The Arvon Foundation
About
We run a year-round programme of creative writing courses at three rural writing houses and also online, offering expert tuition from established writers in all forms of published writing to people from all backgrounds and experience. We run mentoring and other creative writing projects and a grant scheme to enable open access to our courses, and provide dedicated facilities for writers' retreats.
Focus & reach
Verification & registration
Every mark links to the official registry entry and opens in a new tab.
Integrity assessment
A score from 0 to 100 for how openly a charity shares public information across five areas: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and data recency. It does not measure programme impact. See exactly what we do and do not have →
Financials
Charity Commission (UK)Leadership at a glance
Official filingsSimilar charities
GiveRadar Intelligence
GiveRadar Analysis
Based on the records currently verified by GiveRadar, The Arvon Foundation has a substantially complete profile, cross-referenced across 3 independent sources including the Charity Commission.
- Established in 1973, it predates 91% of the education charities in the United Kingdom GiveRadar has a founding year for. View this cohort
- By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 92% of the 78,357 education charities in the United Kingdom with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
- Its integrity score of 76 places it in the top 25% of the 87,708 education charities in the United Kingdom GiveRadar tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its registration. View this cohort
- government registration
- financial records (5 filed years)
- disclosed leadership
- a website
- a contact email
Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.
Filing history
5 years on file from Charity Commission (UK): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
Sign up to viewTax deductibility
Whether a gift to The Arvon Foundation lowers your own taxes depends on where you pay them. Choose your country to see the rule that applies.
UK donations qualify for Gift Aid. THE ARVON FOUNDATION is registered with the Charity Commission. Eligible UK taxpayers can boost their gift by 25% at no extra cost.
THE ARVON FOUNDATION is in United Kingdom, a TGE (Transnational Giving Europe) member country. Dutch donors can route gifts via Stichting Transnational Giving Europe to receive Dutch ANBI-equivalent deductibility, subject to TGE's 5% pass-through fee.
THE ARVON FOUNDATION is registered in United Kingdom. US donors generally cannot deduct gifts to non-US charities directly. To claim a deduction, route the gift through a US 'Friends of' fiscal sponsor or a donor-advised fund that performs equivalency determination (IRS Rev. Proc. 92-94).
This is general guidance, not tax advice. Confirm treatment with the charity or your tax advisor before donating.
Leadership & board
Official filingsBoard members and senior officers on record, with disclosed pay where available.
15 officers and trustees on file, free with a GiveRadar account.
No red flags detected
Timeline
From official filingsKey dates from this charity's official filings, newest first.
In the news
No recent news coverage found
News coverage will appear here when articles mention this organization.
Trustpilot
Was lucky enough to attend a residential writing trip here with my school. Although it was some years ago it remains one of the most special and exciting times of my life, working on developing my creative writing skills with some of the most talented and knowledgeable writers in the country.If I ever have the chance and the time, I would return in a heartbeat. I can't recommend this enough.
Trustpilot
I've tutored at Arvon courses for a number of years, so you might think I'm a bit biased. And I am - in Arvon's favour. If I were to organise a week's residential writing course, on any area of writing, fictional or non-fictional, songs or screenplays, I'd base it in the Arvon template. I'd make sure there were a couple of tutors in sympathy with one another, but with differing approaches to writing - so those attending got two clear views on their writing. I'd have a guest writer come in midway through, to bring a third voice. I'd make sure that as well as going off to write by themselves, the group came together in smaller sub-groups to do something for one another (cooking's the obvious thing). And I'd have an evening at the end where work and stories were shared. All of the Arvon centres are wonderful places to stay and write, and all of them have become increasingly comfortable over the years. So I can't do anything else but give five stars, and encourage anyone thinking of attending a course to try it - or seek out someone who has. If you don't trust me, see what they say.
Trustpilot
Arvon supports writers of all types and skill levels - they create incredible opportunities for writers to learn and focus on the craft and fun of writing. I've participated in three residential week-long workshops at different locations spanning ten years and each has been a fabulous experience. The instructors have been good, the guest speakers interesting, the houses run well (we were always well fed), and the settings spectacular. I've left every workshop inspired. I hope I get to participate in another again soon!
Trustpilot
The week with Arvon at Totleigh Barton was one of my best learning experiences ever. Friendly, knowledgeable tutors and enthusiastic and supportive participants in a glorious Devon setting. The food was healthily delicious too! I recommend Arvon very highly.
Trustpilot
I've just returned from the Editing Fiction & Non-fiction course at The Hurst. All I can say is: wow. What an incredible experience, from the very first moment to the last. I was given the warmest welcome by an amazing team of staff. Jo, Rachel, Michelle and all of the other staff members were so friendly, accommodating and supportive. The building was impressive, the surroundings were idyllic, the selection of books in every room was inspirational and the people were amazing. I could feel the creative energy as soon as I walked in. The entire facilities were spotless and I was pleasantly surprised by how large my room was on the top floor, and how large and clean the shower facilities were. The lift was also so helpful. I was worried being a vegan that the food selection might have been pretty basic; but that couldn't have been further from the truth. I'd say 80% of the food caters for both vegans and meat eaters, with a great selection of fresh food every day. Cooking meals was another worry, but it was so much fun and so straight forward. The meals are so well prepared and the staff go out of their way to try to accommodate all dietary types. In terms of the tutors, we had Claire Fuller and Mike Parker—both accomplished authors and two of the nicest and most supportive people you could hope to meet. There wasn't a question that either of them couldn't help with and they went above and beyond my expectations time and time again. The workshops were insightful, varied and fantastic. The line editing modules in particular really opened my eyes to how every word needs to earn its place on the page. The one-to-one sessions were the most supportive and constructive feedback I've ever received. It was truly inspirational and they were generous with their time. The fellow writers were amazing and each of them were so talented and added so much to our group sessions. I can see why Arvon has such an incredible reputation.From start to finish, there wasn't a single thing tha
Trustpilot
What made it good: the friendly and talented group of writers, the food, the outdoor space and (with only minor reservations) the workshops and tutorials.
Trustpilot
Wonderful week of support and encouragement to write, and to write better. Excellent tutors and inspirational guest speaker (Kamila Shamsie). Delicious meals, beautiful setting, and plenty of laughter with a lively and varied group of other participants. Altogether an extraordinary and memorable treat.
Trustpilot
Had a great experience at arvon (The Hurst). The food was a stand out, the experience of cooking & eating together really helped my cohort of writers bond. Its fantastic to have multiple spaces to write walk and courses to get involved with - a gem of a space/idea/experience.
How it stacks up against peers
Compared with 8 similar education charities in United Kingdom.
Cause areas in United Kingdom
Charities working in each area, this charity's highlighted.
Sources and verification
- Officers and trustees
- Charity Commission for England and Wales - Register of Charities · 15 disclosed in the public registry.
What we know and don't know
Every data point we track for this charity, and whether we have found it. Disclosure only, never a judgment of the charity's work.
Data freshness
How current this profile is, and when we last checked it against the official source.
Methodology
GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
Read full methodologyIf you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email info@giveradar.com with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.
Frequently asked questions about The Arvon Foundation
The Arvon Foundation is a registered education nonprofit based in Hebden Bridge, England, United Kingdom. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It was founded in 1973 and has been operating for 53 years. Its registration number is 306694. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds registration with the UK Fundraising Regulator, which means it has committed to the Code of Fundraising Practice and accountable fundraising standards. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 76/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports £3M in annual revenue. 15 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected. The charity has 8 community reviews with an average rating of 4.9/5. On Trustpilot, it has a rating of 4.2/5 based on 8 reviews.
Based on official filings, The Arvon Foundation has £3M in annual revenue. It allocates 92% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 97% for education charities in United Kingdom. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of £910K. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.
We run a year-round programme of creative writing courses at three rural writing houses and also online, offering expert tuition from established writers in all forms of published writing to people from all backgrounds and experience. We run mentoring and other creative writing projects and a grant scheme to enable open access to our courses, and provide dedicated facilities for writers' retreats. The Arvon Foundation is classified as an education organization registered in United Kingdom. The organization was founded in 1973.
The Arvon Foundation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, the most common incorporated form for UK charities. It is registered with both Companies House and the Charity Commission, and must file annual accounts with both regulators. Directors (who are also charity trustees) have limited liability. Its Charity Commission registration number is 306694.
The Arvon Foundation's registered charity number is 306694. You can use it to look up the organization on the Charity Commission register.
The Arvon Foundation is located in Hebden Bridge, England, United Kingdom. The organization was established in 1973 and has been active for 53 years.
The Arvon Foundation is based in Hebden Bridge in England. The Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW) is the primary regulator. Scotland has its own regulator (OSCR), and Northern Ireland has the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI). A charity registered with the CCEW may operate across the whole of the UK or internationally.
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Quick facts about The Arvon Foundation
- What is The Arvon Foundation?
- The Arvon Foundation is a education charitable company based in Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom. We run a year-round programme of creative writing courses at three rural writing houses and also online, offering expert tuition from established writers in all forms of published writing to people from all backgrounds and experience. We run mentoring and other creative writing projects and a grant scheme to enable open access to our courses, and provide dedicated facilities for writers' retreats.
- When was The Arvon Foundation founded?
- The Arvon Foundation was founded in 1973.
- Where is The Arvon Foundation located?
- Headquartered in Hebden Bridge, England, United Kingdom.
- What is The Arvon Foundation's annual budget?
- Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is £3.3 million. 92% of expenses go to program services.
- Is The Arvon Foundation trustworthy?
- The Arvon Foundation has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 76 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
- What is The Arvon Foundation's registration number?
- Registration: 306694 (United Kingdom).
- What is The Arvon Foundation's website?
- https://www.arvon.org
- Are donations to The Arvon Foundation tax-deductible?
- Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. US donors should check whether the charity has an equivalency-determination letter or a US-based fiscal sponsor before claiming a deduction.