We spoke to the organiser for the West Midlands Vegan Festival- Kevin White about the event and why veganism is catching on in the UK as a whole.
Kevin White
Why is veganism taking off in the UK?
People are more aware than ever before of the impact of meat & dairy on human health, our environment, world hunger and the shocking cruelty in animal farming. Veganism is the solution to so many problems in our world.
Why are vegan events the best starting point if you're curious about the vegan diet, an aspiring vegan or already a vegan?
Vegan festivals are a great opportunity to try an array of delicious food (including many free samples), to learn the benefits in inspiring talks, watch mouth-watering cookery demos, meet & socialise with friends and make new friends.
What can people expect from the West Midlands Vegan Festival?
The event will include over 120 varied stalls offering an array of hot food, cakes, chocolate, clothing, cosmetics, recipes, campaign merchandise etc, 40 inspiring talks/workshops, 10 mouth-watering cookery demos, vegan bar, live entertainment on stage throughout the weekend, fitness competitions, alternative therapy, kids activities. There'll be attractions on all 4 floors of the huge venue throughout the 16 hours that the event is open, & also quieter areas to relax away from the crowds!
Why were people scared of the 'V' word at one time?
People used to believe vegan stereotypes about sandal wearing, salad munching hippies, and this would put them off browsing a vegan stall or visiting a vegan event, but times have changed enormously now with thousands of vegan labelled products in the shops, most people have vegan friends, family, work colleagues and the benefits of veganism are widely known. These days, people are more likely to be curious (or even excited!) by veganism than scared off.
Please tell us about your personal journey into the lifestyle.
I've loved animals all my life & always been a supporter of animal/wildlife charities, but leaving animals off my plate had never occurred to me! In 1997 I got involved in a local Redditch campaign to stop the live export of sheep and then joined numerous other campaigns & protests around the country. Once I discovered the extreme cruelty in farming I soon went veggie and then vegan, but I've since discovered that veganism is equally important for the planet and for my own health.
What is your favourite aspect of the festival?
I love the fact that there's always so much going on at the same time! With 3 talk rooms, a cookery demo room, live entertainment on stage, fitness contests, kids activities, alternative therapy and 120 stalls & caterers, something for everyone, all simultaneously being enjoyed by visitors throughout the weekend! Few other vegan events have quite so much going on and none for just £1 entry!
You are the organiser for the festival so how long does the whole process take and what are you looking for when you bring people on board?
I'm constantly looking for new attractions, stalls, performers etc and receive enquiries all year round, but I only really get stuck in to organising about 4 months before the event. I like to include a wide variety of stalls/talks, including the most popular companies/campaigns, those with the biggest following on Facebook etc. Also, I try to include unique, exciting attractions, things that'll make potential visitors think "WOW, I want to go there". For instance, 2 years ago there was a fantastic aerial display, with Loretta Hope suspended above the Civic stage on aerial silks, performing stunning tricks & tumbles in the air! The year before, a samba band led a parade of dancing festival-goers & volunteers handing out free food samples through the busy shopping streets to the venue!
You can read about veganism all over the place now- so what is your preferred vegan resource?
If there's anything worth reading about veganism, then it's sure to be on Facebook! It's a fantastic resource for staying up to date on the latest vegan news, products, events etc and ideal for sharing the latest updates of my own events.
Why do you think non vegans are so attracted to this festival?
Veganism is one of the UK's fastest growing lifestyle choices, with a staggering 360% rise in vegans in the last 10 years. With such a huge amount of interest in veganism, it's not surprising that curious non-vegans flock to one of the biggest vegan events in the country, particularly when entrance fee is just £1.
How important is it for you to get feedback after the event from the non-vegan attendees?
We always encourage visitors to fill in short questionnaire forms and these provide invaluable feedback. For instance, the results for years have consistently shown that 50% of visitors are non-vegan and last year 25% of non-vegan visitors said they were either going or thinking about going vegan. Organising the festival is extremely hard work & time consuming but stats like this and the countless positive comments received provide all the incentive I need to keep going. Constructive criticism is crucial too, and this has been instrumental in the development and improvement of the event over the years.
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