Despite being a fairly small group, we have managed to stage approx 50 events of one kind or another during 2006 - everything from socials and group meals to food sample stalls, leafletting and publicity stunts! Our activities have made many 1,000`s of people more aware of vegetariansm/veganism and we have no doubt that many people have changed their diet as a result.

We have put together the following Review of 2006 which is basically a summary of everything we`ve been doing in the last 12 months. If you would like to help us make 2007 even more successful, please come along to one of our meetings or contact us.

We wish you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!!

JANUARY
The Winged Spur public house in Ullenhall, near Henley in Arden, was the setting for RVV`s first group meal out. The food and the evening was enjoyed by all. Read report and see photos here

FEBRUARY
When we discovered that it is not compulsory for schools to provide vegetarian, let alone vegan meals for pupils, one of our members wrote an excellent letter to our MP, Jacqui Smith, who was also at the time, the Minister of State for Schools. Read the letter here

BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester held an outside broadcast in Redditch Town Centre and we were invited along. We held a food sample/info stall and gave a live radio interview. Read more and see photos here

MARCH
As part of Viva!`s `Hardest Working Mother` dairy farming campaign, we held a publicity stunt/street theatre in Redditch Town Centre just before Mothering Sunday. It involved members wearing aprons, dressing gowns, marigold gloves, slippers etc and cow masks, whilst using an hoover, ironing board, mop/bucket in the street!!! Over 600 leaflets were handed out. Read a report with photos here

APRIL
At our monthly meeting, our guest speker was Diane Smith, Animal Aid`s School Speaker Coordinator for the West Midlands region. She spoke about her invaluable work going into schools to educate children about vegetariansm.

No less than 12 of our members attended an excellent talk by Juliet Gellatley of Viva! in Birmingham. Titled `Why You Don`t Need Dairy`, the talk was organised by Birmingham Veggies & Vegans.

MAY
Our monthly meeting took the form of a tofu cookery demonstration. Members learnt just how versatile tofu is as we watched a variety of dishes being prepared, and we all got to sample the delicious results!! Read report with photos here

We helped to organise a coach to the national live export march & rally in Dover, and several of our members attended. Read a report from the event here

JUNE
We helped to organise the first ever independent `Redditch Green Fair` in the town centre. We held a double food sample/info stall & also served vegan refreshments from the kitchen. Read a full report with photos here

We held an info stall at a Veggie BBQ & Fayre in Birmingham, organised by Birmingham Veggies & Vegans.

One of our members, wrote an article about how ditching dairy virtually ended her life long arthritis and it was published in the summer 2006 edition of Veggie Health - the magazine of The Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation. Read the article in full here

JULY
Many of our members helped with an Animal Aid street collection in Redditch, raising over £288 for their campaigns.

We held an info stall at a council organised `Green Day` in Redditch.

Our group get together in July took the form of an enjoyable meal out at The Little Lark pub in Studley. The delicious meal came at a very reasonable price and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Read a short report with photos here

An info stall was held at `Cool by the Pool`, a family fun day in Redditch.

AUGUST
We held an info stall at a Caribbean Style Fun Day in Redditch.

We helped Redditch Borough Council find a veggie caterer for a family fun day which was attended by approx 3,000 local residents. We also held a stall there ourselves. See a full report with photos here

An info stall was held at a local animal sanctuary open day.

A letter published in the Redditch Standard congratulated the council on their decision to hire a veggie caterer for the family fun day above. Read the letter here

We held an info/food sample stall at a local `Healthy Living Fun Day` organised by Sure Start.

SEPTEMBER
We have held info/food sample stalls at college fresher fairs in Redditch, Bromsgrove & Solihull. Read more here (scroll down page)

As part of Viva!`s `Britain Goes Veggie Month`, we held a publicity stunt/street theatre in Redditch Town Centre. It involved members wearing chefs costumes and carrying a platter with an inflatable globe to raise awareness of the environmental impact of the meat/dairy industries. Over 500 leaflets were handed out. Read a report with photos here

One of our members had a letter published in a local paper. It explained how livestock farming is hugely wasteful of water and why the beef industry is one of the primary causes of deforestation. Read the letter here (scroll down the page)

An info stall was held at a local animal sanctuary open day.

We distributed approx 2,000 of Viva!`s `Honey I`ve Eaten A Whole Menagerie` leaflets by door to door leafletting across Redditch.

We helped to organise & prepare food for the successful `Teaching Compassion` event in Coventry. 6 RVV members also helped/attended on the day. Read a report here

OCTOBER
An info stall was held at a local Animal Blessings Service.

Tim Woodley of Red Star Natural Liquid Soaps was the guest speaker at our monthly meeting. He amused his audience with a talk about the history of soap and why his company only produces entirely natural products that are not tested on animals.

We held a stall at a local animal sanctuary open day.

Members enjoyed some scrumptious food at 2 Redditch restaurants, with just 3 weeks between the two. Read a report with photos here

NOVEMBER
On World Vegan Day, we gave a live interview to BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester.

We have held eco veggie stalls/displays for `Global Warming Week` at both Redditch & Bromsgrove Colleges. Read a short report here (scroll to the bottom of the page)

4 Redditch veggie/vegans attended the `Stop Climate Chaos` march and rally in London. We marched with a banner which said `Save the Planet - Go Vegan`. Read report and find pictures here

We held info stalls for `Food and Farming Week` at local colleges.

DECEMBER
Our December meeting took the form of a Bring & Share Xmas Supper. A small culinary contribution from everyone produced a festive feast for all to share. A great night was had by all. See photos from the evening here

Approx 2,000 of Viva!`s excellent Xmas Turkey leaflets were pushed through local letterboxes.
 

AND WE`VE ALSO BEEN BUSY WITH THE FOLLOWING

On top of the stalls listed above, we`ve held approx another 10 information stalls in the town centre and elsewhere.

We have featured approx 20 times in local press articles, many of which can be found via the links above.

We designed and produced a range of visually stunning eco-veggie posters which draw attention to the devastating impact that the meat/dairy industries have on the planet. These will be an invaluable resource for our stalls and displays throughout 2007 and beyond. Read more about our new eco-veggie posters here

We now produce a bi-monthly newsletter which is distributed on stalls & is downloadable via our website. Find the latest edition here

We have now formed an alliance with various local eco/ethical/social justice groups - Redditch Alliance of Greens, which has it`s own newsletter and website. See www.redditch-ag.info

RVV are now working with a local veggie/vegan healthy takeaway food producer, who is conducting research & development into what veggie/vegans would like to see more readily available locally. He attends our meetings, serves up prototype meal samples and we offer advice and constructive criticism. A whole new range of veggie/vegan meals will be launched in 2007, and will be made available in local shops/pubs etc. Read more here

We have just launched a major campaign to encourage National Friends of the Earth to start promoting plant based diets for the benefit of the environment. Read more about this campaign here