Veganism first in Westminster

Labour MP Kerry McCarthy spoke about vegan solutions to global food security, healthy diet and cutting climate change at an adjournment debate at about 10pm on World Vegan Day (November 1 2011).  It was shown live on BBC parliament TV and parliament live TV.

Kerry McCarthy and Vegan Society staff Jasmijn de Boo, George Gill, Amanda Baker and Rebecca Henderson also hosted an event at 2pm on World Vegan Day at Portcullis House where roughly 15 MPs and 65 others (including the Parliamentary Assistants of numerous MPs) and representatives from NGOs saw our new film Making the Connection and took home free vegan cupcakes and Vegan Society literature. 

Vegan Society Head of Information Rosamund Raha took the opportunity to mention the World Vegan Day adjournment debate when she spoke for fifteen minutes on the Hannah Murray Show (Talk Radio Europe) on 1 November.

Kerry McCarthy MP has already invited The Vegan Society to run a bigger UK House of Commons event for World Vegan Day 2012.

Catering in Parliament  

Arrangements were made for House of Commons restaurants to put on vegan options during the week beginning Monday 31 October and, helped by the information posters that we supplied, five House of Commons restaurants averaged 12% vegan meals sold.  The chefs received very positive feedback.  

Facebook Update

Engagement through Facebook continues to go from strength to strength with The Vegan Society having nearly 80,000 fans.  Many experienced vegans regularly check our pages and help those trying out veganism for the first time:  swapping recipes or discussing vegan issues. 

The Vegan Pledge

We are receiving large numbers of requests to take The Vegan Pledge with over 2,000 new pledges in 2011.  A significant number of those people are staying vegan.  We plan to increase this number in 2012 by giving the pledge more publicity.  

The Vegan Trademark

In December 2011, Vegan Society Business Development Department reached the landmark of 400 Trademark holders.  This means that over twelve thousand products now carry The Vegan Society Trademark and the number is increasing year on year.

Sponsorship

We continue to sponsor events throughout the UK and elsewhere.  Some events are local food fairs held in village halls and others are large events such as Vegfest in Bristol.  We also sponsored activities such as a vegan category at Hospitality at the NEC where competitors are invited to prepare, cook and present an imaginative, nutritionally balanced vegan main course in 30 minutes. 

Working Closely with the Vegan Prisoner Support Group (VPSG)

Our Advocacy Officer, Rebecca Henderson, has worked with VPSG to produce joint publications such as prison caterer’s newsletters and guides for caterers and vegan prisoners. Our joint efforts mean that catering provision in prisons around the UK is of a high standard with prison caterers actively competing with each other to win the VPSG/Vegan Society awards.

Making the Connection 

Tens of thousands of people have viewed The Vegan Society film (made with Environment Films) Making the Connection online.  The film is now available with subtitles in eight different languages.  If you have not seen it yet please do view it here:  http://www.vegansociety.com/resources/making-the-connection.aspx

None of these achievements could have been done without the generosity of our members and supporters.  We would like to thank all of those who support our vital work.  You can find out more about supporting us at:   http://www.vegansociety.com/support-us/