Vegetarian for Life (VfL) is a young and dynamic charity, which launched in 2008. Our vision is to improve the quality of life of older vegetarians and vegans. Why Vegetarian for Life? There are over 5000 vegetarians in care homes throughout the UK. Our 2009 survey found that around a quarter of care homes have vegetarian or vegan residents. Many other older vegetarians have meals on wheels, attend lunch clubs, or have carers providing home catering. In all these situations, as well as in independent living, help is sometimes needed on the provision of healthy and nutritious vegetarian meals. Helping you to find a vegetarian-friendly care home Members of the VfL UK List follow our Code of Good Practice by providing good vegetarian catering (and often vegan too). By the end of 2013, membership topped 700, with a good geographical spread through the UK. List membership is free and joining couldn’t be easier, either online or by mail. There are many benefits of being a member, including free marketing for homes and regular new recipes for residents to enjoy.
Improving vegetarian and vegan catering in care homes VfL provides a free 20 minute training DVD packed with useful guidance. We also fund one-day catering courses – delivered by the prestigious Cordon Vert or Bath Vegetarian Cookery Schools. These include practical demonstrations and the opportunity to taste and assess the foods prepared. Delegates learn more about vegetarians and vegans, their nutrition and how to adapt recipes easily. Visit our website or call for further information. Grants for older vegetarians and vegans Some older people find it increasingly difficult to stay in their own homes because of health or mobility problems. Financial assistance can be difficult to access due to a great deal of demand and this is where we may be able to help. VfL makes charitable grants to assist older vegetarians and vegans with independent living, like Shirley who was thrilled with her new lease of life from the mobility scooter. Please contact us for details and an application pack.
Our information resources VfL’s highly informative website attracts over 10,000 visits a quarter. It enables you to locate a vegetarian/vegan-friendly care home at the click of a button. You’ll find recipe ideas, menu planners, information on nutrition, video clips, and an interactive blog.
You can also download our major publications – hard copies are free on request: Catering for Older Vegetarians and Vegans – a guide for care homes. Vegetarian Living – a healthy living handbook for older individuals. Nutrition for Older Vegetarians and Vegans. Cooking on a Budget – practical tips for smart shopping and cooking. Why not follow us on Facebook and Twitter? You’ll find news about our work and updates that are relevant to older vegetarians and vegans and people who cater for them. Advisory panel VfL has an advisory panel of professionals to deal with enquiries on nutrition and dietary problems of older vegetarians and vegans. Specific queries are usually dealt with by email. Partnership working VfL regularly attends conferences, exhibitions and seminars, and gives presentations throughout the UK to represent the interests of older vegetarians and vegans. And we are proactive in contact with vegetarian and vegan organisations, older people’s charities, government initiatives, regulatory bodies and others relevant to furthering our vision. Our approach is to positively support care home, retirement home and sheltered housing operators, and those working to support older people such as home care agencies and home meals providers. We are working to influence hospital catering.
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Can you help our work by: Making a donation? This can be by bank standing order, postal order or cheque to the address below or the PayPal button on our website. Leaving VfL a legacy in your will? We would be happy to advise on wording for this. Setting Everyclick as your internet search engine? Everyclick will then give half the revenue it generates whenever you search the web to VfL. There’s absolutely no charge to you or to us – www.everyclick.com/vegetarian-for-life/1120687/0 Donating any unwanted jewellery or similar small valuables that VfL can sell via eBay? Or even donating a scrap car to us through Giveacar? Using Give as you Live to make online purchases from a variety of online stores? It won’t cost you more but we will get a referral fee every time you use it. Organising a fundraising event? For these and other ways of supporting us, please visit the Give page of our website. We are really grateful for all donations – which help us to continue our valued work. Thank you. Joining our board of trustees We have vacancies from time to time for trustees to fill any gaps in the board’s collective skillsset. So, if you are a vegetarian or vegan with experience that might be relevant to running this charity, please contact us for details – including current opportunities.
83 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JQ T: 0161 445 8064 E: admin@vegetarianforlife.org.uk www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk VfLUK
@VfL_UK
Registered Charity Number 1120687. Company Number 6294709 Patron: Rose Elliot MBE