If it's just you and you don't know anyone else in the area, take heart, there are many things you can do - just choose what suits your time and inclinations. There are also lots of ways you can team up with or just talk to other contacts.

Here are some ideas of things to do on your todd, which can also be done with friends or whoever. If you have something to add here, please contact us.

• Follow up on the Action news topics we regularly post on this website - many of which you can do all by yourself whoever you are!
• Make use of the Internet, which is easy to do on your own and a great way to feel a part of the wider vegan community.
• Get hold of a small number (at first) of veggie and vegan leaflets.Viva!, Animal Aid, the Vegetarian Society and the Vegan Society are usually happy to send you some. Think about which specific topics you want to cover. Recipes are always popular, and Animal Aid do some of the best.
• place leaflets (with permission as required) in local veggie-friendly shops and eateries
• keep these leaflets on you and hand them out to people who ask you questions about being vegan, particularly if that releases some of the pressure you feel to explain things well - though your example will often be the most convincing thing to show how possible it is.
• Do a library display
• Influence eateries (see also the ActiVeg article on improving your local restuarants' menus - why cater for vegans?):
  • tell anywhere you eat what vegan means and encourage them if they can do something for you
  • go into sandwich bars, pubs and cafes and ask them what fillings are suitable, and mention the dairy inteollerant too, which is a big market for them. Suggest products they could include for the veggie and food intollerance and healthy eating markets, such as avocado, sun dried toms, vegan marg, melting cheezly, egg-free mayo, vegan pepperoni or whatever, and help them find out where to get these from (such as Redwoods direct).
  • ask coffee and milkshake bars if they can do soyaccinos or whatever - many can - eg Starbucks and Shakeaway - so they could too
• Write a letter to your local newspaper about the vegan slant on local issues, such as healthy food in schools, hospitals, etc. Be inclusive of the dairy intollerant and health conscious to ensure you a wider audience.