Raising money through cakes- the vegan way!
Derriford Combined Laboratories on Level 7 are gearing up for their annual Christmas Vegan bake sale in aid of the charity Harvey’s Lab Tours. Harvey’s Lab Tours (formerly Harvey’s Gang), helps young patients and their families feel more at ease by connecting them with the biomedical science staff who process and analyse their samples to help manage and diagnose their illnesses. Visiting a lab can ease children's fears and offer reassurance, while giving staff a chance to meet the young patients whose samples they work with. Through this unique experience, patients can see first-hand how lab work supports their diagnosis and treatment.
DCL have previously hosted Harvey’s Lab Tours at UHP where the reception from patients and staff was exceedingly positive. Due to a recent change in staffing, the department currently lacks a lead for the tours, but the scientists hope that will change next year.
Not only is the money raised for a very deserving cause, but the bake sale also helps to foster a strong togetherness in the team and spreads awareness of vegan diets. Commensality, or the act of sharing a meal with others, is not only a physical activity but also a social one. Eating together helps build relationships and create community by providing an opportunity for people to connect and share their experiences. Sharing vegan cakes in this way helps to demonstrate to sceptical colleagues that vegan or plant-based diets can be tasty and straightforward. The department has a number of vegetarians and vegans so these cakes can be enjoyed by all!
Could your department host a vegan food event and reap the benefits of commensality? Check out the sweet treat recipes on the Veganuary website.
Staff can report their sustainable food efforts on Choosing Greener as part of the current Food Wise challenge… Among other activities, staff can earn up to 250 points a week for reducing their food waste. Perhaps you’ve got a bunch of overripe bananas that could be used to make banana bread for your colleagues? Report your sustainable actions, climb the leader board and earn vouchers! For more information, please contact the Sustainability team:
