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Grants

Writing course participants in the kitchen at Lumb Bank

Our grants help writers who are unable to afford our full course fees.

For our residential courses, we offer two types of grants – Low Income Grant and Teachers Grant. If you couldn’t attend an Arvon week without some financial help, we encourage you to apply. Teachers Grants are a fixed amount of £200. With Low Income Grants, you can apply for any amount up to the full course fee, although most receive between £200 and £500. Last year we were able to help more than 90% of all writers who applied.

 

GENERAL LOW INCOME GRANT – RESIDENTIAL COURSES 

If you are a UK resident and cannot afford the full course fee, we encourage you to apply for one of our grants, which are awarded on the basis of financial need – not writing ability.

Priority is given to those coming to Arvon for the first time. You may apply for any amount up to the full course fee. To help us support as many people as possible, please apply only if you’d be unable to attend the course without a grant, and ask for the minimum amount you need. The average grant we awarded in 2019 was £400.

To apply for a grant, you must first book on a course, and then send us your completed grant application form. We will hold a place for you while we assess your application. You do not need to pay anything to book your place. Payment will only be required when we confirm if your grant application was successful.

Grants are only available for those booking a course with tutors, not our untutored retreats. We encourage applications from  D/deaf and/or Disabled people, and factor in any additional living/support costs when considering your grant – see here for information about accessibility on Arvon courses. See here for details of our grant fund terms and conditions.

Low Income Grant Application Form (Word)

Low Income Grant Application Form (PDF print version)

GRANTS FOR TEACHERS

Arvon supports the professional development of practising teachers, who may apply for a special fixed grant of £200 towards a course fee. You will need to send evidence that you are a practising teacher at a UK primary or secondary school, or further education college. Teachers’ Grants are limited in number and can be applied for in addition to the usual grant if further financial assistance is needed.

Teachers’ Grant Application Form (Word)

HOW TO APPLY:

  1. Download our information and application packs via the attachments provided above, or contact us to send you a copy of both. Read through each for full details of the application procedure and the application form.
  2. Reserve a place on your chosen course, either online or by phoning the centre hosting your course please indicate that you wish to apply for a grant. You do not need to pay a deposit at this stage. Your place will be held while we await your application form.
  3. Complete the application form and send it with your supporting documents by email or post to your chosen centre within seven days.
  4. Once we’ve assessed your application, we’ll contact you with a decision and finalise your booking. If you have any questions, please contact the centre directly.

If you would like more information about our grant scheme, or help with the application, email grants@arvon.org.

Eligibility: You must be resident in the UK and able to demonstrate that you do not have the financial means to cover the full cost of an Arvon course.

Please see the grants scheme terms and conditions.


CONCESSIONS 

Concessions are available for both online courses (50%) and residentials (30%). You need to meet certain criteria but do not need to complete an application form. See here for further details.

Please note that you cannot apply for both a Grant and a Concession for the same course.

Alternative sources of funding

  1. The Society of Authors administers a number of grants for writers
  2. Royal Literary Fund’s for commercially published writers with works in the UK aimed at a general readership
  3. Ideal for the short story writer or poet, the Scottish Book Trust aims at supporting new writers
  4. With some funding coming from partners it’s worth having a look at Creative Scotland
  5. Royal Society of Literature Brookleaze Grants supporting writers from novelists, playwrights, poets, to short story writers who need time away from their normal lives
  6. Arts Council Grants – fund projects that are all about engaging people, aiding Artists and Art Organisations
  7. Developing your Creative Practice is a new development fund designed to support independent creative practitioners
  8. Franics W Reckitt Arts Trust Fund for playwrights supports residential stays by professional artists, writers, composers and others for short periods away from home for holidays, convalescence or quiet working time
  9. Peggy Ramsay Foundation gives money to theatre writers in order to afford them the time and the space to write

"It would have been impossible for me to pay for this course, and I’m extremely grateful for the generous grant which was awarded to me. For a few days, I was much more than a parent and a carer: I was truly myself again… In that sense, it’s been life-changing.”

— Grant Recipient

"In 2010 I was given a grant by Arvon to attend a narrative non-fiction course at Totleigh Barton. During the week I produced a piece which I read out on the final night called The Caravan, based on my experience of living in a caravan on the North Kent Marshes. I am happy to tell you that I expanded this idea and my first book, On the Marshes, was published by Little Toller in April 2017. I would like to thank Arvon for giving me the opportunity to attend the course which gave me the time and thinking space to come up with this idea."

— Tracey Craze

"I applied for a grant following a recent corneal transplant operation. I have been unable for some time to continue as a stage actress due to the degeneration of my sight. It goes without saying that this grant was undoubtedly a lifeline.”

— Grant Recipient

"I have no doubt that my writing career has already benefitted significantly from the course and will continue to do so into the long term. It’s an opportunity I know I will always be grateful for, and will still reflect upon in years to come as a key turning point."

— Grant Recipient

"What I learned at Arvon is that we all have stories, and mine is worthwhile."

— Grant Recipient

"The advice I gained about my novel is invaluable, the support was wonderful…I cannot express my gratitude enough; I feel truly blessed to have received financial assistance for this. Having had a long term illness and been unable to earn for a very long time, I would never have been able to afford this otherwise. In about a month I shall be submitting my first novel to agents, this would not be the case without Arvon."

— Grant Recipient

Support the Grant Fund

Grants are funded by generous donations from supporters and our fundraising work. Want to support the Arvon Grant Fund? Learn about how you can donate and keep Arvon #OpenToAll.

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Late availability concession pricing

Aged 18-25 or receiving certain state benefits? You could qualify for our late availability concession pricing, giving you a half-price discount on selected courses.

Find out more