Residential Writing Week: Non-Fiction

Tutors Daisy Hildyard and Dan Richards will guide you through a week of creative non-fiction writing centred around the relationships between people and places in this age of climate crisis. Everyone has a story – be it born of concern with the world we inhabit, the nature and future of our earth, or snapshots of travel and interactions with other minds and landscapes. This lively, inspiring and supportive course will help you explore and communicate your concerns and narrative.

Open to writers at all levels of experience, the sessions will be designed to generate new work, help you understand what it means to find your voice whether you’re writing memoir, essays, travelogues or something less easily defined that falls within the wide purview of creative non-fiction. You will receive support with technical aspects of your writing and gain confidence in your work.

This residential week-long course will be held at IOU Hostel run by Arts Charity IOU in Hebden Bridge. The course will be hosted by the team from Arvon’s Lumb Bank and is fully catered (no group cooking), all food is vegetarian. All rooms are single occupancy with an en-suite, and the hostel is located within Hebden Bridge town centre, but close to woodland to explore.

As part of our exciting new Arvon North programme, we are offering Arvon retreats and live events in Hebden Bridge as we prepare for the redevelopment of  Lumb Bank. Working with our partners at IOU Hostel in Hebden Bridge we will be offering the Arvon experience in a brand new setting. Our Arvon takeover will include exclusive use of the 14 bedroom hostel with workshop, tutorial and quiet writing space (inside and out) in a magical woodland setting at the heart of the one of Yorkshire’s most creative and inspiring towns.

The course will be hosted by the team from Arvon’s Lumb Bank and is fully catered (no group cooking), all food is vegetarian. All rooms are single occupancy with an en-suite, and the hostel is located within Hebden Bridge.

Single en-suite room, fully catered: £895

Limited concessions: £626.50

If concessions are available, they will show at checkout.

The Hostel is fully accessible with a disabled car park and step free access to the Hostel door. On the ground floor is an accessible toilet as well as a double accessible bedroom with full ensuite facilities. If you have any questions or concerns before booking, please contact lumbbank@arvon.org.

General Access Information for Residential Writing Weeks:

Available on all courses for those who are Deaf, Partially Deaf or who have significant hearing loss

We provide BSL interpreters on some courses. If you require this please check whether the course you are interested in offers this facility. Or get in touch on our dedicated access email: access@arvon.org

• We have a portable hearing loop system.
• We have a vibrating pillow pad linked to our fire alarm system.

Available on all courses for those who are blind, partially sighted or who have significant sight loss

• We welcome guide dogs
• We can provide information in large print and other formats, such as word documents or PDFs.
• We can provide large print handouts for workshops
• 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.

Available on all courses for those who have Dyslexia

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

• We can provide information on coloured paper
• We may be able to make arrangements such as sourcing audio of suggested reading.
• You are welcome to use any supportive technology during the sessions, such as a dictaphone or laptop.

Available on all courses to those who identify as Neuro Divergent

Arvon is committed to providing a supportive and welcoming environment to all.

• We can provide information on coloured paper
• We may be able to make arrangements such as sourcing audio of suggested reading.
• You are welcome to use any supportive technology during the sessions, such as a dictaphone or laptop.

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.