Talks Room One
Timetable
Saturday April 12th 2025
10.30am
Immersive Advocacy: The Role of VR in University Vegan Outreach
Erin Stow
Discover how Viva!’s ‘Would You Swap?’ VR campaign is shaking up UK universities by giving students a startlingly realistic look[…]
Discover how Viva!’s ‘Would You Swap?’ VR campaign is shaking up UK universities by giving students a startlingly realistic look inside British pig farms. Learn why VR is a game-changer for vegan outreach and even get a chance to experience it firsthand!

11am
Martial Arts and Veganism
Benny Green
A transformative talk that explores the intersection of veganism and martial arts. A journey fuelled by resilience, discipline, and purpose.[…]
A transformative talk that explores the intersection of veganism and martial arts. A journey fuelled by resilience, discipline, and purpose. I’ll be sharing my personal story, a life shaped by a commitment to compassion, physical mastery, and overcoming addiction.
From birth, I’ve never eaten any meat. I discovered martial arts, which became both my philosophy and physical practice. This unique synergy taught me the true meaning of strength – It’s not just muscle but in mind and spirit. I’ll discuss how veganism and martial arts have been transformative forces in my life, fuelling a journey form dependency on alcohol to a place of power and peace of mind.
We’ll dive into ways that veganism and martial arts reinforce each other, both as paths of discipline and ethical living. You’ll learn how martial artists and athletes can thrive on a plant based diet, how veganism fosters a mindset of compassion and endurance, and how these choices have helped me overcome personal challenges.

12 pm
Fox Hunting - How It Happens and How We Stop It.
Rhys Giles
Every week this bloodsport is taking place under the noses of police. While the law offers little protection, your local[…]
Every week this bloodsport is taking place under the noses of police.
While the law offers little protection, your local hunt saboteurs put themselves between the hunt and their prey.
Find out about why fox hunting still happens, our techniques for stopping it, and our hopes for ending it.

1pm
Should we include our dogs and cats in Veganuary?
Dr Arielle Griffiths
You cannot have a more controversial topic than what we choose as animal lovers to feed our dogs and cats.[…]
You cannot have a more controversial topic than what we choose as animal lovers to feed our dogs and cats. We are so blinded by the love that we have for our own pets, that we forget how harmful their food is to not only their health, but also to our wider farmed animals and planetary health. So should we be feeding our dogs and cats a vegan diet? As a vegan vet, I say that we absolutely should be as we have all the science backing it up!

2pm
David V Goliath
Juliet Gellatley
‘David Vs Goliath: The Vegan Movement taking on the Meat Industry’. An incredible insight into the state of play in the[…]
‘David Vs Goliath: The Vegan Movement taking on the Meat Industry’. An incredible insight into the state of play in the UK and tactics used by a trillion dollar giant. Inspirational and energising talk!
Juliet is founder and director of dynamic vegan campaigning organisations: Viva! UK, Viva! Poland and Viva! Uganda.

3pm
Why Go Vegan - Launch
Karin Ridgers, Peter Egan, Wendy Turner-Webster, Tim Barford
Why Go Vegan is a new campaign focus on traditional vegan education, featuring a number of well known individuals[…]
Why Go Vegan is a new campaign focus on traditional vegan education, featuring a number of well known individuals from within the UK vegan community. The campaign features a new website and 30 day challenge focusing on traditional veganism, benefits of plant based lifestyles, the UK vegan community and vegan education
With Karin Ridgers, Peter Egan, Wendy Turner – Webster & Tim Barford


3.30pm
Vegan Women's Club
Karin Ridgers, Wendy Turner-Webster, Victoria Featherstone Pearce, Juliet Gellatley
Come & discover what the Vegan Women’s Club is all about, with co -founders Victoria Featherstone Pearce & Karin Ridgers,[…]
Come & discover what the Vegan Women’s Club is all about, with co -founders Victoria Featherstone Pearce & Karin Ridgers, Juliet Gellatley and Ambassador Wendy Turner – Webster




4pm
Rescue Not Retail - How the ‘Pet Trade’ is exploiting animals.
Illy Parrwood
There are millions of animals currently within the UK pet trade, being bought from shops or breeders to live in[…]
There are millions of animals currently within the UK pet trade, being bought from shops or breeders to live in the homes of 16.2 million families.
But there is a dark side to this sordid industry.
As a community of animal defenders, we need to turn our attention to these often forgotten victims.

4.30pm
F.E.A.T. - Finally Ending Animal Testing - April Campaign
This is to make people aware of and bring people up to date with our F.E.A.T. April campaign which aims[…]
This is to make people aware of and bring people up to date with our F.E.A.T. April campaign which aims to bring animal testing and vivisection back into the public consciousness and put pressure on the government to Finally End Animal Testing

5pm
Why we should love Pigeons
Susan Joyce
When I say the word ‘Pigeon’ what words pop into your head? Sky rats? Dirty birds. Vermin? Pigeons suffer in[…]
When I say the word ‘Pigeon’ what words pop into your head? Sky rats? Dirty birds. Vermin?
Pigeons suffer in plain sight through out the UK. These little Grey birds are ignored by most people, vilified by others and abused by the rest. They are not wild birds and they shouldn’t be on our streets, but not for the reason most people think!
Sue explains how and why the streets of the UK became home to Pigeons and why we need to love and care for them. She believes they are the perfect link between the general public and compassionate veganism.













