Vegan Society, staff, trustees, local contacts and members have worked very hard in 2010 giving talks and radio interviews, meeting with policy makers, getting articles published, producing information resources and growing our trademark among other things. Here are a few highlights from the year:

Making the Connection

Environment Films in association with The Vegan Society have produced a new 30 minute film called Making the Connection. It was launched on World Vegan Day and features a variety of people including a chef, a farmer, a Member of Parliament, an athlete, a dietician and a poet.It is aimed at non-vegans and if you wish to watch the film it is hosted on YouTube. If you would like to organise a group showing to non-vegans such as in a school, university, arts cinema or at a vegan food tasting event, please contact Amanda for a copy of the film on 0121 523 1737 or by e-mail media@vegansociety.com

Great North Run Success

A team sponsored by The Vegan Society entered the Great North Run 2010 to dispel the tired myth of the ‘weedy vegan’. The fifteen vegan runners were captained by elite vegan marathon runner Fiona Oakes. Fiona ran 1 hr 20 min 51 sec, ahead of former 10K World Champion and Olympic silver medallist, Liz McColgan (1 h 25 m 9 s), six other Elite Women and seven of the Elite Men. The runners worked hard to get coverage in their local media, highlighting the benefits of their vegan lifestyles.

Natural and Organic Products Exhibition

In April The Vegan Society exhibited at The Natural and Organic Products Europe (NOPE) exhibition.c Exhibiting alongside the leaders in the industry raises the profile of our trademark scheme and the charity as a whole. The Business Development team were overwhelmed by the interest expressed in the trademark from companies attending the show.

Vegan School Dinners

We have been working on a series of vegan recipes for schools. They have been nutritionally analysed and the next stage is to get them tested. If you are able to establish contact with schools or caterers that could test dishes to serve 30 people please get in touch with Rebecca Henderson: advocacy@vegansociety.com. The aim is for these recipes to become the vegetarian option in schools.

Tesco

Following the request for our members to send comments to Tesco on how they could better cater for vegans, Vegan Society CEO Nigel Winter had a further meeting with Tesco Head Office. They received comments from over 200 people and found the information very useful. They have produced a report summarising the requests and will use this to inform future planning. They have also produced a frequently asked questions list to help their staff to answer questions. Please continue to give constructive feedback to Tesco and other companies – it’s a great way to prove (potential) vegan demand to these businesses.

Channel 4

Our CEO, Nigel Winter, appeared in an edition of Lakes on a Plate which was broadcast on Channel 4 on 4 October before Countdown. He walked in the fells with local chef Peter Sidwell and talked about Donald Watson who lived in the area. He also discussed reasons for being vegan and was served vegan onion soup on top of the very windy fell.

The Restaurant Show 2010

Vegan Society staff spoke to over 500 chefs, caterers, students, manufacturers, restaurateurs, lecturers and other catering industry workers for the three days of The Restaurant Show 2010 – the UK’s ‘premier fine-dining show’. They distributed information, such as copies of our Vegan Catering for All guide for professional caterers. They also gave out application packs for our Vegan-Friendly Promise window-sticker scheme and our Sunflower Standard Vegan Trademark for caterers. Please get in touch (media@vegansociety.com) if you would like to help support caterers where you live to start offering great vegan dishes.

The Vegan Society also sponsored a ‘Vegan and Botanical Experience’ Masterclass on the Centre Stage at the Show. Fatih Güven, Head Chef from Saf Restaurants London presented the Masterclass. He demonstrated tempeh and mushroom dumplings, steamed in rice papers and served with a black vinaigrette. The invited panel of tasters, and volunteers from the audience loved the food.

The Vegan Pledge

We are receiving increasing numbers of requests to take The Vegan Pledge with over 1,000 new pledges this year. The good news is that a significant number of those people are staying vegan.

Calling Older Vegans Using Care Services

Our Advocacy Officer, Rebecca Henderson, is keen to find older vegans living in care homes as well as older vegans living in their own homes and using care services, this includes lunch clubs, day centres and home delivered meals. If you use one of these services yourself, or you know an older vegan who does, then please email Rebecca with details at advocacy@vegansociety.com

Join Us

Membership of The Vegan Society gives us a louder voice when representing vegans in discussions with caterers, retailers, manufacturers and policy makers. Thank you to all of our members for helping us to achieve so many things this year. If you are not yet a member of The Vegan Society please do consider joining (http://www.vegansociety.com/membership.aspx).

Veggies and the Vegan Society

See also Vegan Campaigning with Veggies, local contacts for Nottingham, and join Veggies supporting Vegan Outreach Events nationwide.

Contact the Vegan Society and their Local Contacts in your area, via Veggies Networking Directory.