A crowd-funding venture is aiming to bring affordable and varied vegan food to Preston through an online store.

Little Vegan, aka Carley Stewart, runs a plant-based takeaway and catering service from her kitchen in Ashton-on-Ribble. She wants to expand to meet the increase in demand for more accessible vegan options.

The target for the crowd-funder is £500, and it closes on Tuesday 8 May at 6.43pm. To contribute, visit the Little Vegan Food Market Kickstarter.

Carley said, “I would love to help people become healthier, happier individuals and reduce their carbon footprint, creating a greener city. I would also like to bring onboard other local vegan businesses to help boost Preston’s economy.”

Carley has already started this mission by supplying her “mock meats” to local businesses Ham & Jam Coffee Shop and Duxbury’s Garden Centre. New cooking workshops will offer the chance to learn how to recreate Little Vegan mock meats at home. The workshops will run each Friday from 10am to 2pm. Enquiries can be made through the Little Vegan Facebook page.

Read more: This vegan takeaway is opening in Ashton-on-Ribble

Meanwhile Grimshaw Community Centre will host an evening of healthy eating and discussion, focussing on how health issues can be prevented or even reversed with a vegan diet.

The event is being organised by Alina Belousova, the person behind the GCC Food Hub. A talk will be followed by a healthy evening meal and a discussion on whole-food and plant-based diets.

The event takes place on Thursday 10 May at 6pm at the Community Centre on Grimshaw Street, PR1 3DD. Admission is free. To book a place, contact Alina on apsbelousova@gmail.com or 07522 195051.

Are you vegan? What do you think of the food options for vegans in Preston? Let us know in the comments below.