The Vegan Society has announced what it says is the world’s first ever vegan-inclusive education conference.
The event aims to help vegan learners and their parents as well as teachers who want to be vegan inclusive, the society says.
The event comes after a number of recent outcries over the promotion of vegetarian and vegan food over carnivorous offerings in school canteens.
In February, the Our Lady of Sion School in Worthing caused a stir when it announced its hot meals would now all be vegan.
At the conference, members of the Vegan Society’s Educational Network (EN) – a voluntary group of vegan professionals – will address challenges to vegan-inclusive education, describe their experiences as educators, parents and guardians and those of children.
They will look at how equality and inclusiveness principles can be applied to vegans whose ethical views are protected by law.
The charity is also welcoming guest speakers from the education sector to submit presentations ahead of the conference, at the Training and Conference Centre in Speke, Liverpool, on 1 October 2022.
Examples of topics covered include: how traditional resources can be improved to promote animal compassion, inclusiveness around extra-curricular activities and school trips, and the provision of vegan food and plant milks.
This week also marks the launch of the society’s Vegan Education Guide which aims to support educators with vegan children in their care. The document has been created with help from the EN which includes vegan volunteers from headteachers and teaching staff to school chefs, child psychologists and council members.
Education Network chair and education officer at The Vegan Society Laura Chepner said: “We’re so excited to be hosting such a groundbreaking event. The conference is a UK first and will be the first time that the Education Network will get together and hear each other’s presentations.
“As a former teacher and a vegan parent myself, I know all too well the challenges sometimes faced by vegan pupils, parents and the obstacles in creating an inclusive school environment. We’re confident the conference and the Vegan Education Guide will go a long way to helping educators to be as vegan-inclusive as possible while empowering and supporting vegan parents, children and young people in mainstream education.”
The Vegan Education Guide can be accessed here and parents of vegan children are encouraged to share the guide widely with their schools and among learning communities.
Professionals interested in joining the EN or contributing to the conference can contact education@vegansociety.com.