Much of the high level of general awareness of vegetarianism and the wealth of choice available is due in no small way to The Vegetarian Society. But what exactly is The Vegetarian Society and what does it do?

What is The Vegetarian Society? Formed in 1847, The Vegetarian Society is the oldest and perhaps best known vegetarian organisation in the world. With a mixture of dedication, information and well-reasoned argument, The Vegetarian Society has already helped convince millions of people all over the UK to go vegetarian. The Society is the leading voice and modern face of vegetarianism in the UK and it is a highly respected authority on the subject worldwide.

The recently renovated Parkdale - home to The Vegetarian Society for 30 years.

Membership of The Vegetarian Society is approaching 20,000 people from all over the UK. The Vegetarian Society is an independently-funded registered charity and is based at Parkdale in Altrincham, Cheshire, south of Manchester. The Society also has affiliated groups and information centres operating around the UK. These are vital to the Society's work, as they actively campaign, distribute information and spread the vegetarian message at local level.

What does The Vegetarian Society do? The Vegetarian Society exists to work on behalf of its growing membership, whilst also representing the interests of all of the UK's four million vegetarians by informing, educating, campaigning and working with food and health professionals. However, The Vegetarian Society's work is far from over and it aims to create even more options for vegetarians and by so doing reduce animal suffering and slaughter, help protect the environment and improve human health. Complementing the Cordon Vert Cookery School and the Society's pioneering product approval scheme, the Society's work can be divided into four areas: Public Affairs; Information and Research; Education; and Fundraising.

Public Affairs The Vegetarian Society aims to raise awareness of the many benefits a vegetarian diet offers. The Vegetarian Society's busy Public Affairs Department ensures that vegetarianism and associated issues continue to hit the headlines in the local, national and international media throughout the year. On a daily basis, staff liaise with the media to answer questions concerning a whole host of different vegetarian topics, guaranteeing that the vegetarian viewpoint is clearly seen and heard. There are several campaigns which take place every year. These include: National Vegetarian Week -- a week-long national celebration of vegetarianism; Vegfest -- a one day, fun-packed vegetarian spectacular for all; and an annual Christmas campaign. The Vegetarian Society also reacts quickly to specific current developments by organising major media and publicity campaigns. The Society has won several awards for its marketing and advertising media, which always tend to be vibrant, humourous when fitting, modern, informative, educational and most of all effective in promoting vegetarianism.

The Vegetarian Society's giant 'Break-Out' Fork at VegFest '99

Information and Research A pivotal role of The Vegetarian Society is the comprehensive and accurate provision of information. Society members, health and food professionals, academics and students, among many others, are supplied information concerning a wide range of vegetarian topics. The Society processes many enquiries each week and produces a range of literature which manages at the same time to be highly informative, factual, colourful and imaginative. Several videos have also been produced by The Vegetarian Society, more recently concerning meat and fish production and their cost to the environment. The Society also publishes 'The Vegetarian' on a quarterly basis, which is sent to members as part of their subscription package. The magazine is a very important means by which members are kept abreast of all the latest developments of concern to vegetarians. Education The Vegetarian Society's Education Department works closely with schools, colleges and universities to raise awareness of vegetarianism. The Society provides educational packs, videos and has school speakers able to deliver balanced, lively and interesting presentations, also to conduct question and answer sessions.

Fundraising The Society is funded by membership subscriptions, advertising revenue from 'The Vegetarian', donations and legacies, monies raised from the Cordon Vert School, its product approval scheme, sponsorships and the sale of vegetarian and Vegetarian Society merchandise through the 'The Vegetarian'. The Vegetarian Society has to be very energetic and innovative when it comes to fundraising and so it organises sponsored events throughout the year. The Society also receives donations from local groups and generous individuals who have organised events in their own area of the country to raise much needed cash to promote the cause of vegetarianism.	Recent fundraising activities for The Vegetarian Society have included a sponsored ascent of Scotland's Ben Nevis. Whatever the event, the accent is always on fun.
" The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. " Mahatma Gandhi (1869~1948) -- Social Reformer and Political Leader
	For current information about the Society's work, click here next page: setting standards

www.vegsoc.org/21cv : 21st Century Vegetarian