Vintage Magazine (Issue 1) by VfL_UK

vintage Published by Vegetarian for Life, the advocacy and educational charity working on behalf of older vegetarians and vegans

Cooking for one

Refreshingly easy recipes for one or two

Independent Living Supplement

Your 10-page guide to staying independent, getting connected, saving energy, and planning for the future

Veggie travel tips Travelling as an older vegetarian STUNNING STAPLES Jazz up jackets and breathe new life into your loaf

GOLDEN YEARS Why your golden years might be the right time to go vegetarian

PLUS: Budget recipes | Support for care caterers

Welcome

Welcome to Vintage – our new magazine exclusively for older vegetarians and vegans. This special edition contains a 10-page independent living supplement. We hope that it helps you maintain your independence, get connected, and plan for the future. Our Roving Chef, Jane Hughes is available for talks and cookery demonstrations in the North West (see page 3). She has also been busy working on a new guide (page 8). Recipes in Cooking for One are designed to make just one or two portions – and most can be made in minutes. We have also put together some easy-to-use resources to support new vegetarians and vegans and their caterers (see pages 3 and 7). We’re sure that in no time at all you will feel confident and become a happy veggie cook! Of course, vegetarian or vegan diets can benefit all older people. Mike Ashbridge reports on how caterers can easily respect dietary choices, improve diets and stimulate appetites (page 4). No matter what your situation, we have a raft of recipes for you this issue. Whether you are cooking on a budget (page 6), cooking for one (page 8), looking for ideas to liven up a loaf or spud (page 10) – or ordering in meals (page 26) – we have it covered. If you fancy a break from cooking, Tina Fox discusses her experiences of eating out as an older vegetarian (page 24). Having travelled far and wide – from places in the UK to more exotic climes – you might find some useful ideas and tips. Vegetarian for Life is of course a registered charity. We’ve rounded up some easy ways to support our work (see pages 27 to 28). If you’re proud of being ‘Vegetarian for Life’, why not wear your heart on your sleeve? Our online shop (page 28) has attractive merchandise for sale. All profits benefit our charity. I hope that you enjoy the issue

A DIET FOR LIFE How caterers can respect dietary choices, improve diets and stimulate appetites

In this issue… ROVING CHEF’S TASTY ROADSHOW Free support for care caterers in the North West

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COOKING ON A BUDGET Tasty recipes from our guide for canny moneysaving scrimpers 2 vintage

CATERING FOR OLDER VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS Stunning vegan cake recipe and details of our support for caterers COOKING FOR ONE Refreshingly easy recipes for one or two

STUNNING STAPLES Jazz up jackets and breathe new life into your loaf

Vegetarian for Life is an advocacy and educational charity working on behalf of older vegetarians and vegans throughout the UK.

83 Ducie Street, Manchester M1 2JQ Registered Charity Number 1120687

Editor: Amanda Woodvine amanda@vegetarianforlife.org.uk Design: The Ethical Graphic Design Company Ltd

VfLUK @VfL_UK T: 0161 257 0887 E: info@vegetarianforlife.org.uk W: www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk

GOLDEN YEARS Why your golden years might be the right time to go vegetarian

INDEPENDENT LIVING SUPPLEMENT Your 10-page guide to staying independent, getting connected, saving energy, and planning for the future

TRAVELLING AS AN OLDER VEGETARIAN The tribulations and treats of being a veggie silver traveller

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS... Help us make a diﬀerence to someone’s life

SHOP FOR LIFE Vegetarian for Life merchandise and other ways to support our work

Roving Chef’s

tasty roadshow

Vegetarian for Life is dedicated to improving life for older vegetarians. Since 2008, we have been educating care home cooks about vegetarian and vegan nutrition, with practical publications, canny cookery demonstrations and tasty samples. We’re delighted to have appointed Jane Hughes as our Roving Chef. An experienced cookery tutor and food writer, Jane was previously Editor of The Vegetarian magazine and a tutor at the Vegetarian Society Cookery School in Altrincham. She recently worked with The Vegan Society and the Hospital Caterers Association to develop high-protein vegan meals suitable for use in hospitals, and has also written a collection of vegetarian and vegan recipes for the Love Food Hate Waste campaign. Her latest book, The Vegetarian Year, was published in the UK and USA in 2015. As an ambassador for the charity, Jane’s remit is to oﬀer talks and cookery demonstrations not only to care home cooks but also to groups of interested older adults. Courses delivered to professional caterers are subsidised by the charity. Talks

given to groups of older adults are free. Jane currently works within a 50mile radius of Manchester. Jane comments: “Working with Vegetarian for Life is immensely satisfying. It’s a challenge to develop new recipes and it’s lovely to meet so many senior vegetarians – we can learn so much from their experience”. Vegetarian for Life would like to hear from senior vegetarians and vegans who are interested in sharing their stories. Email news@vegetarianforlife.org.uk, write to 83 Ducie Street, Manchester M1 2JQ, or call VfL on 0161 257 0887.

Vegan resource pack

As well as support from our Roving Chef, we’ve put together some easy-to-use resources to support people catering for vegans for the first time. We’re sure that in no time at all they will feel confident and become happy vegan cooks! If you would like any further support, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly. We’d be pleased to help you. Happy cooking! www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk/ paths/vegan

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A diet for life

Vegetarian or vegan diets can benefit all older people. With knowledge, imagination and enthusiasm, caterers can easily respect dietary choices, improve diets and stimulate appetites. Mike Ashbridge, VfL Director (Wales) reports

In recent years an urgent debate has been taking place about how well older people are treated in the care system. One key aspect of this debate focuses on this question: if we accept that care homes generally oﬀer good standards of care and a safe environment then why is it that almost all of us would dread entering one or placing our parents in one? Most studies suggest that the underlying problem is that as care homes increasingly operate according to standard procedures then all too frequently residents no longer feel involved in decisions that determine the quality of their life. As a result, residents can lose their sense of independence and dignity. 4 vintage

No wonder that when the Care Quality Commission addressed the question ‘What underpins good and outstanding care?’ one of its main answers was that good care ‘is person-centred, designed around the individual and includes their involvement’. In Wales, Sarah Rochira the Older People’s Commissioner, reached the same conclusion in her review ‘A place to call home’. She states: “Within the current care system

there is no formal way to recognise or reinforce crucial values such as compassion, friendship and kindness, self-determination, choice and control. Yet these values are key to quality of life and must be placed at the heart of the residential and nursing care sector”. For older vegetarian and vegans, these issues often come to prominence when their diet is compromised. This might be due to a lack of knowledge about what vegetarians and vegans eat and/or reflect a very limited range of meals. Whatever the reason, having their dietary choice compromised can cause great upset and distress. This is because a person’s decision to be a vegetarian or vegan is

a person’s decision to be a vegetarian or vegan is likely to reﬂect deeply held ethical, health or religious convictions

likely to reflect deeply held ethical, health or religious convictions. For an older person, these convictions will have been at the core of their identity for many years. Seen in this light, it is clear that respecting and supporting an older person’s vegetarianism or veganism is incredibly important – it is an essential part of recognising who they are and treating them with dignity. More broadly, vegetarian or vegan diets have so many benefits to oﬀer all older people. With knowledge, imagination and enthusiasm care homes and carers can easily respect dietary choices, improve diets and stimulate appetites. Here are just a few benefits of vegetarian and vegan diets that can help everyone.

varying the colours and seasonality of food can bring a freshness to their diets. For many meat eaters the impact would be even greater – not just new colours but also new tastes, textures and an appreciation of the changing seasons. So why not oﬀer all residents the option of a delicious vegetarian or vegan meal? Just as you don’t have to be an Indian to eat an Indian meal or an Italian to eat an Italian meal, you don’t need to be a vegetarian to enjoy a vegetarian meal!

NUTRITIONALLY-DENSE FOODS Since many older people do not eat as much as they should, the food

they do eat must be as nutritious as possible. Vegetarian and vegan choices can provide the ideal answer because many whole unprocessed foods are high in nutrients for their size. Some examples include: healthy fats (nut butters, nuts, seeds and olive oil), whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat bread, oats and whole grain cereals), fresh fruits and vegetables (canned and frozen are also good choices), and protein-rich pulses and dairy products. All of these foods help ensure that people are getting all the vitamins and minerals needed to maintain proper health.

SEASONALITY The use of fresh seasonal produce can break the monotony and timelessness of set menus. There is the additional benefit that seasonal produce can stimulate the memories of older people and help them recall times, places and events. For example, strawberries can easily bring back memories of long hot childhood holidays where the sky was always blue.

COLOUR The senses of taste and smell decline with age, which can make food seem less appetising. Using diﬀerent colours stimulates the senses, adds to eating enjoyment and can improve appetite. Just think of the huge range of colours found naturally in vegetables and fruit. VARIETY No matter how healthy your diet, eating the same foods over and over is bound to get boring. For vegetarians and vegans,

HEALTHY SNACKING A useful way to help older people to eat enough is through encouraging and planning for smaller meals with additional snacks throughout the day. Making sure these meals include plenty of fruit, vegetables and whole grains ensures a diet remains nutritionally full. FIBRE Constipation is a very common digestive complaint among older people and the discomfort it causes can quite naturally have an impact on their appetite. Having plenty of high fibre food in your diet, including whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, can help stave oﬀ constipation.

For more guidance on providing varied and interesting meat-free meals, order a free copy of Catering for Older Vegetarians and Vegans or see our 4-week vegetarian and vegan menu planners. Details on page 7

AND FINALLY Food, eating, and mealtimes are important parts of life. Meal times in care homes should never be seen as a task to be accomplished with minimal fuss. Recognising the dietary choice of vegetarians and vegans ensures that they are not only being respected and treated with dignity but their health is also being supported. Shouldn’t these dietary benefits be oﬀered to all older people in care?

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Cooking on a budget

We present here a couple of recipes from Cooking on a Budget – our 32-page guide for older adults who are adjusting to living to a pension… or who are just money-saving scrimpers! Packed with practical tips for smart shopping and cooking on a budget, the guide explains how to make real savings by planning, savvy shopping and cooking, and sensible storage. Whatever your reason for reading the guide, you can still have fun while saving money. For a free copy of Cooking on a Budget please visit our website or call 0161 257 0887.

Everyday Mexican re-fried beans Serves 2, Vegan

Ingredients l ½ can pinto beans l ½ can black turtle beans l ½ large red onion l 1½ cloves garlic, crushed l ½ tsp dried chipotle chilli or 1 chopped green chilli l ½ tsp ground cumin l ½ tbsp vegetable/groundnut oil l Juice of 1 lime l Seasoning l Fresh coriander, chopped

Tip

1 Drain and rinse the beans. 2 Heat the oil in a pan and add the onion, garlic, chilli and cumin. 3 Cook until the onion is soft (about 10 mins). 4 Roughly mash the beans in a large bowl and add the cooked onion mixture. 5 Squeeze in the lime juice, season and combine with a small amount of fresh coriander. © Cracking Good Food www.crackinggoodfood.org

Ever looked at a recipe and been baﬄed by the ingredients? Try the Cook’s Thesaurus. It’s an online cooking encyclopedia that covers thousands of ingredients and kitchen tools. Entries include pictures, descriptions, synonyms, pronunciations, and suggested substitutions: www.foodsubs.com For example, if you can’t find pinto beans, it is fine to substitute them for red kidney beans or borlotti beans.

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Salsa

Serves 2 as a side dish, Vegan

Ingredients l Small tin plum tomatoes (chopped into chunks) l 1–2 cloves of garlic (crushed) l ½ onion l ¼ to ½ tsp cumin to taste l ¼ to ½ tsp chilli powder to taste l ½ tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil l Salt to taste l Small bunch fresh coriander (optional)

1 Cut the onion into 2 cm chunks. 2 Heat the oil in a frying pan or saucepan. 3 Add the onion and fry gently over a low heat for 2 minutes. 4 Add the garlic and stir for a few seconds. 5 Tip in the tin of tomatoes, the cumin and the chilli powder, together with a little salt for seasoning. 6 Turn up the heat and stir while cooking for about 10 minutes or until the onion has softened and the mixture has thickened. 7 Taste for seasoning and stir in chopped fresh coriander (optional). 8 Can be eaten warm or cold as a dip with strips of pitta bread or breadsticks, or as an accompaniment to veggie burgers and homemade ovenbaked wedges.

Catering for older vegetarians and vegans “Oh, by the way, the new arrival’s a vegan…”

These words are likely to cause an immediate response for people who are in charge of catering, despite their best intentions. And it’s a response that is quite possibly negative! Of course, with a little thought and planning, vegetarians and vegans need not create a lot of extra work for caterers. As well as the vegan resource pack detailed on page 3, our Catering for Older Vegetarians and Vegans guide makes it easier to make meals an enjoyable experience for vegetarian and vegan diners. It outlines why anyone becomes vegetarian or vegan and contains catering tips for busy cooks and a 4-week menu planner. To request a free copy for an establishment that provides meals for older adults, please visit our website or call 0161 257 0887.

Orange, Lemon & Pistachio Cake Makes a 20 cm/8 inch cake, Vegan

Ingredients Cake l 175g self-raising flour l 110g caster sugar l 1 tsp baking powder l pinch salt l 100g pistachios, very finely chopped (use grinder if possible) l 125ml light vegetable oil l 1 tsp lemon juice l 125ml water l 1 lemon, grated zest only l 1 orange, grated zest only l 4½ tbsp maple syrup

Icing l 75g icing sugar l 1 tbsp lemon juice

Decoration l 25g pistachios, roughly chopped l 1 orange, segmented

1 Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4. Grease and line a 20cm/8 inch cake tin. 2 Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and finely chopped pistachios together. 3 Mix vegetable oil, lemon juice and water together and stir in the lemon and orange zest. 4 Mix the wet and dry ingredients together. 5 Pour into the cake tin and bake for 35–40 minutes until golden and well risen. 6 Remove cake from oven, puncture with a skewer and drizzle with maple syrup. Leave in tin for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack. 7 Make the icing by mixing the lemon juice into the icing sugar little by little until smooth. Pipe or drizzle over the cake and decorate with orange segments and chopped pistachios.

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Cooking for one

Cooking for one is often the reality for many older people. So we have developed a recipe booklet especially for senior vegetarians who cook for themselves. Most of the recipes are easy to make. The ingredient quantities are mostly for one or two servings. But it’s easy to double the quantities if you are cooking for more people. For a free copy of Cooking for One please visit our website or call 0161 257 0887.

Simple Vegetable Soup

Serves 2, Vegan Ingredients l 1 tablespoon vegetable oil l ½ onion, peeled and chopped l 1 leek, washed, trimmed and chopped l 500ml light vegetable stock l 1 small baking potato, peeled and cut into cubes l 1 handful frozen peas

1 Heat the oil in a medium-sized saucepan and fry the onion and leeks until soft. 2 Add the stock and potato and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. 3 Add the peas and bring back to the boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. 4 Cool slightly and blend with a food processor. Season to taste.

The Vegetarian Society Cookery School also suggests: l Using parsnip instead of potato. l Making a simple stew by adding tins of tomatoes and chickpeas. © The Vegetarian Society Cookery School www.vegsoccookeryschool.org

Fruity Bean Salad

Serves 1–2, Vegan This is a handy store-cupboard salad with colours that are guaranteed to brighten up a dull day! Ingredients l Half a can of mixed beans, drained and rinsed l Half a can of sweetcorn with peppers, drained l 75g cherry tomatoes, halved

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l Half a can of pineapple pieces in juice l 3 tbsp olive oil l Salt and pepper

1 Drain the pineapple juice into a bowl and whisk in the olive oil, salt and pepper, to make a fruity dressing. 2 Mix all the salad ingredients together and stir in the dressing. If you plan to make the salad again with the reserved ingredients, don’t forget to save some of the dressing in a jar in the fridge. 3 Serve on a bed of lettuce or with a baked potato.

Stuffed Peppers with Vegetarian Haggis Serves 4, Vegan

It might sound strange, but vegetarian haggis is a handy meat substitute and a time-saving ingredient too. If you don’t want four stuﬀed peppers, cook the haggis, use half of it and save the rest in a covered container in the fridge for a few days. It’s good on toast and is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans! Ingredients l 454g Macsween Delicious Every Day Vegetarian Haggis l 4 red or yellow peppers, halved and deseeded (leave stalks on) l 50g grated vegan cheddar-style cheese

1 Cook the vegetarian haggis according to the instructions on the pack. 2 Meanwhile, place the pepper halves under a medium grill, with the outside facing up, for a few minutes, until they have softened and are beginning to char. 3 Remove the peppers from the grill, turn over and fill with the hot vegetarian haggis. 4 Sprinkle the cheese on top and place back under the grill for a further 5 minutes until the cheese is bubbling. © Macsween www.macsween.co.uk

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Stunning staples

Quick, easy, and oh so tasty, bread and potatoes are staples in a British diet. Here are some ideas to breathe new life into your loaf

Sandwiches and toast

There’s no reason why a sandwich can’t make a meal, but many vegetarians get stuck in a rut with the same old cheese or egg mayo. If you’re avoiding animal products, don’t make the mistake of eating plain salad sandwiches. Add a smear of nutritious nut butter or yeast extract to make sure you get some useful vitamins and minerals with every meal. We love the 60 vegan sandwich ideas developed by Tony Bishop Weston of Foods for Life. You can find the whole list online at www.foodsforlife.org.uk. Our favourites include:

l Peanut Butter and Jelly – organic peanut butter and organic no-sugar jam l Ploughman – vegan cheddar Cheezly, pickle, radishes and lettuce l Bagpipe Bun – vegan haggis, piccalilli and salad l My Mate – yeast extract, soft dairy-free cream cheese and slivers of Granny Smith apple l Miso You Madly – miso, walnuts or beansprouts and crisp salad l For Alfalfa’s Sake – alfalfa sprouts and red roasted pepper hummus 10 vintage

l Bloody Mary – tomatoes, black pepper, sun-dried tomato paste on olive ciabatta l Monster Munch – nut loaf, salad and pickle l Tzatziki Tingler – cucumber, vegan yoghurt, tahini, mint, garlic with watercress l Chocoholic – organic fair-trade hazelnut and chocolate spread with bananas l Wimbledon – vegan dairy-free cream cheese and freeze-dried strawberries or sugar-free strawberry jam

l Totally Tropical – vegan cream cheese with dried apricots, pineapple and sunflower seeds l Wonderful Waldorf – vegan mayo, apple, celery, walnuts and sultanas l Sunday Roast – ‘Cheatin beef’, horseradish, alfalfa and red onion l Spotted Dick – vegan cream cheese with raisins and sultanas l Squish and Chips – fishless fingers and chips with vegan mayo and lettuce © Tony Bishop-Weston, Foods for Life www.foodsforlife.org.uk

Vegetarian for Life supporter Gill Gibbs sent us these ideas for jacket potato fillings to make a nice change from cheese and beans! l l l l l l l l

Jazz up those jackets

Vegetable curry, yoghurt and banana Ratatouille and kidney beans Vegetable chilli and salsa Fried crispy mushrooms Mushy peas, mayo, fried onion Sweetcorn, celery and mayo Cream cheese, walnut and sultana Curried baked beans and chutney

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Salsa

Makes 2 servings, Vegan Sweet potatoes make a nice change from the usual spuds. Seasoning the skins is a good trick to make them crisp and tasty.

Ingredients For the salsa: l 1 ripe avocado, peeled and cut into rough cubes l ½ large white onion, diced roughly l 1 small red pepper, cut into rough cubes l 2 corn on the cobs (steamed and then corn removed from cob) – or use tinned sweetcorn l Fresh thyme l 1 tsp curry powder l Cracked black pepper l Sea salt l Extra virgin olive oil l 1–2 tsp lemon juice 1 Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix through. Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least half hour before serving.

For the potatoes: l 2 large sweet potatoes l Olive oil l Paprika and/or chilli powder l Salt and pepper l Grated vegan cheddar-style ‘cheese’

1 Preheat the oven to 180⁰C/350⁰F/gas mark 4. 2 Rub the potato skins with a little olive oil, sprinkle with paprika or chilli powder (or both if you love a bit of spice!) and season with salt and pepper. 3 Wrap up in tin foil and bake for about an hour or until soft. 4 Split, top with grated cheese and pop under the grill for a minute or two before serving. © Nadia Render www.facebook.com/NadsNorfolk

Microwaved jacket potatoes

A time- and money-saving way of preparing jacket potatoes is to cook them in a microwave. Scrub the potatoes and prick them with a fork. Set the microwave to 6 minutes on high and cook the potatoes until tender. You may need a more or less time depending on the size of your potatoes and your microwave. www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk 11

Vegetarianism and your golden years

Max Gottlieb explains why your golden years might be the right time to go vegetarian

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all aware that diet plays a big role in our quality of life, but it becomes even more important as we grow older. Many older adults suďŹ&#x20AC;er from diabetes, high cholesterol, fatigue, hypertension, heart disease or joint problems. People mistakenly 12 vintage

believe eating less is the solution when, really, they should be focused on eating right. As we age, our bodies naturally slow down and we need fewer calories to survive. According to Diet.com men over 50 should reduce their caloric intake by 600 calories per day and women

should decrease theirs by 300 calories. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear older people need fewer calories to survive, nutritional needs remain the same, if not more important than ever before. A vegetarian diet can provide the vitamins and minerals you need

without consciously keeping track of whether or not you’re consuming the right things. Vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene, all antioxidants, become extremely important in the fight against free radicals. These vitamins are all found naturally in a diet high in vegetables and fruits. While it is possible to find these vitamins in supplements, natural food sources are the best way for your body to maximise absorption. Citrus, berries, kiwi, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli are all packed with vitamin C. For beta-carotene, which fights macular degeneration, eat carrots, leafy greens, squash, sweet potatoes, melons, or peppers. Also, try adding sunflower seeds, spinach, Swiss chard, and avocados to your diet for a boost in vitamin E. If you notice, many of these foods overlap because they contain a variety of essential vitamins. For women especially, calcium absorption decreases with age and should be a dietary priority. Calcium can be found in leafy green vegetables, soya milk, pulses, dairy, and fortified orange juice. Milk and most dairy-free milk alternatives contain both vitamin D and calcium, which, along with vitamin D supplements, can be helpful for people who prefer not to get their

vitamin D from the sun. Protein also becomes more important as we age because it is imperative the human body maintains healthy muscle mass even as physical activity decreases. Vegetarian protein options include: seeds, nuts, pulses, peanut butter, granola, yogurt, cheese, or soya products. Beyond the health-rich benefits of a vegetarian diet, there are some practical reasons not to eat meat as well. There have been countless studies linking red meat to cancer and meat is not as sustainably ‘grown’ as vegetables or fruits. Also, with increased age our senses of smell and taste diminish, which can cause problems in terms of food safety. Eating vegetarian eliminates the risks of eating spoiled or undercooked meat. Your golden years should be a time of exploration – and what could be more fun than learning a new arsenal of tasty, vegetarian recipes! Max Gottlieb is the content manager of Senior Planning. Based in Arizona, Senior Planning is a free service and since 2007 has helped many seniors plan for long-term care, find care services, apply for state and federal benefits, and file for aid and attendance: www.seniorplanning.org

Vegetarian for Life produces its own guide, Nutrition for Older Vegetarians and Vegans. Order your free copy from our website or by calling 0161 257 0887

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Independent Living

Supplement Independence!

Most surveys show that as people grow older they usually prefer to maintain their independence and live in their own homes for as long as possible. Our charity Vegetarian for Life was founded in 2008. One of our major goals is to try make independent living easier for older vegetarians and vegans. We support people through information and advice and also through grants.

ADVICE We publish a wide range of booklets and guides. These address practical issues such as the nutritional needs of older vegetarians and vegans and provide many useful cooking and recipe tips. Additionally, topical publications such as vegetarian and vegan meal suggestions for special events such as Valentine’s Day or Diwali can help prevent the usual choice of meals becoming a dull routine. Our most popular publication is Cooking on a Budget, a guide for older adults who are adjusting to living on a pension… or who are just plan thrifty! It’s packed with tips for smart shopping and cooking on limited means, and explains how to save money through planning, clever shopping and cooking, and sensible storage. It features recipes throughout. All of our publications can be downloaded from our website. Alternatively, you may request copies by phone or by writing to us.

SUPPORT Vegetarian for Life administers two charitable funds, The Vegan Fund and The Vegetarian Fund. The 14 vintage

Further guidance

Grants are awarded on a oneoﬀ basis. They are not suitable for ongoing expenditure.

Funds were launched in 2010, and we were pleased to award the first grant in May 2010 – for a stair lift to enable a vegetarian lady to move out of care, back to her own home, to resume independent living. Since then we have awarded a number of further grants, including assistance with relocation, a bath aid, vegetarian/vegan cookery courses for older people in Wales, a mobility scooter, a cooker, and for fitting a downstairs shower room. To be eligible for a grant from either fund you must be aged 60 or over and in financial need i.e. with a small regular income and low savings. (We follow the income and savings limits used for eligibility for Council Tax Benefit.) To be eligible for a grant from The Vegan Fund you must also be a practising vegan. For a grant from The Vegetarian Fund you must be a practising vegetarian.

l Grants are normally made to assist ‘independent living’. For example: to provide ramps, grab handles, minor kitchen/bathroom adaptations, stair lifts, a mobility scooter, or perhaps respite care (a short stay in a care home for a person being cared for at home, to provide a break for the carer). l Applications for other uses will be considered – as long as the grant will benefit one or more older vegetarians or vegans. l Individual grants are normally subject to an upper limit of £3,000, but this may vary if the grant would benefit more than one eligible person or, at the Trustees’ discretion, if there are other extenuating circumstances. l Each application will be judged on its individual merit by the Trustees of Vegetarian for Life, whose decision is final.

HOW TO APPLY? Application forms for grants can be downloaded from the Vegetarian for Life website. Alternatively you may request a copy by phone or by writing to us.

Energy saving

You might be concerned about energy consumption because of its environmental implications – in particular climate change. But paying attention to your energy usage could also save you a significant amount of money. Here are just a few of our favourite easyto-follow money-saving tips:

l Keep an eye on your thermostat. It’s estimated that turning your thermostat down by 1⁰C could reduce your annual fuel bill by up to £60. However, this should never be done if it will compromise your health or exacerbate existing health conditions. l Save time and stock up when you cook. If you’re going to use the oven, bake a few meals at a time to get the most out of having your oven on. This can be a great opportunity to stock up your freezer with some tasty meals for the weeks and months ahead. Plus a fuller freezer doesn’t have to work so hard, saving even more energy. l Let your oven heat your home. After cooking, why not leave the oven door open and let it heat your kitchen? l Degrees matter. It is thought up to 90% of the energy used by a washing machine is used in heating up the water. Make use of new washing detergents that can wash eﬀectively at only 30– 40⁰C – and lower the temperature setting on your future washes. l Standby for action! With a growing number of remote controls we’ve become used to leaving many of our electrical

devices on standby rather than switching them off. The Energy Saving Trust believes that up to £80 a year is wasted in the average home because of appliances left on standby. Well worth making that extra effort to switch them off!

ARE YOU READY TO SWITCH? The Government encourages people to shop around to find the most economic energy deal. But many of us are deterred by stories of poor customer service and billing errors. However, a glance at some of the savings available might just encourage you to take the plunge and make that switch. An easy way to gauge any savings you might be able to make is through comparison websites. A good place to start is www.goenergyshopping.co.uk. This is a website run by Ofgen, the energy industry regulator. It explains clearly how the process of switching works. It also lists a number of approved switch comparison websites.

GREEN ENERGY Electricity generation remains the biggest source of carbon emissions in the UK. Concerned about the environment? Then an important decision that you can make is getting your energy from a supplier that prioritises using renewable energy sources. Ecotricity is one of the most wellknown green energy companies. When assessed by lifecycle carbon emissions the electricity it supplies is the greenest of any company in Britain. The company also has a number of environmental initiatives that distinguish it from most other companies. For example, it is the only supplier of green gas in Britain. There is one other big advantage that might appeal to you. Switch your energy supply to Ecotricity and not only will you be using green energy at a fair price but as a thank you they will donate up to £60 to Vegetarian for Life. Quote reference VFL1 if you call them on 08000 302 302.

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Community involvement and activity As people grow older they can become increasingly vulnerable to loneliness. This not only stops them enjoying life but can also have a serious eﬀect on their health. This might be due to living alone, perhaps as a result of bereavement or one’s family moving away. However there can be many other causes. For example, having few friendships or hobbies, or feeling adrift following retirement. The scale of the problem is highlighted by the statistic that in England 51% of over 75s live alone. 5 million older people say the television is their main form of company. The problem can be exacerbated by people being reluctant to ask for help. Furthermore, while getting involved with a new activity can give you a fresh sense of purpose, it is still easy to feel tentative about taking that first step and meeting new people.

of trepidation is to become involved with a cause you feel passionate about! What was it that inspired you to become a vegetarian or vegan? Are you willing to use the strength of your beliefs to help support those charities that promote these diets? For example, could you be a school speaker, a

The Vegan Society – www.vegansociety.com/take-action or call 0121 523 1730 The Vegetarian Society – www.vegsoc.org/getactive or call 0161 925 2000 IT’S GOOD TO TALK! Chatting with a friend or relative over the phone can be the next best thing to being with them. Alternatively, if you would feel more comfortable talking confidentially about a particular issue to someone who doesn’t know you, then you can call the free Silver Line. This is a helpline that was established by Esther Rantzen in 2012 and its number is 0800 4 70 80 90. There is also:

in England 51% of over 75s live alone. 5 million older people say the television is their main form of company

GET PASSIONATE ABOUT A NEW ACTIVITY One way to overcome your feelings 16 vintage

fundraiser or a regular letter writer to local newspapers? There are many roles out there and all of the charities listed below would be delighted to hear from you.

Vegetarian for Life – www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk/friends or call 0161 257 0887 Viva! – www.viva.org.uk/getinvolved or call 0117 944 1000

l Independent Age on 0800 319 6789 l Age UK on 0800 169 6565 l Friends of the Elderly on 0207 259 0154 – to receive a weekly or fortnightly friendship call from a volunteer who enjoys talking to older people.

GET CONNECTED A good way to keep in touch with friends and family who may live far away is by using a personal computer or tablet (hand held computer). If you find this technology bewildering then help is at hand. Many libraries and community centres often hold regular training courses for older people to learn basic computer skills. Computers and tablets enable you to share emails and photos with family and friends. You can also have free video chats using services such as Skype, Face Time or Viber, and make new online ‘friends’ or reconnect with old friends with social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter, and also website forums. They can also be the ideal way to find local groups and clubs that share your interests and hobbies. For example, bridge, walking, knitting or even quiz nights! It might even encourage you to find out more about a wide range of new interests through groups such as the University of the 3rd Age.

can give you a great feeling of satisfaction and an energising sense of purpose. Why not use the knowledge and experience you’ve gained over a lifetime to give something back to your community? There are so many volunteering opportunities that relish the qualities and skills of older people – such as patience, experience and calmness. Just some examples are helping in a local charity shop or hospital, the Citizens Advice Bureau and school reading programmes.

work colleagues. They may also struggle to fill their expanded spare time with new activities. Help may be at hand with the recent growth of Men’s Sheds!, an initiative run by the UK Men’s Sheds Association. A Men’s Shed is a larger version of the typical man’s shed in the garden – a place where he feels at home and pursues practical interests with a sense of ‘being in charge’. A Men’s Shed oﬀers this to a group of men. They can share the tools and resources they need to work on projects of their own choosing, at their own pace, and in a friendly venue. Basically, they are places of skill-sharing and informal learning and are somewhere that men can come together to work on projects that interest them. A Shed’s activities will usually involve making or mending in wood (e.g. carpentry, joinery, turning, carving) but may include metalworking (milling, sheet metal, welding) bike repair, gardening, electronics, tool renovation and even boat renovation. Visit www.menssheds.org.uk or call 07757 024749 for further details.

there are so many volunteering opportunities that relish the qualities and skills of older people

ON THE MOVE Don’t wait for people to come and see you – travel to visit them! One advantage of being older is that public transport is better value. Bus travel is free for over-60s across the UK. And for longer distances, train and coach travel can be cheap too, especially if you book in advance online and use a senior rail card. If you have mobility problems or live in a rural area with poor transport services, the Royal Voluntary Service can help connect you with volunteers who provide free transport. There are also often other community groups who can help with transport – why not use your new techie skills to find them? HELPING OTHERS Many surveys have shown that helping others in your community

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT MEN? It is a well-known fact that men can be particularly bad at seeking help or beginning new activities if they find themselves becoming isolated and lonely. Often this is after retiring when they find that most of their friends were actually their

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www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk Registered charity number 1120687

Vegetarian for life?

We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just have the questionsâ&#x20AC;Ś We have the answers! Where can I find some inspiring new recipes? How do my nutritional needs change as I grow older? Which care homes cater for vegetarians and vegans?

Wills and legacies

WHERE THERE’S A WILL… Death and money are two subjects that most people aren’t comfortable talking about. So it’s no real surprise that an estimated 52% of the 50 million adults living in the UK have not made a will (Willaid 2014). The same survey found that, despite the many ways in which our lives change, once people had made a will they rarely thought about going back to revise it! And yet, wills are incredibly important legal documents – they let you decide who will look after your estate when you die and also who will

benefit from your estate and who will not. You may wish to leave a specific gift (such as a painting) or a pecuniary gift (such as cash). You are also able to decide who should benefit from the rest of your estate. Making these decisions in

your will can make the task of sorting things after your death much easier for your family and friends. This is especially true if family relationships have been diﬃcult – and also if a number of people believe that you definitely promised them that special ornament! There is excellent advice available at www.gov.uk/make-will and also at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. This addresses how to make a will, how to ensure it is legal, and also how to update it. If you would prefer to speak

wills let you decide who will look after your estate when you die and also who will beneﬁt from your estate and who will not

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to someone about wills then your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau can be an excellent starting point.

KEEP SUPPORTING CAUSES THAT MATTER TO YOU Preparing a will also gives you an opportunity to consider supporting a particular cause or charity following your death. This may be a cause that has always been close to your heart. Or it may be an organisation that has been able to oﬀer you muchneeded support. If you decide to leave a legacy or gift to a charity such as Vegetarian for Life, this can take two forms – pecuniary or residuary. A pecuniary gift is one of a specific sum of money. If it is residuary, then you would give a set percentage of the residue of your estate after all specific gifts and requests have been made. In both cases, it is very important that the wording of your legacy is accurate and legally correct.

a temporary basis if, for example, you are in hospital. Or it might be on a more permanent basis – for example if you have recently been diagnosed with dementia and recognise that you need to plan longer-term. It is possible to organise both of these arrangements through a legal device known as ‘power of attorney’. And there are two types of power of attorney: ordinary and lasting.

own decisions at some time in the future, or no longer wish to make decisions for yourself. There are two types of lasting power of attorney. One relates to property and financial affairs and another relates to personal welfare. When someone decides to establish a lasting power of attorney it is an extremely important decision. For this reason, a lasting power of attorney is only valid if the person setting it up is mentally capable. They must also make the decision on the basis of their own free will. The lasting power of attorney must also be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. You can make a lasting power of attorney by filling in the relevant forms available from the Office of the Public Guardian. These can be downloaded from their website www.gov.uk/government/organisa tions/office-of-the-publicguardian, or you can request paper copies (phone 0300 456 0300). Furthermore, the Office of the Public Guardian can provide you with a list of organisations who can help you fill in the forms correctly. You could also employ a solicitor to fill in your forms on your behalf.

preparing a will also gives you an opportunity to consider supporting a particular cause or charity following your death

POWER OF ATTORNEY? At some point in your life it might become necessary for someone to act on your behalf or make decisions for you. This might be on

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Ordinary power of attorney is applicable when you still have the ability to make decisions by yourself but need someone to manage your financial aﬀairs – for example if you are leaving the country for a lengthy holiday. In contrast, a lasting power of attorney is a way of giving someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf in the future. For example, you may feel you will lack the ability to make your

Funeral planning

Not surprisingly, most of us are quite happy to avoid thinking and talking about our own funeral. And yet thinking ahead and making decisions about our funeral can make sure that our wishes are honoured as fully as possible. It also takes a stressful burden of decisionmaking at a time of grief oﬀ our bereaved family and friends. That burden is not only an emotional one. Funeral costs are considerable – on average a funeral in the UK now costs £3,600! In terms of the style and content of a funeral, many choices are available. Naturally, making the most of these choices requires making decisions and planning ahead. And remember; once you have made some decisions these can always be revised at a later date if you change your mind about some aspect of your funeral. So being slightly undecided about some detail of your funeral is not a good enough excuse to delay your planning! Making decisions about your funeral in advance of your death is

the key stepping-stone to having a funeral ceremony that reflects your personality, life and beliefs. If you have made those decisions it is of course essential that your family, next of kin or carers know your choices. They are the people who will be organising your funeral!

Lists of Funeral Directors are available from the National Association of Funeral Directors (www.nafd.org.uk or call 0121 711 1343) and also the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (www.saif.org.uk or call 0345 230 6777). It is also possible for your family and friends to arrange many aspects of your funeral themselves. This not only reduces the overall cost but can make it a very personal farewell. The Natural Death Centre provides an excellent range of resources if this is something you would like to consider. Visit www.naturaldeath.org.uk or phone 01962 712 690 for information.

most of us are quite happy to avoid thinking and talking about our own funeral The key choices facing you are:

WHICH FUNERAL DIRECTOR? You may already have a preference or may decide to use a firm who have traditionally been involved with funerals in your family. You may even have a funeral finance plan already established. One way of selecting one is to talk to them in advance about the type of funeral ceremony you would like to be clear they will honour your decisions.

HOW WILL BE YOUR FUNERAL SERVICE BE PAID FOR? The current estimate for a funeral service is £3,600, which is a substantial sum and can provide problems for your family if it has not been anticipated or prepared for. This is why increasing numbers of people now subscribe to a funeral

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plan. Most plans offer you a choice of a range of funerals that include different features and therefore have different prices. Effectively these plans freeze the cost of your funeral at a price you know today and prevent any burden falling on the bereaved. It is now possible for you to pay into a funeral plan either with a lump sum or through monthly instalments. Most Funeral Directors offer funeral plans and will be glad to talk to you about the plan details. However, there is a wide range of funeral plans available to you and it is worth doing your research! In particular, it is wise to choose a plan that is provided by a company approved by the Funeral Planning Authority (www.funeralplanningauthority.com or call 0845 601 9619). This offers peace of mind as to how your money is looked after and also has a dispute resolution process.

CREMATION OR BURIAL? This decision will come down to personal beliefs. Currently, just over 70% of funerals in the UK are followed by cremation. If you elect for cremation, the next decision you face is what you would like to happen to your ashes. Here, your choices are almost endless – perhaps scattered at a favourite beach, interred in a cemetery or even fired into the night sky on a firework rocket!

the grave location is carefully plotted. Some burial grounds mark a grave by planting a tree, while others maintain the burial grounds as natural wildflower meadows, which look absolutely beautiful! Many natural burial grounds are members of the Association of National Burial Grounds. Their website oﬀers a search facility to find a burial ground near you and also has some wonderful photographs of their setting. Visit www.naturaldeath.org.uk for details.

increasingly, funeral ceremonies are a celebration of the life of the person who has died

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NATURAL BURIAL One of the noticeable trends in recent years has been the growing popularity of green funerals, which are also known as natural burials. People will typically choose this style of burial because they are concerned about their impact on the environment. They wish to be as careful in death as they have been during their lives to be as environmentally friendly as possible. A natural burial seeks to minimise its impact on the natural environment. So certain rules are usually followed – embalmed bodies are not typically accepted due to the later release of the chemicals used. Coﬃns must be fully degradable. Also memorials are usually not permitted, although

WHAT TYPE OF SERVICE? This is where you have most choice. No longer do you need to follow the structure and content of a traditional religious service. Increasingly, funeral ceremonies are a celebration of the life of the person who has died. This means that the ceremony in both structure and content reflects the unique life of the person who has died. Not only is this a very honest and warm way to remember someone but also it is a way to instil special memories in those who attend.

WHO WILL PERFORM THE SERVICE? Funeral Directors will have lists of clergy and other celebrants who they work with on a regular basis. Unless you oﬀer specific instructions, you are leaving this vital choice to a Funeral Director who in all probability has never met or known you. Therefore your choice of celebrant is crucial. If you do not follow a particular religion, a list of non-religious funeral celebrants is available from the British Humanist Association (www.humanism.org.uk/ceremonies or call 020 7324 3060). And remember, it is also possible for your family and friends to lead the ceremony themselves – not only a very personal farewell but also something that reduces the overall cost of your funeral.

Who cares about older vegetarians and vegans?

We do!

Vegetarian for Life, 83 Ducie Street, Manchester M1 2JQ Email: admin@vegetarianforlife.org.uk Tel: 0161 257 0887 VfLUK @VfL_UK

www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk Registered charity number 1120687

Travelling as an older vegetarian: tribulations and treats! Tina Fox oﬀers tips for veggie silver travellers

I have been both a long-time vegetarian and a long-time traveller, ranging from places in the UK to exotic destinations such as India, Thailand and the area previously known as Soviet Asia. So, as you can imagine, my experiences, both positive and negative, are varied. One thing I have found, however, is that as I have grown older my patience with poor catering has worn very thin. I am no longer willing to put up with poor meals, and I always in advance make it clear that I expect a decent vegetarian breakfast – and not just the meat breakfast without the meat. I have found this is an area of particular weakness – many hotels and guest houses feel it is suﬃcient just to serve egg with beans, tomatoes and mushrooms. Vegetarians (including vegans) pay the same as anyone else, so why should we have so much less choice? One of the nicest surprises I had was when staying at the Sun Inn in Clun, Shropshire, for a couple of days. They went to the trouble of getting in some Quorn vegetarian bacon and it really made my weekend. Similarly, hotels that serve a very good fresh (and I mean fresh, not out of a tin) fruit salad go up in my estimation. Earlier this year we stayed in Malta in the Corinthia Hotel, St George’s Bay. Although the evening meals were pretty useless they served an excellent 24 vintage

breakfast – they did not have any veggie sausages or the like, but they had an amazing breakfast buﬀet choice including pancakes, wonderful fruit salad, cakes and homemade bread, so it was a great start to the day. Of course the safest option would be to always stay in a vegetarian or vegan guest house or hotel and this can be really special.

with vegetarian food much more available than in 1972, when I ﬁrst turned veggie, it is usually ﬁne to eat out for lunch and evening meals

For example, the wonderful Yewfield Country Guest House, or Lancrigg, both in the Lake District and the tiny but tasty No. 15 B&B in Norwich, all of which we have enjoyed in the past. Obviously there is not always a veggie place to stay where you wish to visit so that can be a bit limiting. If you are going for more than a couple of nights there is always the self-catering option. We had a delightful week in May in a cottage in Northumberland that had some excellent evening catering nearby in the Three Wheatheads in Thropton. We took this option, however, because we wanted to take our cat with us on holiday. Generally selfcatering can work out more expensive than a B&B and who wants to spend their holiday cooking? Nowadays with vegetarian food much more available than in 1972, when I first turned veggie, it is usually fine to eat out for lunch and evening meals. Though again, if you are not fortunate enough to stay near somewhere like Ambleside, Brighton, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Manchester – all of which have a good range of purely vegetarian eateries – you might find the choice limited. I find this is a particular problem for me because I don’t like spicy food and I find many non-vegetarian chefs think that in order to provide a tasty vegetarian dish all they have to do is throw spices or garlic at it and it will be fine. I also find a lot of veggie dishes seem to consist of gloopy sauces – we are not reverted to babyhood! Vegetarian pies also seem to be limited to cheese and onion so I was delighted to get one in the Lake District recently that had broccoli, stilton and beans in it for a change. When it comes to travel abroad some countries are much more veggie-friendly than others. Obviously India tops the list

because a large percentage of the population there is vegetarian so the majority of food is also. I was pleasantly surprised when I visited there in 2013 that I could also get plenty of non-spicy vegetarian food. Turkey is also a good country to visit with plenty of bean-based dishes, and chefs there are only too willing to make things up for you. Many countries that are sea bound are less veggie-friendly so I am a bit apprehensive about my forthcoming trip to Norway but we will be on a cruise ship so somehow I doubt we will starve. Most capital cities around the world are now also very veggie-

friendly and we have eaten very well in Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, Paris, Prague and Rome. Of course our own capital, London, probably has the highest percentage of vegetarian restaurants in the world. I have found that vegetarians visiting the UK generally from elsewhere are very impressed by the dishes available. The moral of the tale seems to be vegetarians need to research more, prepare more and complain more if we are to have an enjoyable visit whether it is for business or pleasure. So all you veggies out there – stand up and be counted and don’t let poor catering be rewarded.

stand up and be counted and don’t let poor catering be rewarded

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Eating out in Paris and London

The advocacy charity for older vegetarians and vegans

Donations to help our work are welcomed

The HouseTrip vegan and vegetarian ‘where to eat’ online city guide covers London, Paris and Berlin. Each city guide features helpful tips from local food experts (who are vegan/vegetarian themselves), restaurant reviews, and interviews with celebrity chefs who specialise in veggie cuisine. The featured restaurants are exclusively vegan or vegetarian, and can easily be found on the interactive map. Simply click on a restaurant that looks appealing, read the review and tips from local experts, and hit ‘get directions’! You can filter by ‘best for special occasions’ and ‘vegan’, so the ideal restaurant is never going to be too hard to find.

Have readymade vegetarian and vegan food delivered to your door!

And if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, you can search for purely vegetarian hotels and guest houses via the VeggieHotels web portal. It features more than 500 establishments in 60 countries – and more than 60 are purely vegan. The criteria for a VeggieHotel are simple – neither fish nor meat is served. Many oﬀer organic food and accommodate specific diets such as raw food. Say goodbye to the stress of finding food in a foreign city, and hello to exploring fantastic cities with a full belly.

The Dinners to your Door guide – which is available free of charge – features many of the leading companies that produce meals for home delivery. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available.

www.housetrip.com/content/vegetarian-foodguide/index.html

www.veggie-hotels.com

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Vegetarian for Life, the charity for older vegetarians and vegans, has produced a new meal service guide for vulnerable vegetarians and vegans.

Email admin@vegetarianforlife.org.uk or call 0161 257 0887 to order.

www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk Or phone: 0161 257 0887

With a little help from my friends…

If you don’t need support at the present time, perhaps you could spare a little time to help someone who does? Friends of Vegetarian for Life are vegetarian or vegan people who work voluntarily to help raise awareness of the charity and its work. Their brief is wide and interesting because they will be in contact with both individuals and care establishments. The very positive impact of supporters who believe strongly in the charity’s objectives cannot be overestimated. You can really help us to make a difference to someone’s life! Here are just a few examples of the ways in which Friends can help the charity: l Visiting local care homes and encouraging them to become UK List members. l Alerting VfL head office to local news stories that concern the diet of older people or relate to good and bad examples of how care establishments cater for older vegetarians and vegans. l Distributing VfL posters and flyers to places where they will be noticed e.g. doctors’ surgeries, farmers markets, health food shops and lunch clubs. l Speaking to local groups and organisations to find out if they would like to have a VfL staff member come and talk to them

about the charity’s work. l Helping us to man stands at exhibitions, fêtes and fairs. l If you visit a hotel or eatery and find they are veggie friendly you could always write about your experience on our blog. l We are always looking for fresh ideas as to how to promote our work – if you have an idea, no matter how crazy it seems we would love to hear from you. l Do your local papers have a food or community section for which we could submit an article?

HOW TO BECOME ONE OF OUR FRIENDS If you are interested in becoming a Friend please get in touch. You can either fill in the application form on our website or we’ll send you a paper copy in the post. The form is easy to complete and asks you some very basic questions, such as your name and contact details. It also asks you about what particular areas of our work interest you. This can help us to get you involved in ways that really appeal to you. After we have received your form you will be phoned by the relevant regional Director. This call will explain all aspects of the charity’s work and answer any questions that you may have. It’s also a personal welcome to the VfL team!

The VfL Friends support pack

If you decide to become a VfL Friend then we want you to feel you are becoming part of our team. We also want to let you know just how much we value your work. SO TO GET YOU STARTED, YOU WILL RECEIVE: l A funky VfL Friend lanyard. l A full set of our printed publications. l Contact details for the VfL Director for your region so you can quickly get an answer to any query you might have. l A free Vegetarian for Life cotton shopper bag.

We also oﬀer Friends a discount on all VfL merchandise. Why not treat yourself to one of our VfL cotton bags and really get noticed?

For more information, visit www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk/ friends or call us on 0161 257 0887.

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Shop for Life Vegetarian for Life apron

£19.99 plus P&P. Available in purple or aubergine l l l l

65% polyester, 35% cotton Machine washable up to 60°C Tumble-drier safe Design will survive being ironed!

ebay

VfL is on ebay for charity. If you sell or buy on ebay you could consider making a donation via ebay. We’d also be happy to accept small items to sell on ebay to raise money directly for our charity. Please contact us if you would like any further information.

Give as you Live

You can help Vegetarian for Life by using Give as you Live to make online purchases from a variety of online stores, such as Amazon, M&S, Argos, John Lewis and more. It won’t cost you more but we will get a referral fee every time you use it. www.giveasyoulive.com/join/vegetarian-forlife/1120687/0

Vegetarian for Life is a registered charity and you can support our work by making a donation or leaving us a legacy in your will. There are other ways you can support what we do, and we have some suggestions on this page.

Vegetarian for Life cotton/ organic cotton shopper bags £3.99/£5.99 plus P&P

Everyclick

You can also help us by using Everyclick. Everyclick is a search engine that gives half of the revenue it generates to charity. Use it to raise money for Vegetarian for Life whenever you search the web. There’s absolutely no charge to you or to us. Make Everyclick your favourite search engine and use Everyclick for all your searches. www.everyclick.com/vegetarian-for-life/1120687/0

Giveacar

Do you own a vehicle that you want to dispose of? Then you can make a real diﬀerence to our charity this year! Giveacar is a UK based fundraising organisation that organises car donation for good causes in the UK, including our own. To arrange donation of a car visit Giveacar or call 020 0011 1664, quoting Vegetarian for Life as your preferred charity. www.giveacar.co.uk/charities/vegetarian-life

Switch your energy supply to Ecotricity and not only will you be using green energy at a fair price but as a thank you they will donate up to £60 to Vegetarian for Life. Quote reference VFL1 if you call them on

08000 302 302

NEW! Vegetarian for Life shop www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk/shop