Animal Rights Gathering 2010

ARUK 2010 Animal Rights Summer Gathering

AR2009 August 27th to 30th.
Northampton.

We’re on the final countdown to the Summer Gathering: below is an update and some important information for those planning to attend. Keep an eye on the website for further updates over the next few weeks, or get in touch for more details.

www.argathering.org.uk

The gathering will officially start on Friday 27th August after lunch, and will end on the afternoon of Monday 30th (Bank Holiday). You are more than welcome in the days before and after these dates to help set up the site and clear away afterwards, vegan food and camping space will be provided for these volunteers.

This is the national gathering of the grass roots animal rights movement. It’s a chance for activists from throughout the country to get together for a weekend of talks, discussions, workshops and films on a wide range of topics connected to animal rights activism, to take stock of where we are and make plans for the future, as well as some practical and skills based workshops and activities to share and learn new skills.

There will also be plenty of time and opportunities for us to relax and unwind, to spend some time catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones, to try some tasty vegan food and drinks, all in in beautiful rural surroundings.

*Timetable / Workshops*

There are already some great workshops, discussions, talks and entertainment planned, but there’s space for much more, so if you’ve got anything interesting to contribute please get in touch soon with your ideas. This applies also to practical and skills based workshops.

*Camping*
Accommodation on site will be camping. Bring clothing and camping equipment suitable for all weathers if possible. If you don’t have a tent don’t worry, you can stay in one of the big marquees which will be on site throughout. Don’t forget to bring a torch as well if possible!

AR2009

Getting there.
To enable us to plan facilities and catering etc please let us know in advance if you plan to attend, how many of you and when you expect to arrive/leave. There will be 2 mobile phone contacts if you have any problems, these will be available nearer the time.

Public Transport
If you are using public transport, here are a few tips to enable you to plan your journey. There is a bus which takes you from Northampton (Grey Friars) bus station to the site of the gathering. If you are coming to Northampton by train there is a 10 minute walk to the bus station. The journey time from the bus station to the gathering site is half an hour, the bus leaves the bus station at the following times 07.45, 0900, 1020, 1210, 1405, 1645 and 1800, and there are no buses on Sundays, so please bear this in mind when making connections. If you have to arrive or leave after 1800, or on Sunday (when the bus doesn’t run), contact us and we’ll try to make other arrangements.

*Driving*
If you are driving, the directions depend on which direction you’re coming from, so contact us for details how to get there. The site is fairly central, it is only about 15 minutes from the major junction of the M1/M6/A14.

Car share
If you’re driving to the gathering and can offer spaces to fellow activists either from your area or en route, please get in touch so we can get more people involved. Or if you need a ride, get in touch and we’ll try to put you in touch with others from your area.

Volunteers for Set-up

If you’re free earlier in the week to help set up the site, put up marquees etc, and/or you can stay a few days afterwards to help tidy up the site, you’ll be very welcome, we’ll provide camping space and food, some good company, and as well as some work we’ll have some fun and a bit of entertainment too no doubt! Please let us know if you can do this so we can get an idea of numbers, thanks in advance.

Volunteers will also be needed during the gathering for a variety of tasks such as catering, washing up, getting workshop spaces ready, recycling, driving to pick up activists and supplies, gate duty etc, there’ll be a rota organised at the site for this

Vegan Catering Skillsharing

If you want to get involved with the catering, it’s a great way to learn about vegan catering and to meet new people. We will run two cooking sessions a day as ‘mass vegan catering workshops’, and will also hope to hold cake baking sessions. The start time will be advertised on a board at the kitchen each day, but will generally be about 3 hours before each meal. We will actively encourage people to pass on skills and learn about vegan cooking.

Food
Veggies Catering Campaign will be providing three tasty vegan meals per day at a reasonable price. Plus Veggies d-i-y Cafe will run throughout the weekend with drinks and snacks, as well as stalls offering a selection of vegan goodies.

AR2009

Vegan Fish and Chips
On top of this, the world’s first and only mobile vegan fish and chips caterers will be on hand all weekend if you fancy something different. For more information about “Something Fishy”, visit their website www.something-fishy.org.uk

Children
It would be very useful for us to know how many children are likely to attend, and also whether their parents will provide food for them, or whether they eat alongside adults.

Special diets/allergies
If you have any food-related enquiries such as special diets/allergies, please contact us in advance and we will try to help.

First Aid
If you’re a First Aider, let us know when you’ll be there, and don’t forget your First Aid kit! There will be First Aid workshop on the timetable as well.

Sorry No Dogs
Sorry dogs are now allowed because the gathering will be on land where there are rescued farmed animals. However the central location may make it easier for day visits.

For updates check back with the website or contact us for more details.
Email: 2010@argathering.org.uk
Phone: 07899 775493
Website: www.argathering.org.uk/

Mail: ARUK 2010,
c/o Veggies,
245 Gladstone Street,
Nottingham,
NG7 6HX

Donations. If you or your group can help by making a donation, send cheques/PO’s payable to “ARGathering” and send to the address above, or use the paypal/plastic donation button on the AR Calendar listing at http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1711