Fairtrade Fortnight Events (24th February - 9th March)

Fairtrade Fortnight is once again upon us and there are lots of things happening across the country to raise awareness of the principles of Fairtrade and Fairtrade products.

Here Charnwood Borough Council has been working with Charnwood Action For Fairtrade (CAFF) to produce a Fairtrade Directory for Charnwood which lists all of the outlets where you can buy Fairtrade products including shops, cafes amd restaurants. A copy of the directory can be downloaded below.

Fairtrade Stall in Tylers - Fairtrade Fortnight. Charnwood Action For Fairtrade (CAFF) have teamed up with Tylers in Loughborough to offer a stall of fairly traded tableware items including pots plates and glassware.

Fairtrade Caribbean Evening - 27th February. Loughborough University with Imago are organising a Fairtrade Caribbean Evening complete with curry, made from Fairtrade rice and cocktails, made with Fairtrade cola. The event takes place in the Edward Herbert Building from 7pm with live music from SKA-AMANGA.

Fairtrade Food Tasting - 1st March. Eco warriors the Green Place in Sileby are putting on a Fairtrade Food Tasting event on Saturday 1st March. The event will include lots of tasty Fairtrade products and start at 10am.

Fairtrade Market - 8th March There will be a Fairtrade Market on Saturday 8th March at Hall Orchard Primary School, Church Street, Barrow upon Soar. The market will have a wide range of Fairtrade goods and products for sale including Fairtrade Easter Eggs, Traidcraft goods, the new Fairtrade cola 'Ubuntu' and Fairtrade refreshments. Copies of the Charnwood Fairtrade Directory will also be available at the market. The market will begin at 10am and finish at midday.

For information about events taking place outside of Charnwood please take a look at the Fairtrade Foundation website.

Charnwood Achieves Fairtrade Borough Status

Fairtrade Borough status awarded by Fairtrade Foundation

The borough of Charnwood was awarded Fairtrade Borough status by the Fairtrade Foundation on Wednesday 8th March 2006.

At a special event attended by the Fairtrade Foundation and Ugandan Fairtrade tea producer Silver Kasoro-Atwoki, a special certificate was presented to Cllr Max Hunt Leader of Charnwood Borough Council. The certificate confirmed that the five goals (see below) for Fairtrade Borough status had been met.

The work towards gaining Fairtrade Borough status had been spearheaded by Charnwood Action For Fairtrade (CAFF) a local group comprised of organisations such as Charnwood Borough Council, Loughborough University Students Union, Oxfam, local faith groups and individuals.

“Gaining Fairtrade Borough status for Charnwood is a terrific achievement.” Said Cllr. Max Hunt, Leader of the Borough Council. “Its so important for the Council to have a conscience and look beyond our own day to day horizons. We have been committed to promoting Fairtrade for some time and working with CAFF to gain this prestigious status has been one of the Council’s corporate aims."

"We’re absolutely thrilled to have achieved Fairtrade Borough status." Said Jenny Drury from Charnwood Action For Fairtrade. "CAFF would like to say a big thank you to the 32 shops and 20 cafes which now stock Fairtrade goods – and thanks too to the many churches and businesses in the borough who serve and promote Fairtrade products. This commitment has been vital in achieving Fairtrade Borough status."

Over 100 people attended the event to hear from Silver Kasoro-Atwoki how Fairtrade tea has improved the lives of his family and his local community in Uganda.

"I appeal to the UK community and all those that purchase Fairtrade tea that as you take tea in that cup, you are addressing trade injustices and are assisting many small hold farmers and communities in developing countries to improve their own livelihood". - Silver Kasoro-Atwoki.

What is Fairtrade?

One of the most powerful weapons we have to make positive changes in the world is through what we buy. When you buy a Fairtrade product not only do you get a great tasting product but the money you pay provides a fair deal to producers in the Third World.

Fairtrade products are products that are independently certified as providing a fair deal to producers in the third world. The Fairtrade mark (shown here) can be found on a wide variety of products such as tea, coffee, sugar, honey, bananas, mangoes, cocoa, fruit juice, and chocolate.

The money you pay for your Fairtrade products helps ensure that ethical standards of trade are met. These standards offer a lifeline for producers in the Third World by providing a fairer way of trading rather than simply offering aid

The campaign for Fairtrade Borough status

More and more people in Charnwood are becoming aware of what Fairtrade is achieving in benefiting producers in the developing world. In order to demonstrate this Charnwood Action For Fairtrade (CAFF) is working towards achieving Fairtrade Borough status for Charnwood.
A Fairtrade Town, Borough or City is a community which has made a commitment to supporting Fairtrade, and through it to support disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries. The status is awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation, the organisation responsible for the Fairtrade mark in the UK.

In practical terms the status means that the community will have significant levels of understanding of the concept of Fairtrade, Fairtrade products will be widely available, bought and used, and a commitment will have been made to increasing sales and awareness further still, through promotional and education activities. The five specific goals are;

• Local Council passes a Fairtrade Resolution
• A range of (at least two) Fairtrade products are readily available in the area's shops. Fairtrade products are served in local cafes/catering establishments
• Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations (churches, schools etc)
• Attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign
• A local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its Fairtrade Town status

How can I support the campaign?

Supporting the campaign couldn’t be easier.
Firstly to sign up to support the campaign for Fairtrade Borough status simply send a blank email with ‘Fairtrade supporter’ in the subject box or subject line to fairtrade@charnwood.gov.uk and your contact details will be added to the growing list of Fairtrade supporters in Charnwood. CAFF and Charnwood Borough Council will then keep you up to date with how the campaign is progressing and provide details of forthcoming Fairtrade events. Signing up will also demonstrate widespread public support for the campaign for Fairtrade Borough status.
Secondly make sure you buy Fairtrade products when you can and remember to ask for Fairtrade products when out for a coffee or a cup of tea..
Thirdly encourage your workplace to become a Fairtrade workplace by having Fairtrade tea and coffee in your canteen or workplace.

Charnwood Borough Council has joined the campaign by committing to using Fairtrade products in its meetings and passing a resolution on supporting Fairtrade. The council is also a member of CAFF.

What is CAFF?

Charnwood Action For Fairtrade (CAFF) is a group of individuals and representatives from local organisations who are working together to promote fairer trade, Fairtrade products and to promote those outlets which sell Fairtrade products. CAFF is the group leading the campaign for Fairtrade Borough status and have already organised a range of events to promote Fairtrade such as a Fairtrade Banana Trail, a Fairtrade Market, a Fairtrade Coffee Crawl and displays and information at events.

Where can I buy Fairtrade products?

Fairtrade products started in the UK in 1994. During this time Fairtrade products have grown and grown, so much so that there are currently are over 3000 different products available from retailers and caterers which have been awarded the Fairtrade Mark. A current list of the restaurants and shops that sell Fairtrade products in the borough of Charnwood can be downloaded here.