Online courses 

• We aim to present all resources in two formats e.g., extracts of texts will be read aloud and provided in text form via screen-share or as a document. If it would be helpful for you to have any available resources ahead of the session, we will try to arrange this for you. Please email arvonathome@arvon.org to discuss. For more information, please see the Arvon at Home section below for details. 

There’s no need to worry about spelling, grammar or handwriting on our courses, the focus is on creativity. 

All trained Assistance Dogs are welcome at Arvon provided our Assistance Dog policy is followed. An Assistance Dog will not be refused entry to an Arvon house, but since our courses are residential, we have a duty of care to the rest of the group and tutors to let them know if a dog will be sharing the space so it is essential that you let us know at least four weeks in advance of the course. 

For more information, please email access@arvon.org.  

Emotional Support dogs

We sometimes welcome Emotional Support dogs, provided confirmation of some basic statements relating to behaviour is received by us at least four weeks ahead of your course.  

For more information, please email access@arvon.org.  

No other dogs are permitted   

In person 

• Recording equipment is not permitted on site due to confidentiality reasons. If this creates an access barrier for you, please get in touch to discuss

Online 

• Due to concerns around privacy, we do not allow the use of external AI transcription services during our online events and courses. Auto-captioning is available across all of our online courses, and the transcript can be viewed during the session. For recorded events (Masterclasses and Online Writing Days), the auto-captions, transcript and chatbox can be viewed alongside the recording. Please get in touch via access@arvon.org if you would like to discuss this further.

In person 

• If you need to take some time out to rest, or be alone, you’re welcome to do so. Participation in any activity is entirely at your discretion. There are spaces where you can sit quietly, or you can retreat to your room.  

Online 

• We encourage you to take our online courses at your own pace, taking breaks whenever needed, or turning camera off. For more information on each of the specific formats, please see the Arvon at Home section below. 

Provided there are available rooms remaining, we can make provision for a PA/access worker/carer to accompany you on your Arvon course. Please do just get in touch within 4 weeks of a course start date to let us know so that we can reserve the appropriate room on site by emailing access@arvon.org. There is no additional charge for this as part of our commitment to support as many people as possible to attend a residential Arvon week. Please note that a separate room is subject to availability. 

The primary function of a PA/access worker/carer is to be there to support you to attend the course, rather than to attend themselves (if a PA/access worker/carer would like to participate in the course, and you feel happy with them doing so, we may be able to offer a discounted place on the course on a case-by-case basis). 

For more information, please email access@arvon.org.  

• If you receive access to Access to Work funding, we can sometimes split the cost towards an interpreter for our online events. Please email arvonathome@arvon.org to discuss this possibility.  

• We allocate funding for additional access support for our biannual course taught by and for d/Deaf and Disabled writers (the next course will be in 2027). If you need BSL interpreters please let us know ahead of time.   

• Writers take it in turns to jointly prepare meals. If you need to opt out of this, it is not a problem, and you can let us know on access@arvon.org.  

• All work surfaces are a standard height, but lower tables can be provided.  

• There are base cupboards with utensils, crockery and other supplies at an accessible height.  

• We have a portable step for those with restricted height to access worktops etc. 

• Dining seating is benches with some chairs available. 

Provided we have sufficient notice (our houses are in rural locations), we can usually accommodate most special diets and allergies. When you book your course, please let the house know your dietary requirements so that suitable alternatives can be provided, eg allergies, dairy- or gluten- free, vegan or vegetarian. If you have specific medical or religious requirements, please inform the house staff in advance. 

We have a grants scheme that can cover a portion of your course fees. Disability costs and additional living/support costs are taken into account when considering your grant application. We encourage applications from D/deaf and/or Disabled people. If you are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Means tested state benefits, you can also get concession pricing on selected courses. 

• We have a portable hearing loop system. 

• Some of the houses have a vibrating pillow pad (please get in touch to confirm). 

Due to the rural locations of our houses and the challenge of how to prevent a remote participant from feeling isolated from the small group on-site (and also in light of feedback from an initial trial), for now we would encourage anyone for whom a house is not accessible to do the following: 

• Get in touch with us to discuss whether there are any reasonable adjustments we could make that would enable you to attend a residential course. We accommodate carers and PAs at no extra cost. Email access@arvon.org 

• Let us know if there is a course with a particular tutor pairing or theme that is happening in a house and is of particular interest to you. Subject to tutor availability, we often repeat residential courses online at a later date. 

• Check out our online house, Arvon at Home, which is open throughout the year and offers the online equivalent residential weeks (Online Writing Weeks), as well as Online Writing Months, One-day courses, 2-hour Masterclasses and our friendly and inclusive Saturday Writing Club. 

Creative writing can be very nourishing for mental wellbeing. At Arvon, we are committed to supporting that wellbeing and ensuring that everyone who comes on our courses has a positive experience.   

However, it is important to recognise that creative writing can also be challenging, as old emotions and memories can resurface. This, combined with the remoteness of Arvon’s houses and the social nature of its courses (particularly the residential courses), should be taken into consideration when you are booking a course.   

Before you book, please read these guidelines about mental wellbeing, which are designed to help you assess whether this is the right time for you to attend an Arvon course.   

• Arvon staff are friendly and supportive. Some members of staff have completed mental health awareness and first aid, but they are not mental health professionals, and it is important that you feel able to self-manage your mental health during the course.   

• We encourage anyone who has experienced periods of poor mental health to read our Wellness Checklist before they book. You can find a template below.   

• If you are currently under the care of a mental health professional, please discuss your potential attendance with them. They can support you in determining if you are in a sufficiently stable period of mental wellbeing to attend a course.   

• If you have recently (within the past year or so) experienced trauma or psychiatric illness, it may not be the best time for you to participate in a creative writing course. We strongly encourage you to consult with a mental health professional to help you decide.   

• Staff are happy to give you as much information as you need to decide if a creative writing course is suitable for you at the moment. You can email us at access@arvon.org   

 Wellness Checklist   

1. Firstly, do you feel you are in a place where a creative writing course would be safe and enriching for you?   
2. Do you feel confident you can self-manage your mental health during the course?  
3. Are there any situations, subjects and behaviours that can trigger poor mental health for you?   
4. What strategies will you engage if you become overwhelmed during your course?   
5. If you are planning to attend a residential course: thinking about the last time you stayed away from home, were there any aspects of your trip that you found challenging from a mental health perspective? If so, what can you put in place to support yourself during the course to stay mentally healthy?   
6. If there is anything you feel would be useful to share with Arvon staff and tutors ahead of time, please email access@arvon.org so that we can put you in touch with the Arvon host responsible for the course you would like to attend.   

• Our most accessible houses for wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments are The Hurst (and the adjacent writers retreat, The Clock House) and Lumb Bank (for specific details, please see the sections on each house below).  

• Regretfully, we cannot currently recommend Totleigh Barton if you are a wheelchair user. Totleigh Barton is a sixteenth-century manor house with many steps and tight corners. In the future we hope to redevelop the house to provide level access.  

• If you need to bring a PA/access worker/carer we can accommodate them at no extra cost. Please get in touch to organise – details in ‘Bringing a PA/access worker/carer to Arvon’ section above. 

• We can provide additional desk lamps 

• There is external lighting for navigating around the property, fixed to the external elevations of the main house, front and back, as well as external buildings. Lighting is switched on and off manually by staff each day. 

• We have various seating in the houses, but if you require a specific type of chair e.g. one with arms, please let us know. 

We are committed to making our online Masterclasses, Writing Weeks, Writing Months, Writing Days and Saturday Writing Club as accessible to as many people as possible and so have integrated the following features. Our FAQ page may also helpful.

Across all of Arvon at Home 

• All sessions will have auto-generated captioning
• There is a Chat facility to ask any questions.

Masterclasses 

• A recording of the masterclass will be available to view without a time limit after the live event. You will receive an email with a link to the recording the day after the masterclass takes place. You can also access it in your Arvon account by logging in on our website, finding the course under My Bookings and clicking on More Details. The recording will have auto-captions running, and chat and transcript will be visible alongside. Any course materials shared by the tutor will also be available in your Arvon account.
• There is a Chat and Q & A facility to ask any questions
• Zoom webinar format (your video and audio will remain off throughout, & your name will not be visible to other participants so it is a ‘relaxed’ event)
• We aim to present all resources in two formats e.g., extracts of texts will be read aloud and provided in text form via screen-share or as a document. If it would be helpful for you to have any available resources ahead of the session, we will try to arrange this for you. Please email arvonathome@arvon.org to discuss.

Saturday Writing Club

• There is a Chat and Q & A facility to ask any questions
• The sessions are delivered by Zoom meeting, which means they are not recorded.
• You have the option to keep cameras on or off.
• We aim to present all resources in two formats e.g., extracts of texts will be read aloud and provided in text form via screen-share or as a document. If it would be helpful for you to have any available resources ahead of the session, we will try to arrange this for you. Please email arvonathome@arvon.org to discuss.
• We use Padlet as an optional community platform. If you would like some more information about this, or if you have access barriers to using this platform, please email arvonathome@arvon.org.

Online Writing Days

• A recording of the workshops will be available to view for one month after it is aired live. You will receive an email with a link to the recording the day after the masterclass takes place. You can also access it in your Arvon account by logging in on our website, finding the course under My Bookings and clicking on More Details. The recording will have auto-captions running, and chat and transcript will be visible alongside. Any course materials shared by the tutor will also be available in your Arvon account.
• There is a Chat and Q & A facility to ask any questions.
• All sessions of the day are delivered live via Zoom meetings, with the option of cameras off or on.
• We aim to present all resources in two formats e.g., extracts of texts will be read aloud and provided in text form via screen-share or as a document. If it would be helpful for you to have any available resources ahead of the session, we will try to arrange this for you. Please email arvonathome@arvon.org to discuss.

Online Writing Weeks and Online Writing Months

• Courses are delivered by Zoom meeting, which means they are not recorded.
• Online writing weeks and months have smaller groups than our other events of up 14 participants, and are interactive with tutors and your fellow course participants. We encourage everyone to participate in the way that is most comfortable. You are welcome to keep your camera and audio on or off, take breaks as needed, and contribute either on audio or in the chat.
• Tutors and participants often use the zoom chat to interact and share resources. If you have access barriers to using the chat, please let us know.
• We use Padlet as a landing page for all course materials, and to provide an optional platform for interaction with your tutors and fellow course participants. If you would like some more information about this, or if you have any access barriers to using this platform, please email arvonathome@arvon.org.

A note on the use of AI and recording

• Due to concerns around privacy, we do not allow the use of external AI transcription services during our online events and courses. Please get in touch via access@arvon.org to discuss alternative arrangements.

Subject to funding/permissions/availability (please contact arvonathome@arvon.org for more details)

• Recording of Writing Weeks and Writing Months
• Downloadable transcripts
• BSL interpretation
• Live captioning

If you have any access needs that we have not covered here, please contact us on access@arvon.org

PHYSICAL ACCESS: The Hurst is the only house that is fully accessible to wheelchair users. There is access to every room via a lift. All communal spaces, including workshop spaces, have level access. There are no steps on the ground floor. All door frames measure the required 825mm, although the fire doors installed reduce this width slightly. All door handles are at an accessible height, with power sockets located at 500mm from the floor. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor.  

KITCHEN/DINING: Writers take it in turns to jointly prepare meals.  If you are unable to do this, it is not a problem, you will get the opportunity to remove yourself from the rota when you book or contact us on the dedicated access email or phone number.  All work surfaces are a standard height, but lower tables can be provided.  There are base cupboards with utensils, crockery and other supplies at an accessible height.  We have a portable step for those with restricted height to reach surfaces etc. For dining, we have a range of seating, benches and chairs. If you want to ensure that a particular type of chair is available, i.e. a chair with arms, please contact us on our dedicated access email or phone number.  

LIFT: We have an eight-person lift: 630kg capacity.  

BEDROOMS: All rooms are equipped with en suite bathrooms, six of which are wet rooms equipped for wheelchair access. You can bring a Personal Assistant with you if required,  for no additional cost. You can choose this option on the booking form, or contact us on the dedicated access Email or phone number.   

FIRE SAFETY: We have a buddy system for evacuation, and a separate, accessible exit from the building on the first floor if the writer is in their room. 

OUTSIDE: The main entrance is accessible from the car park. A ramp with a railing runs along the side of the house to the main front door.  The surface on the car park and ramp is paved. There is a level access terrace with seating.  

NEAREST TRAIN STATION: The nearest train station is Craven Arms, 8.5 miles away. Both platforms are accessible but need to be approached from different roads. Taxi drivers will need to be told ahead of arrival which platform you are arriving on. We have phone numbers of accessible taxis and can organise this on your behalf – you can request this on the booking form or contact us through the dedicated Email or phone number.  

THE GROUNDS: There are lovely parklands around the Hurst. Some of the pathways have level access and hard surfaces. There are some slopes. There is also some seating situated along the pathways. 

Lumb Bank has undergone an extensive redevelopment to make the site more accessible and environmentally friendly. This includes the installation of a lift, ramped access both inside the building and to access the front of the building, and the addition of two new accessible rooms with ensuite wet rooms. However, it is important to note that it remains an old house, and only three of our twelve bedrooms are on the ground floor, with guaranteed stair-free access. If you require one of our ground floor rooms please email rozie.kelly@arvon.org when booking.

KITCHEN/DINING: Writers take it in turns to jointly prepare meals. If you are unable to do this, it is not a problem, just let us know when you complete the online booking form. All work surfaces are a standard height, and a lower work surface can be provided. There are base cupboards with utensils, crockery and other supplies at an accessible height. If you want to ensure that a particular type of chair is available for dining, i.e. a chair with arms, please contact us in advance.

BEDROOMS: We have three ensuite rooms with wet rooms equipped for wheelchair access. You can bring a Personal Assistant with you if required, for no additional cost. You can choose this option on the booking form, or contact us on the dedicated access email or phone number.

OUTSIDE: The main entrance is accessible from the driveway. A ramp with a railing runs along the side of the house to the main front door.  The surface on the driveway and ramp is paved. There is a level access terrace with seating. Please be aware that the stone paving is very old and uneven in places.

PHYSICAL ACCESS: The upper floor of the barn is accessible by lift, and the ground floor is level access or ramped. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Lumb Bank’s main building is accessible for wheelchair users, but the access to the house itself is down a steep country lane, and the initial part of the driveway is bumpy and uneven. If you are coming on a course and require assistance to enter the building or are a wheelchair user please contact us on access@arvon.org or rozie.kelly@arvon.org so we can meet you on arrival and guide any vehicles in. If you need to park onsite please contact us to arrange this in advance (one space available per course).

NEAREST TRAIN STATION: The nearest train station is Hebden Bridge, 1.7 miles from Lumb Bank. The station has a lift but no taxi rank – taxis must be booked in advance; we recommend A1 Cars on 01422845555.

THE GROUNDS: Lumb Bank is situated on the side of a steep valley, surrounded by beautiful woodland. Unfortunately due to the steep landscape much of the gardens are inaccessible to wheelchair users. There is a patio area outside our new kitchen/dining area that can be accessed by a wheelchair.

MOBILE SIGNAL AND WIFI: The mobile phone signal at Lumb Bank is very good, so you should have no problem contacting the outside world. There is Wi-Fi available throughout the site.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Regretfully, we cannot currently recommend this house if you are a wheelchair user. Totleigh Barton is a sixteenth-Century manor house with many steps and tight corners. In the future we hope to redevelop the house to provide level access. Please see above for more information on The Hurst, which is fully wheelchair accessible throughout.

ACCESSIBLE ENSUITE ROOM: This is our only ensuite room, with an accessible wet room fitted with a washbasin, shower, and toilet. There are twin single beds to enable a care assistant to attend, and the room is on the ground floor of the outside buildings. Door width into the room is 82cm/32.3in.

ASSISTANCE DOGS: Assistance dogs are welcome. We will provide a water bowl outside the kitchen which will be refilled regularly. All other dogs are not permitted.

SHARED SPACES: There is one large step down into the sitting room, and a shallow ramp without rails, across a ditch into the barn (often used as a workshop space). The barn has an induction loop, and other devices are available to assist people with impaired hearing. Door width from the hall into the sitting room is 83cm/32.5in. The door width from the hall into the downstairs toilet is 80cm/31in. Door handles, light switches and power sockets are at various heights.

TOILET: There are two non-accessible downstairs toilets in the house.

KITCHEN AND DINING: There is one step and a tight entrance into the kitchen, but there is level access from the kitchen into the dining room. There is a level change from the dining room into the hallway. The outer kitchen door width is 79cm/31in, and the inner kitchen door width is 88cm/34 in. Door width from the kitchen into the dining room is 100cm/39in, and the door width from the dining room into the hall is 90cm/35in.

COOKING: Writers take it in turns to jointly prepare meals. If you are unable to do this, it is not a problem, and you can let us know on access@arvon.org. All work surfaces are a standard height, but lower tables can be provided. There are base cupboards with utensils, crockery and other supplies at an accessible height. We have a portable step for those with restricted height to access worktops etc. Dining seating is benches with some chairs available.

OUTSIDE: There is a gravel car park. A path runs from the car park to the main entrance into the kitchen.

TRAIN STATION: Okehampton, which is a half hour drive away. The station has step free access, but no staff help or wheelchairs available. Exeter St. David’s does offer both and is an hour drive away. As Totleigh Barton is so rural, taxis must be booked in advance. You will get the opportunity when you book to ask Arvon to do this on your behalf.

THE GROUNDS: These are accessed through two entrances, both through archways. In the front garden the paths are not level. The general path through the grounds is maintained grass. It circles a pond and several benches, a writing pod, with one step at the entrance, and a summer house. There is a bench within 3 metres of the kitchen door, which can be moved closer if needed.

MOBILE SIGNAL AND WIFI: Totleigh Barton has very limited mobile signal and Wi-Fi is only available in the barn or close to the office. There is a payphone in the house and we encourage you to circulate both the payphone and office number to family and friends.

This is a building set in the grounds of the Hurst with four apartments. Each apartment has a bedroom, bathroom, and study-lounge. All food is provided, so you can focus entirely on your writing and relaxing.  

PHYSICAL ACCESS: The Clockhouse has level access throughout the building. All door frames measure the required 825mm, all with door handles at accessible heights.  Power sockets are placed at 500mm from the floor.  There is a shared cosy living room with wood-burner stove. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor. 

KITCHEN/DINER  : There is a shared kitchen diner on the ground floor. You are welcome to help yourself to food at any time. Meals are provided. All work surfaces are a standard height, but lower tables can be provided.  There are base cupboards with utensils, crockery and other supplies at an accessible height.  We have a portable step for those with restricted height to reach work surfaces etc. For dining, we have a range of seating, benches and chairs. If you want to ensure that a particular type of chair is available, i.e. a chair with arms, please contact us on our dedicated access email or phone number.     

LIFT: There is a three-person lift which can take one wheelchair user with one standing person. 

APARTMENTS : There is one fully accessible apartment for wheelchair users on the first floor, The Mary Webb apartment with ensuite wetroom.   

FIRE SAFETY: The Collection points are in the carpark, which is accessible from both lower and upper levels.  

NEAREST TRAIN STATION: The nearest train station is Craven Arms 8.5 miles. Both platforms are accessible but need to be approached from different roads. Taxi drivers will need to be told ahead of arrival which platform you are arriving on. We have phone numbers of accessible taxis and can organise this on your behalf. You can request this on the booking form or contact us through the dedicated Email or phone number.  

OUTSIDE : The main entrance is accessible from the car park.  There is a level patio area. 

GROUNDS: There are lovely parklands around the Clockhouse. Some of the pathways have level access and hard surfaces. There are some slopes.  There is also some seating situated along the pathways. 

“This was beyond excellent – it could not have been better. When you have access needs, you expect to be treated as an inconvenience because you know your needs will cause additional work for busy people. This is particularly true when dealing with food needs which aren’t life threatening allergies. I was completely blown away with the effort and care Indi and Anne went to with providing food and reassurance that worked for me. I felt really safe in their hands, which also allowed me to push the boundaries of what I was comfortable with during the week. They did not once question why I needed something done differently or why I needed to stick to a rule that seems illogical to an outside eye, they pre-empted my requirements and nothing ever seemed too much trouble. This week, for me, was an perfect example of how access can be done well. I didn’t once feel like a burden. I am so grateful.” [Lumb Bank]

“I was absolutely astounded at how well my access needs were met. I initially (not because of Arvon but my own internal ableism!) felt anxious about coming and whether I could put things in place and get the support. But the dedication of staff before the course and during was so helpful. No issue was too big or small and it didn’t feel like I was asking for something excessive but that they wanted me to be able to come and feel welcome. A lot of things were very proactive on Arvon’s part too. You more than met my needs – thank you. I appreciate your care and inclusive approach more than I can say. I felt anxious about coming, but you all made me feel welcome and supported.”

“As a neurodivergant person I felt like this was a safe space. There are options for breakout spaces if anyone is feeling over stimulated and knowing that these spaces (including our private rooms) are nearby and fully accessible was very helpful – as well as use of the communal spaces and kitchen after hours. It is obvious that access needs have been taken into consideration here and there are options available. I also was made to feel comfortable expressing any needs to the house staff. Thank you for this.” [The Hurst]

“Honestly, the access here was so far above and beyond anywhere else I’ve been. Having the video online was so helpful to be able to figure out lots of different things so I felt confident that I could be here. Jo was absolutely fantastic, consulting me on the room in advance and even making a PEEP and having it on my desk the very first night! It’s lovely to be able to access things, but the care taken here (and the clear importance staff stress on accessibility) actually made me feel wanted and welcome, which is incredibly rare for wheelchair users.” [The Hurst]