NAWE Retreat for writers in education, in partnership with The Arvon Foundation
The Hurst - The John Osborne Arvon Centre
Monday 6 August - Saturday 11 August 2007 (leaving by 11.00am on the Saturday)

Sherry Ashworth will be the guest workshop leader and reader, who will be with us on Tuesday 7 August to kick-start the writing process and read extracts of her work in the evening. Places will be strictly limited, so please book early.

The venue is fully accessible to people with disabilities. If you require more information on this issue, please contact Anne Caldwell.

Guest writer: Sherry Ashworth writes novels and stories for adults, teenagers and children, and lectures part-time in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her publications include A Matter of Fat, Let's Get Physical, Disconnected and Blinded by the Light, which won the North East Book Award. Her young adult novel, Paralysed, won the South Lanarkshire Book Award and the Leicester Book of the Year Award, as well as being shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award. Her most recent novel is Close-up.

The Hurst is situated in the beautiful Clun Valley in South Shropshire, sixteen miles from Ludlow. It is set in thirty acres of woodland, with gardens and a lake. The property consists of three buildings: The Clockhouse is the main living area and also houses some bedrooms; the main house contains further bedrooms and the barn, known as The Foyle Studio, provides a space for workshops and readings. There are nine computers and two networked printers. The Hurst has hearing induction loops in all public meeting places and a portable loop is also available. The main work/living space is fully accessible and has a lift and a mobility scooter. The centre can accommodate a personal assistant. There are rail connections to London, Wales, the North, and South West England from Craven Arms, which is eight miles away.

Please note, this is a retreat, not a taught course, and writers will be expected to help with catering. Everyone will get a room to themselves.


Comments from last year's NAWE Retreat:

'It was fantastic. It gave me confidence in my writing again and reminded me why I write. I feel that I can take this back into education as, sometimes I get so busy with paid work, I feel like a fraud talking about writing when I haven't written anything for a while. It also inspired me to take my Young Writers' Workshop to Arvon to allow them to have the same experience. (I also met my goal and finished my novel.)'

'It was brilliant. I did far more writing than I would have at home. Being in education can not only take up one's time but also leave you feeling creatively drained. It was great for recharging my batteries'


Further information about NAWE's Professional Development Programme