Reading's first free veggie food extravaganza!

Free veggie food fairs are sweeping the country by storm and proving a real hit with people discovering veggie and vegan food for the first time.

So Thames Valley Veggies is doing it's own in Broad Street Mall, where we'll occupy the ground floor open space on the busy first Saturday of half term and May bank holiday, during National Vegetarian Week.

We'll also have an information stall outside the entrance to the Oracle shopping centre on Broad Street (opposite Marks and Spencer) on the same day.

All the food will be vegan, so as to be suitable for all. It's a great time to try new and interesting foods as well as delighting in veggie versions of old favourites.

How you can join in

It's going to be a real teamwork event and fun to join in with. Even if you can't make it on the day, there are opportunities to help in preparing for it, especially making food. Contact us as soon as possible to say what you might be on for, or just that you are available for anything.

Before the day:

• making and printing posters and leaflets
• planning and making displays
• encouraging food manufacturers, shops and local eateries to donate food samples, materials, prizes, assistance and ideas
• generating publicity via the local media
• encouraging others to join in
• encouraging kids you know to enter our art competition
• dreaming up other competitions
• finding/making suitable costumes or vegetable hats
• helping to gather and get hold of materials, such as table cloths
• making enticing home cooked vegan food (recipes and ideas can be provided, such as these) in time to still be fresh for the fair

On the day

• supply enticing home cooked vegan food throughout the day (recipes can be provided)
• be one of our people with a food hygiene certificate
• bring materials to the site, as early as possible
• put up displays and arrange materials and food
• take digital photos , especially of the children's artwork, food and people in fancy dress.
• liase with food donors
• man the food stalls - cutting up, dishing out, keeping clean & tidy and being friendly
• man the information stalls in the Mall and on Broad St (being friendly and offering practical advice about being veggie/vegan, and showing people the relevant leaflets is what's needed)
• clean cutlerly and plates as needed, and getting rid of rubbish
• dress up in fancy dress and vegetable hats
• gather entries for children's art competition
• help clear up at the end of the day (5pmish)
• just turn up and see what needs doing - no prior experience required!

Sponsors and supporters

This event has received the support and contribution of the following local and national businesses and organisations, who we thank heartily for their involvement:

See our locations listings for more information on many of these companies.

And an especially big thank you goes to Broad Street Mall and Reading Borough Council for the use of their wonderful spaces.