Veggies Catering Campaign and the Rainbow Centre have been based in rented premises in Nottingham for the last 16 years. In October 2000 the volunteers who run the centre decided it was time to move on and seek a permanent base, as an investment in the future, and as a statement of our ongoing commitment to the causes of human and animal rights, environmental protection, anti-militarism, co-operation and social justice.

MOVING~ON : Over the winter months we have been working hard to buy a former social club in Forest Fields, Nottingham. It will reopen as a social venue, with a vegan café, a radical library and offer internet access to the local community. A housing co-operative will provide affordable accommodation for volunteers and help pay the mortgage. There has been a lot of positive input from local residents with exciting new projects being discussed. A children's puppet theatre group will meet and perform at the Centre, with music sessions, vegan food evenings, self-defence training , and activities for the elderly also planned.The large car park will be partially transformed into a community permculture garden and we will seek grants to redevelop the outbuildings into workshop spaces, campaign offices and a childrens area.

At the end of March 2001 we moved out of our rented premises on Mansfield Road, dispersing 16 years of stuff across the city for storage, working from a temporary office, whilst raising funds to refurbish the new premises. The purchase completed on June 30th 2001, but before opening as a public space substantial building work has to take place to meet fire safety standards and to incorporate the many different facilities that we wish to provide.

MEANWHILE : Between March 2001 and reopening in new premises in the Autumn, Veggies are continuing to run catering stalls and to supply frozen foods, with the invaluable support of Screaming Carrot and the Watermill Bakery, who have provided alternative workspace. We apologise if supplies have been erratic during this time, and if we have not been able to cater at as many diverse events as usual.

GOING ORGANIC : Whilst all this has been happening, Veggies have been working on new organic recipies for their burgers and sosages, both for outside catering stalls and for wholesale & retail customers. This process is nearly complete and customers will soon find the organic products in shops and cafes around Nottingham and Sheffield, as well as at Veggies catering events. With organic ingredients costing up to 50% more, an increase in price cannot be avoided, but the rise will be kept as low as possible.

APPEAL FOR FUNDS : We would like to thank all those people who have supported us in our moving-on project. However, renovation costs are much higher than we initially estimated and we need to raise another £12,000 towards fire safety works. We are therefore appealing for help. Donations and short-term or long-term loans, however small, are most welcome. Please send cheques payable to The Rainbow Centre Moving~On to 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham, NG7 6HX . More fundraising details here.