What we’re about
Want vegan friends?
Real life vegan friends not just online friends?
How about real life vegan friends who are local to you not 100s of miles away?
Join us!
Since August 2023 we have met up at least once a month in Dunstable, Luton & Leighton Buzzard to enjoy great vegan food and connect the local vegan community.
We are an active group and have been trampolining, hiking, bowling and attended art classes together with many more things (including outreach) planned for the future!
Our events have been well attended, December 2023 had 15 people attending, January 2024 had 20 and February 2024 had 28 (see our instagram for proof!). The momentum keeps building, proving that there is a thriving, vibrant vegan community here in our local area - come along and make some vegan friends in person.
Whatever your age, marital status, race, orientation etc.. you are guaranteed a warm welcome.
Non-vegans are also very welcome, the sole polite request is that you only consume vegan food & drinks at our events. If you’re unsure I’m delighted to help you. Anyone who is open minded about veganism and willing to eat plant based food for a meal is invited to come along!
Mental Health:
This group isn't a substitute for therapy nor a babysitting service for anyone unwell.
If you struggle with mental health then you will find meeting up with us and forming a friendship group with us and with others beneficial, but you will need to overcome your own anxieties (if you have them) to actually meet up with us. In that regard, please do read the event description in full before messaging me. More often than not, your question has already been answered.
Politics:
Members are requested not to discuss political issues unless they relate to animal rights or veganism. Human issue politics are incredibly divisive and exclusionary.
Left wing and right wing vegans need to unite to fight for the animals - there are plenty of other spaces to discuss other issues. We might disagree completely on every other issue, yet the animals need us to have unity.
One exception: The government's proposed ban on our right to protest as that has implications for animal rights activism.
Get in Touch
Any questions, comments or queries please don’t use this Meetup website - it’s proved to be very unreliable!
It’s likely I won’t see your comments or messages and you won’t see mine!
Instead please contact me via
WhatsApp or Facebook or Instagram
(If it's urgent WhatsApp is the best method!)
Upcoming events (4)
See all- Operation 1000: MBR Acres A Mass GatheringPE28 2DT, Huntingdon
Beagle dogs are still being bred and used in laboratories subject to horrific cruelty in 2024, in the UK, just up the road from us.
I created this as an event on Meet-Up so local people could go together, possibly car share and know that you won't be standing on your own, you'll be among friends. This event isn't organised by me, I don't know any of the organisers - I just feel passionate about this.
I can't compromise myself by doing anything illegal but so far standing on public land holding a placard isn't breaking the law (yet)
Description from the Official Facebook Page:
OPERATION 1,000
A peaceful mass demonstration against MBR Acres, puppy breeders for animal experimentation.
We are demanding an end to this sick trade.
Please join us on May 25th to oppose 16 week old beagle puppies being sent to labs for "toxicity" testing.
This 2 minute promotional launch video, from September has all the information about this event.
Please sign up and PLEDGE to attend.As always and with every event, non-vegans are very welcome. Many non-vegans attend protests outside MBR Acres as they love the dogs.
PLEASE NOTE: Any questions, comments or queries please don’t use this Meetup website - it’s proved to be very unreliable! It’s likely I won’t see your comments or messages and you won’t see mine! Please don't forget I'm not the organiser for this event, so get in touch with them via their official facebook page if you need to.
If you want to get hold of me, please contact me via
WhatsApp, Facebook or Instagram.If it's urgent - calling me or WhatsApp is the best method!
- Bring & Share at Northall Village HallLU6 2EX, Dunstable£4.00
A "bring & share" is what our American cousins refer to as a "pot luck". Everyone brings a different dish and we all get to chow down experiencing a variety of taste sensations. Please note there's a £4 cover charge to cover the cost of the village hall. If we exceed the cost the surplus will go to Amberwood Animals vegan sanctuary. There's plenty of safe, off-road parking on site.
Laura is going to introduce us to her village of Northall in Dunstable (but oddly also Buckinghamshire?!) After we've eaten if the weather is fine, the plan is a 3 mile walk on fairly easy terrain from S E Lane, through fields (not trespassing!), to Edlesborough Church and back via Edlesborough and Eaton Bray.
This walk is dependent on good weather, if there's any rain the route gets waterlogged - but have no fear we can amuse ourselves with board games, an included sound system and a general hang out. Dogs are welcome on the walk but not in the village hall.
Please bring a strictly vegan only dish to serve 4 people.
Vegan means no meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs or honey as well as any other animal derivaties such as lanolin, carmine, cochineal, beeswax. If in doubt, leave it out! ***Please let Laura know what you intend to bring, just so we avoid duplicates or having to eat the same dish 8 times in a row'***The village hall has an oven and a microwave so pre-prepared dishes can be reheated on site.
ALLERGIES: Please inform ahead of time if you have allergies or intolerances to anything. Be mindful that things won't be prepared in professional kitchens but in people's homes. People with severe allergies would be best not partaking in the bring & share.
PLEASE NOTE: Any questions, comments or queries please don’t use this Meetup website - it’s proved to be very unreliable! It’s likely we won’t see your comments or messages and you won’t see ours!
Please contact us via Whatsapp, Facebook or Instagram
If it's urgent - use WhatsApp!
- Ivinghoe Beacon Walk & Buddha Barge Cafe (Post VCO social)LU7 9DY, Leighton Buzzard
Beat the post VCO blues with this social in the first weekend after Vegan Camp Out. If you've spent all your money at VCO then just come on the hike (for free) !
The Walk:
No need to RSVP for the walk, just turn up at the meeting point (the cafe) we will wait 10 minutes for latecomers but if you arrive at 11.11am we will have embarked. Sorry to be so strict (!) - if a disaster happens and you're really running late due to unforeseen circumstances, then message me on WhatsApp and I will send you the route so you can catch up with us!Please bring weatherproof clothing. The hike will still go ahead if its raining. If its gale force winds & torrential rain then the hike will be postponed but its just inclement (British) weather come and brave it with us! You'll feel so much better for doing so!
Dogs (obvs well behaved dogs) are welcome on the hike and in the cafe too.
Buddha Barge Cafe:
There are only spaces for 12 people in the narrowboat so I must be very strict with the RSVPs and ask only those who have RSPV-ed on Meet-Up to attend. If you find you're unable to come please adjust your RSVP so someone else might be able to come. (No need to RSVP for the walk, just turn up!)UPDATE: So since John and I went to Buddha barge for a test run we’ve seen they have outdoor seating that’s weatherproof with cover from rain and outdoor heaters
I’m hopeful there will be nice weather - it will be first weekend in August
They can hold 12 inside and 20 outside so I’ll open up the Meetup spots to be 32If it does end up being a high number of attendees then the restaurant owners will ask us to pre-order (they will send menus) as there’s only limited space in their kitchen
If you are just coming for the walk (or have spent all your money at vco!!) no need to rsvp
It’s the first weekend after vco so I’m expecting many people to be broke lol !
Buddha Barge is 100% plant based serving delicious nutritious food free from animals, dairy, refined sugar, soya, peanut, wheat, yeast and gluten. They are described as 'a picturesque waterside wellbeing wonderland with stunning views offering great honest food made with love'
Fresh, home cooked plant based food.
As always and with every event, non-vegans are very welcome. The sole polite request is that you only consume vegan food and drinks at our events. If you're unsure what they are, I'm delighted to help you.
PLEASE NOTE: Any questions, comments or queries please don’t use this Meetup website - it’s proved to be very unreliable! It’s likely I won’t see your comments or messages and you won’t see mine!
Please contact me via WhatsApp, Facebook or Instagram.
If it's urgent - WhatsApp is the best method!
- Volunteering at Curly Pig Tails SanctuaryNeeds location
The lovely people at Curly Tails Pig Sanctuary have agreed to open up their doors to us, to allow us to volunteer alongside them on Thursday 3rd October 2024 with a 9am start!
Come and join us as we'll learn about proper care of pigs and hopefully be a help (& not a hindrance!) to these wonderful creatures and their carers.
Curly Tails Pig Sanctuary are a registered charity that rescues unwanted pet pigs and give them a safe and loving home, rescuing pet pigs since March 2016. They offer porcine assisted therapy and learning to humankind in a non-exploitative and non-commercial way growing knowledge, self-worth and empathy for all.
The pigs that come to Curly Tails may have been mistreated, neglected, abandoned or have lost their homes or aren’t as ‘micro’ as people initially thought or have been led to believe. The only other option for them is usually euthanasia. We take these animals and rehabilitate them socially, emotionally and physically, where needed, rehoming them where possible and if this isn’t an option, they stay with us for the rest of their natural lives in a safe, tranquil and caring environment.
The sanctuary sits in 6 acres of land in the heart of Buckinghamshire (MK17 0BH) and is a peaceful and tranquil environment. It’s been called the Happy Place by many.
