London Vegan Pledge 2012
Are you interested in trying a vegan diet with some help and support? If so, then sign up for the London Vegan Pledge. Once you have been registered you will be invited to two meetings at a venue in central London from 10am - 4pm, one at the start of your pledge month on Saturday 19th May 2012, and one at the end of your vegan month on Saturday 16th June 2012. These informative events include: speakers, films, delicious vegan food, cookery demos, free recipe booklets and basic health and nutrition advice. At the first meeting you will also meet your vegan buddy who will support you during your month. All of this is completely free!
Register for the London Vegan Pledge.
Vegan Pledge Report 2011
Sixty six Londoners saved almost one thousand animals by going vegan for a month from Saturday 6 March to Saturday 2 April 2011.
The London Vegan Pledge is a free, annual event organised by London Vegan Campaigns, a volunteer run group. Participants of the 2011 pledge attended meetings at the start and end of the vegan month in central London. On arrival they received an info pack and were introduced to their "vegan buddy", an experienced vegan who offers support during the month.
One of the organisers, Chrissy Leyland said "Following a vegan diet benefits your health, animals and the planet. At the meeting we started by showing the Vegan Society film Making the Connection which explains how vegans typically weigh several kilos less than non-vegans, use a quarter as much land to grow their food, and their diet is the only one to involve no animal suffering. We then showed how easy it is to be vegan with cookery demos, nutrition advice and a slide show of where to shop and eat out in London and the UK."
Vegan health experts GP Dr Josh Cullimore, dietician Sandra Hood and Vegan Society nutrition spokesperson Dr Stephen Walsh gave health checks, answered questions and explained the many health benefits of a plant based diet.
The highlight of the day was a huge lunch buffet with a large variety of vegan food including pizzas, quiches, burgers, sausages, lasagne, shepherds pie, curries, salads, desserts and rounding off with fabulous cupcakes donated by Brixton café Ms Cupcake, the newest of 25 vegan cafes and restaurants around London. Some attendees were staggered by the incredible range that vegans can choose from these days and over 9 out of 10 rated the food as "excellent".
Pledgers returned for a follow up meeting after four weeks, enthusiastically discussing their vegan experience, with some noticing an improvement in their health. The majority (almost 70%) have decided to stay vegan and the rest will increase their consumption of vegan food. One participant wrote: "It's easier than I thought, the new food is great and the impact is even better. I even got my first pair of vegan shoes!"
The second meeting ended with vegan chocolate tasting and a gift of a free goody bag, containing products generously donated by companies. Visits to some of London's many vegan restaurants were arranged during the pledge month, and on the 7th May a mini bus took pledgers to Hugletts Wood Farm Animal Sanctuary.
A pledger summed up the event saying "I loved the pledge, it was very motivating and inspiring - my confidence in being vegan is much greater. I have no reason or desire to eat any other way now. I'm really embracing and putting into effect all that I gained. The simple suggestions and advice from talking with the group and buddies are what have helped me the most - all my reasons not to eat vegan have been removed!"
London Vegan Campaigns would like to thank everyone involved in the pledge, the companies who donated products and our sponsors the Vegan Society and Animal Aid. Contact us for more information, if you are thinking of going vegan or would like to get involved in our campaigns.
Listen to a podcast about the London Vegan Pledge 2011, including interviews with people taking the Pledge.
