Veganuary: A Month That Can Change Lives
What is Veganuary and why does it matter?
Veganuary is a global campaign that takes place every January, encouraging people to try a vegan lifestyle for the month. Since launching in the UK in 2014, Veganuary has inspired millions of people around the world to explore plant-based food, learn more about where their food comes from, and consider the impact of their choices on animals, the environment and their own health.
Taking part in Veganuary doesn’t require perfection or long-term commitment. For many, it’s simply an opportunity to try something new — to experiment with plant-based meals, discover vegan alternatives and learn more about the realities of animal agriculture. For others, it becomes the starting point of lasting change.
At its heart, Veganuary is about curiosity, compassion and awareness. For many, it’s a first step. For animals, it can mean everything.
Why Veganuary is important
For many people, food is something we rarely stop to question. Supermarket shelves are neatly stocked, packaging is carefully designed, and the lives behind those products are often invisible.
Veganuary creates space to pause and reflect. It encourages people to consider animals not as products, but as individuals — beings with personalities, relationships and a desire to live. Even small changes, like choosing plant-based meals for a month, can reduce demand for animal exploitation and open up wider conversations about ethics, sustainability and compassion.
For animal sanctuaries, Veganuary is a particularly meaningful time of year, as it often brings increased awareness of what happens to animals before they are rescued — and why sanctuaries exist in the first place.
Why Veganuary matters to Surge Sanctuary
At Surge Sanctuary, we care for rescued farm animals who are living proof of why Veganuary matters.
Our residents include pigs, cows, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys and geese — animals who are commonly bred for food, yet are every bit as curious, social and individual as the companion animals we share our homes with. Many arrived here after escaping farming systems or situations where their lives were at risk. Others came to us after neglect or abandonment.
Veganuary aligns closely with what we see every day at the sanctuary. When people choose plant-based food, even temporarily, it helps reduce the demand for systems that treat animals as commodities rather than individuals. It also helps challenge long-held assumptions about who animals are and what they are capable of.
Visitors to the sanctuary often tell us that meeting rescued animals changes how they see their food choices. Seeing cows form close bonds, pigs seek comfort and affection, or chickens express distinct personalities makes it clear that these animals are not interchangeable products — they are individuals who value their lives.
Taking part in Veganuary
If you’re curious about trying Veganuary, the campaign offers a wealth of free resources to help you get started, including:
Simple vegan recipes
Meal plans and shopping guides
Tips for eating out and cooking at home
Support throughout the month
You can sign up and explore everything Veganuary offers here:
veganuary.com
Whether you go fully vegan for the month or simply try a few plant-based swaps, every step makes a difference.
Unity Diner: Turning Good Food Into Real-World Impact
Veganuary is also a great time to explore how vegan choices can actively support animals beyond your plate. One way this happens is through Unity Diner, a London-based non-profit vegan restaurant that was created to support Surge Sanctuary.
Unity Diner serves high-quality, plant-based comfort food in a welcoming, relaxed setting — proving that vegan food can be satisfying, accessible and genuinely enjoyable. Importantly, Unity Diner helps fund the rescue and lifelong care of animals at Surge Sanctuary, turning everyday meals into meaningful support.
For many people, Unity Diner becomes part of their Veganuary journey — a place to try vegan food, share meals with friends, and know that the choice they’re making is helping animals directly. View their menus and book a table below:
https://www.unitydiner.co.uk/
Supporting animals beyond January
Veganuary may last for one month, but its impact can extend far beyond January — especially when it’s paired with support for organisations caring for animals every day of the year.
Surge Sanctuary is a registered charity and is entirely volunteer-run. We rely completely on donations, sponsorships and shop purchases to provide food, bedding, veterinary care and safe living spaces for our residents.
If Veganuary has inspired you to think differently about animals, there are several ways you can help support those already rescued:
Shop from our online store, where all profits go towards animal care
Share our work to help raise awareness
Every act of support helps ensure rescued animals can live free from exploitation, with care and dignity for the rest of their lives.
