News and Events >>
News and Events
PLEASE NOTE, this is no longer an active site, but a historical record of past activities. The links may no longer work. It is a record of what can be achieved by a small group of passionate people over a number of years.
Fairtrade Fortnight 2015, Monday 23 February to Sunday 8 March
The focus this year was on the producers of cocoa, tea and sugar in the developing world. So, this Fairtrade Fortnight we encouraged people to 'Bake a Fairtrade Brownie'! We hoped that Brownies in Shropshire might bake Brownies for Brownies, and Guides, Scouts and Cubs and Beavers too, although Cubs should have been baking Cub Cakes? (Boom boom). With the success of 'Bake Off' we had a feast of Fairtrade baking, and there are lots of brownie recipes, what's your favourite? See the promotional flyer we used below, and the programme of our events below that.
Bake a Fairtrade Brownie in Fairtrade Fortnight 23rd Feb – 8th March 2015 Shropshire Fairtrade Coalition invited….
Cafes, workplaces, groups, canteens, schools, colleges & organisations around the county bake & share chocolate brownies & find out about the people behind the ingredients by watching a short film from the Fairtrade Foundation www.fairtrade.org.uk
Free promotional materials can be ordered or downloaded from www.fairtrade.org.uk
Fairtrade Fortnight programme Monday 23 February - Sunday 8 March 2015.
In Shrewsbury everyone was made aware of Fairtrade Fortnight because there were massive banners across three of the main roads in town, reading "Fairtrade Fortnight: Support Fairtrade in Shrewsbury" There were also A-boards promoting Fairtrade scattered liberally across the town.
Many of the shops and supermarkets which sell Fairtrade made their own displays so it was a good time to try new things.
Churches, many of which have “Fairtrade Church” status, showed posters on their noticeboards, or in their halls, having stalls and remembering Fairtrade in their worship.
A number of Schools in Shrewsbury – especially primary schools – are very supportive of Fairtrade, and held special Fairtrade assemblies and offered Fairtrade stalls.
And from 10.00am on Friday 6th March, there was a Fairtrade stall at the Farmers’ Market in the Market Square, selling not only produce from the Fairtrade shop in St John’s Hill,(Shrewsbury Fair Trade) but also from “And Albert” in Chester – a shop selling fairly traded goods from all over the world.
Wednesday 4 March 12 noon until 3 pm (combined with Lent Lunch from 12 noon until 1:30 pm) Fairtrade Fortnight stall St Giles' Church, Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6JP, in the Fellowship Room next to the church.
Thursday 5 March 7 pm The Great Bridgnorth Fairtrade Brownie Bake-Off, Bridgnorth Baptist Church, WV16 4AB. Participants baked chocolate brownies to their own recipe at home BUT they MUST have included Fairtrade chocolate/cocoa and Fairtrade sugar. Entrants brought a sample to be judged on the night for a number of prizes. Free entry!
Thursday 5 March 7:30 pm St Oswald's Church Parish Rooms Oswestry Talk on Fairtrade by Judith Haslam, a long standing member of Oswestry and District Fairtrade Group. Admission £1 on the door.
Harper Adams University, big supporters of Fairtrade in Shropshire, baked a large chocolate cake using Fairtrade Cocoa and Sugar and offering it for sale to staff and students at a showing of Fairtrade Matters DVD. Win win!
Friday 6 March Mytton Oak Co-op, Shrewsbury, 11am - 3pm, Fairtrade promotion with free samples of the Co-op's Fairtrade choc chip shortbread biscuits (really delicious, a big favourite), and lovely Fairtrade chocolate bars. Also many offers including half price Fairtrade tea!
Renaissance Restaurant, Princess Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1LW, had been to Shrewsbury Fair Trade Shop on the hunt for Fairtrade ingredients to use in Fairtrade Fortnight. Good for them! They already use Fairtrade tea and coffee. Several Fairtraders had been in to sample their Fairtrade specials in Fairtrade Fortnight , including Laura Davies, Labour Party Candidate, and family. Verdict on chicken curry with Fairtrade rice and Fairtrade cashew nuts from Shrewsbury Fair Trade ? Absolutely delicious! Well worth supporting.
Bread and Loaf, Artisan bakers in the heart of Shrewsbury (opposite the railway staion) were baking wonderful Fairtrade brownies. Lovely, and thanks for the support!
Belle Vue Brownies and Guides baked Fairtrade Brownies! Hope they ate the right Brownies!
Sunday 8 March St Giles' Church, Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6JP, after the 9:30 am Sunday service, Fairtrade Fortnight stall, and possibly Fairtrade Brownies too....
Lots of schools round the county were having Fairtrade events to mark Fairtrade Fortnigh.
February 2015 Good News! Shrewsbury's Fairtrade Town status has been renewed by the Fairtrade Foundation just prior to Fairtrade Fortnight.
August 2014 Whitchurch Fairtrade Town Status Renewed! Congratulations to everyone involved!
Tuesday 29 July 2014 Big Cheque Handover for Jo
The family of Jo Pattison, who died suddenly and unexpectedly in October 2013, asked for donations in her memory for Traidcraft Exchange, the charitable wing of Traidcraft, which supplies most of the goods sold in the Shrewsbury Fair Trade shop, and for Christian Aid, Fairtrade and Christian Aid being the two causes closest to Jo's heart. Mags Vaughan, chief executive of Traidcraft, kindly agreed to come to Shrewsbury on Tuesday 29 July to receive a large cheque for £3000, being half of the magnificent £6000 donated at the funeral. The cheque handover was at 12:45 pm at Shrewsbury Fair Trade, 8 St John's Hill, Shrewsbury, SY1 1JD, with Shrewsbury Mayor Beverley Baker in attendance, and at 4pm there was a Meet and Greet with Mags at Bayston Hill Methodist Church, Lansdowne Road, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY3 0HZ, with Fairtrade tea and coffee and Fairtrade home baking, and Bayston Hill Parish Council Chair, Teresa Lewis in attendance. Jo's husband Ken, and Mags Vaughan were interviewed on Radio Shropshire on Saturday 26 July, and the event was well covered by the Shropshire Star and Shrewsbury Chronicle.
Everyone agreed that Jo would have loved it!
Shrewsbury Food Festival Saturday 28 June and Sunday 29 June 2014, The Quarry, Shrewsbury.
Back for its second year bigger and better, and there was a Fairtrade Stall, many thanks to the Festival for their support. Many thousands supported local food and the Fairtrade Stall, which took over £400 over the two days.
Fairtrade Fortnight 2014 Monday 24 February - Sunday 9 March, "Stick with Foncho to make Bananas Fair"
Foncho is a Banana Grower in Colombia and we encouraged everyone in Shropshire to sign his petition (allied to the Fairtrade Foundation) to Cabinet Minister Vince Cable MP to "urgently investigate the grave impact of unsustainable supermarket pricing and act to protect the millions of poor farmers and workers who grow the UK's favourite fruit."
We had a Fantastic Fairtrade Smoothie Bike to publicise Fairtrade Fortnight 2014, "Stick with Foncho to make Bananas Fair", and to make Fairtrade Banana Smoothies. You, or someone else, pedalled, the stationary bike had a smoothie maker attachment making delicious Fairtrade Banana smoothies. Everyone won (unlike the World Cup)!
The timetable was as follows:
Monday 24 February 2014, Sainsbury's Bridgnorth, in the foyer, organised by Bridgnorth Fairtrade. With banana suits, posters, Banana Smoothie Bike and full cooperation of Sainsbury's staff (thank you!). 210 signatures were collected for the Fairtrade Foundation petition to Vince Cable asking for action on unsustainable supermarket pricing of bananas.
Wednesday 26 February 2014, Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB.
( Harper Adams David Nuttall was on Radio Shropshire on Thursday 27 February).
Thursday 27 February 2014, Wrockwardine Wood School, Telford
Friday 28 February 2014, 11am - 3pm, Sainsbury's, Meole Brace Retail Park, Shrewsbury, SY3 9NB.
Very successful, thank you Sainsbury's, including a Fairtrade Bananaman, and see their display of Fairtrade goods in the foyer.
Saturday 1 March 2014, from about 10am - 3pm, Darwin Shopping Centre, Shrewsbury, SY1 1PL. Lots more signatures collected for the petition thank you, and another appearance of Fairtrade Bananaman.
Monday 3 March 2014, St John's Catholic Primary, Bridgnorth, WV16 4HW, Shropshire's first Fairtrade School, school assembly with banana suits and Fairtrade Banana Smoothie Bike.
Tuesday 4 March 2014, Oldbury Wells School Bridgnorth,WV 16 5JD, school assembly with banana suits and Fairtrade Banana Smoothie Bike for years 7 - 9.
Wednesday 5 March 2014, Castlefields Primary School, Bridgnorth, WV16 5DQ, school assembly with banana suits and Fairtrade Banana Smoothie Bike also for Oldbury Wells School years 10 and 11.
Thursday 6 March 2014, St Mary's CE Primary, Bridgnorth, WV15 5EQ, school assembly with banana suits and Fairtrade Banana Smoothie Bike.
Friday 7 March 2014, St Leonard's CE Primary, Bridgnorth, WV16 4HL, school assembly with banana suits and Fairtrade Banana Smoothie Bike, also for Bridgnorth Endowed School Year 7.
Saturday 8 March 2014, Bridgnorth Market, at Charity Stall, posters, Banana Suits, inflatable Banana, Fairtrade Banana Smoothie Bike and signature collecting for petition.
Other events included
Friday 28 February 2014 11am - 2pm Radbrook Green Co-op, Shrewsbury, SY3 6DU, Fairtrade Stall.
Saturday 1 March 2014 10am - 12 noon St Alkmund's Church, Whitchurch, SY13 1LB, Fairtrade Big Brew Coffee morning.
Friday 7 March 2014, 11am - 2pm Bicton Heath Co-op, Shrewsbury, SY3 5AD, Fairtrade Stall.
Friday 7 March 2014, 3pm - 5pm St Giles' Church, Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6JP Fairtrade Big Brew and Fairtrade Fortnight Stall, in the Fellowship Room (next to the church). Many thanks to Co-operative Funeral Services Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury, for their support, donating Co-op Fairtrade tea and coffee.
Sunday 9 March 2014, St Giles' Church, Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6JP, after 9:30am service, Fairtrade Fortnight Stall in Fellowship Room (next to church).
Also, throughout Fairtrade Fortnight, Shrewsbury Fair Trade, St John's Hill, Shrewsbury, SY1 1JD, encouraged everyone to bake a cake using Fairtrade ingredients, many of which are on sale in the shop, eg sugar, dates, apricots, honey, jam, dried fruit, nuts and so on. The cakes were shared at work, school, church, home or wherever you happened to be.
Also, Whitchurch High Street, there was a Fairtrade Display focussing on Bananas in a shop front throughout Fairtrade Fortnight.
Also, St Laurence's Church, Ludlow, SY8 1AN, Fairtrade Stall throughout Fairtrade Fortnight.
And, how many Fairtrade toppings did you find for Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day? There are Fairtrade bananas of course, but also Fairtrade sugar, jam, honey, chocolate spread, pineapples, oranges (any Fairtrade lemons out there?). Did you see how many Fairtrade toppings you could spot, and did you tell the supermarkets and other stores how Fairtrade they are? You could tweet @ShropsFairtrade
Events in 2013 included:-
Saturday 2 November 2013, 10 am - 4 pm, West Midlands Regional Fairtrade Forum, University of Wolverhampton, MC Building, Wolverhampton, WV1 1LY, organised by Fairtrade Foundation and Wolverhampton Fairtrade City Partnership.
Jo Pattison.
Jo died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday 26 October 2013. Jo was a founder member of the Shropshire Fairtrade Coalition, a director of Shrewsbury Fair Trade, unpaid as all the directors and workers are, a Reader at her local church, St Giles's Shrewsbury, a member of Shrewsbury's Christian Aid committee, and most importantly a very much loved wife , mother, granny, family member and friend, and much more. She is very much missed. At the family's request donations were made to be divided between Christian Aid and Traidcraft Exchange, the charitable wing of Traidcraft, which supplies most of the goods on sale at Shrewsbury Fair Trade, and over £6000 was raised. Read the obituary written by her son Andrew and published by the Guardian online and also in the Guardian newspaper in its "Other Lives" feature http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/24/jo-pattison-obituary
Friday 5 July 2013 Fairtrade Schools Conference, Enginuity, Ironbridge Gorge Museum, run by Bridges.
Saturday 29 June and Sunday 30 June 2013, Shrewsbury Food Festival, The Quarry park, Shrewsbury, and around town. Shrewsbury's first food festival was a success, and a Fairtrade stall was there, taking £250.
Saturday 8 June 2013, "Enough Food For Everyone If" London.
Shropshire Fairtraders visited the Fairtrade Foundation stall at a very sunny Hyde Park on Saturday 8 June. Good to support the campaign to support Fairtrade sugar, and a wonderful day overall.
World Fairtrade Day Saturday 11 May 2013
We were encouraged to mark World Fairtrade Day with a Fairtrade breakfast. It's so easy with Fairtrade tea and coffee, Fairtrade muesli, Fairtrade fruit including oranges, grapes, bananas, pineapples, grapefruit, blueberries, mangoes, lemons, limes, satsumas etc, Fairtrade fruit juices, and Fairtrade marmalades and jams, as well as Fairtrade peanut butter and chocolate spread.
There was a Fairtrade stall as part of the annual May Fair on Saturday 11 May from 11:00am - 3:30pm at St Giles' Church, Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6JP, marking World Fairtrade Day.
Fairtrade Fortnight 2013
We had a wonderful Fairtrade Fortnight 2013, Monday 25 February until Sunday 10 March, going even further for Fairtrade. We have had a very successful visit from a Fairtrade Coffee Farmer from Costa Rica to Shropshire, courtesy of The Fairtrade Foundation, from Monday 25 February to Thursday 28 February! His name is Gerardo Arias Camacho and his programme and a programme of other Fairtrade Fortnight activities in Shropshire can be seen below including a video interview of Gerardo recorded by Telford & Wrekin Council at Redhill Primary School
Also see photos of every day and every event of Gerardo's visit in Coalition Photos.
See Gerados' blog here!
Following on from our successful Shropshire Fairtrade Relay in 2012,
see below, we relayed our Costa Rican partner round our beautiful county, to four of our Shropshire Fairtrade Towns, Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, Bridgnorth and Ludlow, to our Fairtrade Flagship Employer, Ironbridge Gorge Museum,
to two of our Fairtrade Schools, St John's Catholic Primary, Bridgnorth,
and Redhill Primary, Telford & Wrekin,
and to our Fairtrade University, Harper Adams.
Visit of Gerardo Arias Camacho, Fairtrade Costa Rican Coffee Farmer, to Shropshire 25 February - 28 February 2013
Monday 25 February 2013
12 noon. Gerardo and Jenny Tither from the Fairtrade Foundation arrived in Shrewsbury by train and visited Shrewsbury Fair Trade shop in St John's Hill, Shrewsbury.
Shrewsbury Fair Trade celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012. It is entirely run by volunteers and any profits are donated to Traidcraft Exchange, the charitable wing of Traidcraft, who supply most of the goods sold in the shop. A staggering £40,000 have been donated in this way. Afterwards they were the guests of honour at an informal lunch with Shrewsbury Fair Trade voluntary directors and other volunteers and Gerardo spoke of his support for Fairtrade, and his desire to have even more of his coffee sold on Fairtrade terms.
5:30pm - 7:00pm Shropshire Council and Shropshire Fairtrade Coalition Reception for Gerardo Arias Camacho in Wilfred Owen Room, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND
There was a very successful early evening reception at Shirehall, Shropshire Council. There was a short presentation by Gerardo Arias Camacho, questions, and an informal gathering over light refreshments with Fairtrade theme. Present were the Shrewsbury Town Mayor, Shropshire Councillors, and representatives from retail organisations and Fairtrade organisations in Shrewsbury and from Shropshire. Thanks to Midcounties Co-op for assisting with the funding for the event and to Harper Adams University and local Fairtrade home bakers for the wonderful refreshments. See photo here (scroll down a long way until you see the Fairtrade logo!) http://www.flickr.com/photos/shropshirecouncil and report here http://shropshire.gov.uk/news/2013/03/fairtrade-farmer-visits-shirehall-to-share-insights-on-coffee-production/ Thanks to Shropshire Council for the coverage!
Tuesday 26 February 2013
Visit to Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Enginuity, Coach Road, Coalbrookdale, TF8 7DQ
10:30am – 12:00 noon
Gerardo Arias Camacho was available to meet visitors to
Enginuity at Ironbridge Gorge Museum. Enginuity is the tenth in the amazing series of museums around the world famous
Ironbridge, a World Heritage Site. It is an interactive science and technology museum which allows all members of the family to become engineers. There was a short presentation by Gerardo Arias Camacho and guests also had a cup of coffee sourced by Gerardo's coffee co-operative. Again, very successful.
Visit to White House School, Heath Road, Whitchurch, SY13 2AA, 2pm - 3:30pm
Gerardo Arias Camacho made a presentation to children at the school. The White House School are supporters of Fairtrade. The children were really engaged and asked lots of brilliant questions. well done to them!
Afterwards we had a photocall at Whitchurch Tescos with the Deputy Mayor, Tesco manager and Fairtrade supporters
Wednesday 27 February 2013
9:30am - 12 noon Visit to St John's Catholic Primary, Innage Gardens, Bridgnorth, WV16 4HW
St John's Catholic Primary School were the first Shropshire school to achieve Fairtrade status.
Gerardo Arias Camacho addressed the whole school at morning assembly with other local schools represented and dingitaries including the Bridgnorth town Mayor. A coffee morning in aid of CAFOD followed, to which parents were also invited. Once again, most successful, with clusters of children gathering round Gerardo to hear more of his story.
2:30pm - 4:30pm Ludlow Mascall Centre, Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, SY8 1RZ, Fairtrade Coffee afternoon with Gerardo Arias Camacho
Gerardo gave a presentation on Fairtrade coffee followed by a cookery demonstation by Valerie Meehan of Grow Cook Share! This combination of Fairtrade and local food worked very well indeed, well done Ludlow and for the Fairtrade refreshments.
We finished a busy day with a photo call at Shrewsbury Sainsbury's, featuring their Costa Rican Fairtrade coffee. Gerardo informed us that Fairtrade coffee growers in his area would have supplied coffee for this blend.
Thursday 28 February 2013
9:00am - 12 noon Visit to Redhill Primary School, Gatcombe Way, Priorslee, Telford TF2 9GZ
Redhill Primary also have Fairtrade School status
and in partnership with Bridges Global Education Centre
organised a morning of Fairtrade activities including a presentation by Gerardo Arias Camacho to a whole school assembly. Other schools were represented, including Fairtrade Ambassadors
who will promore Fairtrade in their own and other schools. Gerardo presented Fairtrade badges to the Fairtrade ambassadors. He also handed over Shropshire's Fairtrade County status renewal certificate
to Ken Pattison, Secretary of the Shropshire Fairtrade Coalition. Gerardo also recorded a video interview
for our partners Telford & Wrekin Council.
2:00pm - 4:00pm Visit to Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB
Harper Adams University are the leading specialist UK provider of Higher Education courses in Agriculture and Food.
Harper Adams were recently granted University status, and have Fairtrade status. Gerardo Arias Camacho made a presentation to students and staff, and visited the university facilities. There was a very full and attentive audience of students and staff, with some very informed and interesting questions. It was a problem to drag Gerardo away from a cluster of very engaged and interested students! The facilities at the University are first class, and we left the lecturers with the task of how to possibly use mechanisation or robotics on Costa Rica's steep and mountainous coffee fields! There is no doubting the University's Fairtrade commitment in its catering and cafes. See report here http://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/news/201856/harper-adams-gets-behind-fairtrade-fortnight-2013
Other events in and around Fairtrade Fortnight 2013
Friday 22 February 2013, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, 6pm - 7:30pm Launch of Telford & Wrekin Fairtrade Alliance.
This event was attended by the Telford & Wrekin Mayor and other councillors as well as Fairtrade supporters. The compettion winners for the Fairtrade logo were announced and a Fairtrade cake with the winning logo was unveiled.
Midcounties Co-op
are showcasing the importance of taking a step to change to fairly traded products, and highlighting the importance of how one small change to a fairly traded product can make a big difference to Fairtrade producers. They have two special Fairtrade events at their Bicton Heath and Church Stretton stores. listed below, to assist in the education of their members about Fairtrade, and how to get involved.
Tuesday 26 February 2013. Bicton Heath Midcounties Co-op, SY3 5AD. 11am - 4pm. With a Fairtrade Coffee Farmer from Guatemala and a Fairtrade crafts stall.
Tuesday 26 February 2013. Coffee at The Maltings, High Street, Clun, SY7 8JQ. 10am -12noon. Supporting the "Make Food Fair"campaign.
Sunday 3 March 2013. Holy Trinity Church, Meole Brace Shrewsbury, SY3 9HF. Fairtrade stalls after both morning services
Monday 4 March 2013. 11am - 3pm Telford & Wrekin Council, Darby House, TF3 4JA. Fairtrade stall
Friday 8 March 2013. Church Stretton Midcounties Co-op Foodstore, SY6 6BX. 11am - 2pm. All welcome.
Friday 8 March 2013. Bridgnorth Baptist Church, WV16 4AB. Launch of St John's Catholic Primary Year 6 Fairtrade poetry book and Fairtrade presentation 1:30pm. RSVP admin.st-johns@shropshirelg.net
Tea coffee and Fairtrade products on sale, all proceeds to support the Fairtrade Foundation.
Friday 8 March 2013. St Giles' Church Shrewsbury SY2 6JP. 3:00pm - 5:00pm In the Fellowship Room (next to the church), Fairtrade Big Brew and Bake, all welcome.
Friday 8 March 2013 was
also International Women's Day
and our Fairtrade allies at Oxfam
arranged many events across the country, including Get Together and Cabaret Night at Old Chapel Community Centre, Cross Houses, Shrewsbury SY5 6HJ, 7:30pm until late,
where there was a Fairtrade stall.
Suggested minimum donation of £4 to Oxfam Women in Poverty.
Friday 8 March 2013. Methodist Church, High Street, Clun. Illustrated talk "Fairtrade in the Amazon" by Sue Branford, of Enfield House, journalist and trustee of War on Want.
7:30pm All welcome. Discussion, refreshments, Fairtrade stall
Saturday 9 March 2013. Bridgnorth Baptist Church, West Castle Street, Bridgnorth, WV16 4AB. 10am - 12 noon. Fairtrade "Coffee Event". Fairtrade Big Art from Bridgnorth Schools. Fairtrade coffee farming in Costa Rica.
Fairtrade refreshments and Fairtrade products on sale.
Sunday 10 March 2013. Holy Trinity Church, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, SY3 9HF. Fairtrade stalls after both morning services.
Sunday 10 March 2013. St Giles' Church, Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6JP. Fairtrade stall after 9:30am service in Fellowship Room next to church, about 10:45am.
Before and throughout Fairtrade Fortnight 2013, Fairtrade Town Shrewsbury
were holding a raffle
to raise funds for the Fairtrade Foundation. Prizes included a large Fairtrade hamper, Fairtrade wine, a meal at the Masala Restaurant and many others.The raffle was drawn in April.
Every day during Fairtrade Fortnight 2013 there was a Fairtrade Stall at St Laurence's Church, Ludlow, SY8 1AN.
Highlights of 2012 below.
What a year. Scroll down and see highlights of the year, including the DVD clip of Fairtrade Fortnight activities in Church Stretton, courtesy of our friends at Midcounties Co-op.
Saturday 15 December 2012. Shrewsbury Chronicle Christmas Market in the Square.
Shrewsbury Fairtrade Town group ran a pre Christmas Fairtrade Stall from 10am - 6pm at the Christmas Market in the Square. This was part of Shrewsbury Fairtrade Town group's ongoing programme, having recently successfully gained renewal of Shrewbury's Fairtrade Town status from the Fairtrade Foundation. Fairtrade goods from
Shrewsbury Fair Trade and
And Albert were on sale and over £400, a magnificent total, was taken. There was also a lot of interest from shoppers and visitors in general.
23 November 2012, Fairtrade Banana Farmer visits Telford.
Local school children were delighted to meet a Fairtrade banana farmer from St Lucia,
Nicholas Faisal. The Fairtrade Foundation and Bridges Global Education Centre, Wellington, had arranged for Nicholas to visit a Telford & Wrekin Fairtrade School, Redhill Primary School, and children from other schools were going to join in the day. However, sadly Redhill Primary School was closed for the day as large areas of Telford had their water cut off on the day in question! Fortunately at very short notice St Peter's CE Primary School, Bratton, also a Telford & Wrekin Fairtrade School, was able to take over as the venue. Chidren from St John's Catholic Primary, Bridgnorth, Shropshire's first Fairtrade School, and from Clunbury CE Primary, joined children from St Peter's and from Walsall for the morning. They heard from Nicholas about banana farming in St Lucia, asked him questions, and then made their own presentations. All the children had a great time, and learned a lot about Fairtrade. As one group said, "Go bananas for Fairtrade !"
Very many thanks in particular to the Fairtrade Foundation, Bridges, Redhill Primary, St Peter's CE, and to Nicholas Faisal. More in Coalition Photos.
November 2012. Shrewsbury's Fairtrade Town status renewed.
Shrewsbury Fairtrade Town campaigners were delighted to receive confirmation that their coveted Fairtrade Town status, first granted in 2011, had been renewed. The Fairtrade Foundation congratulated Ken and Meriel Chippindale and the rest of their team on their achievement. The town will next need to apply to further renew Fairtrade Town status in 2014.
24 September - 6 October 2012 The Big Fair Bake.
We were all encouraged to bake with Fairtrade ingredients, and raise funds for Fairtrade. Shrewsbury Fair Trade shop ran a guess the weight of the Fairtrade cake competition for a Fairtrade hamper. Shropshire Council uses Fairtrade sugar and encouraged customers to buy their cakes from The Column Restaurant.
1 September 2012 Shrewsbury Fair Trade celebrated its first twenty five years.
The directors of the St John's Hill shop provided a sit down supper for their volunteers, with entertainment from delving into the Day Book, a daily record of their activities since 1993. Memorabilia was also displayed and a very good time was had by all, with several toasts using Fairtrade bubbly (courtesy of Midcounties Co-op), of course. The culmination of the evening was the presentation of a cheque for £5000 to Traidcraft Exchange, the charitable wing of Traidcraft. All the directors and volunteers at the shop are unpaid, and any proceeds are donated to Traidcraft Exchange. More in Coalition Photos.
Bridgnorth Fairtrade Town status renewed, August 2012
Bridgnorth, Shropshire's first Fairtrade Town, were delighted to hear that the Fairtrade Foundation had renewed its Fairtrade Town status for a further two years until 2014. Congratulations to all the Bridgnorth Fairtraders.
July, August and September 2012, did you go Fairtrade at the Olympic and Paralympic Games?
10 million Fairtrade bananas, 7.5 million cups of Fairtrade tea, 14 million cups of Fairtrade coffee, and 10 million sachets of Fairtrade sugar were available in all the Olympic and Paralympic Games catering venues. See photos of Shropshire Fairtraders there in Coalition Photos .
Whitchurch Fairtrade Town status renewed, June 2012.
Whitchurch Fairtrade
campaigners were delighted to hear from the Fairtrade Foundation that their Fairtrade Town status had been renewed for a further two years. The Fairtrade Foundation congratulated Whitchurch on their work since Fairtrade Town status was first granted in 2010. The next review will be due in June 2014.
Fairtrade Day at Telford & Wrekin Council Offices Friday 29 June 2012
In Co-operative Fortnight Telford & Wrekin Council hosted a Fairtrade stall provided by Shrewsbury Fair Trade and a sale of Fairtrade Art.
Fairtrade Antiques Valuation Evening in Shrewsbury Friday 22 June 2012
Fairtrade Town Shrewsbury
proudly presented a new venture, with the support of Jeremy Lamond and Andrew Beeston from Hall's the Auctioneers. On
Friday 22 June from 7:00pm - 9:00pm in St Nicholas Hall, Shrewsbury SY3 7BJ (behind the United Reformed Church just off the English Bridge) Jeremy and Andrew put their expertise and years of experience at the disposal of a full crowd who had gathered to have treasures in cupboards or on sideboards valued. Items were valued at £1 per item, and while people waited they enjoyed Fairtrade refreshments and tastings, and had a go in a Fairtrade raffle for a Fairtrade hamper donated by the Co-op. This was a new way of raising the profile of Fairtrade locally rather than money raising, and profits went to the Fairtrade Foundation for their work on trade justice. Thank you for supporting this event.
World Fairtrade Day Saturday 12 May 2012
We were all encouraged to have a Fairtrade Breakfast to mark World Fairtrade Day and to Take a Step for Fairtrade.
Why wouldn't you have a Fairtrade Breakfast with Fairtrade tea, coffee, sugar, muesli, bananas, oranges, mangoes, marmalade, jam and honey all readily available to name but a few? Support Fair Trade Organisations (FTOs) like Traidcraft and Cafe Direct by buying their products. And if you combined it with British milk perhaps delivered to your door in a reusable glass bottle, and locally made bread and butter, even better! Finally, tell people about it.
Fairtrade Fortnight 2012 - Take a Step in 2012. Fairtrade Fortnight was from Monday February 27 until Sunday 11 March 2012.
The big Shropshire wide event for Fairtrade Fortnight 2012 was The Shropshire Fairtrade Relay. It is Olympic year, and the theme for Fairtrade Fortnight this year is
Take a Step for Fairtrade. Combining these themes the Shropshire Fairtrade Coalition thought of Taking many Steps for Fairtrade carrying a Fairtrade Flag. The flag was passed on, relay style, to all Shropshire's six Fairtrade Towns,
Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry, Whitchurch, Church Stretton and Shrewsbury,
and to Harper Adams University, which also has Fairtrade status. The flag was taken around the county by walkers, cyclists, by public transport (by bus and train) and even by narrow boat! Each stop on the relay also contributed a ten metre length of the world record beating Fairtrade cotton bunting produced last year, so we finished back in Shrewsbury with seventy metres of Fairtrade cotton bunting to display as well as the much travelled flag. See newspaper article in
Coalition Photos, and Radio Shropshire also covered Fairtrade Fortnight locally on Saturday 25 February and Sunday 4 March. Also see
Shropshire Council's coverage of the relay here http://shropshire.gov.uk/news/2012/02/fairtrade-flag-to-travel-across-shropshire-in-relay/ and see
Harper Adams coverage of the relay here http://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/news/article.cfm?id=201591
The relay in pictures
All the stages of the very successful Shropshire Fairtrade Relay can now be seen in Coalition Photos.
The timetable for the relay
Monday 27 February Shrewsbury - Church Stretton
The first leg started with a Fairtrade Breakfast at 8:30 am at Shrewsbury Fair Trade, 8 St John's Hill, Shrewsbury, SY1 1JD, who are celebrating 25 years since their foundation this year. A group of walkers then caught a bus to Pulverbatch and then walked over the Long Mynd to Church Stretton. They met Church Stretton Fairtraders at Church Stretton Methodist Church, Watling Street South SY6 7BG at 3 pm, at the conclusion of a Fairtrade Fortnight event there. Meanwhile another group cycled from the Column in Shrewsbury to Church Stretton (not along the A49) starting at 12 noon and met up with the walkers. See photos of the cyclists in the link above on this page to Shropshire Council.
Tuesday 28 February Church Stretton - Ludlow
The second leg saw Church Stretton Fairtraders carrying the flag on to Ludlow by public transport. The Ludlow Fairtrade Group met them, with Fairtrade refreshments.
Wednesday 29 February Ludlow - Bridgnorth
The third leg was from Shropshire's second Fairtrade Town to Shropshire's first Fairtrade Town and again will be via public transport. The Bridgnorth group met the Ludlow group from the bus and took them to St John's Catholic Primary School, Shropshire's first Fairtrade School, for the flag to be passed on to the Deputy Mayor. Fairtrade refreshments followed at the Town Hall.
Thursday 1 March Bridgnorth - Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire
The fourth leg was undertaken by Fairtrade walker and cyclist Ray Gill who started the day with an assembly at St John's Catholic Primary before receiving the flag from the Mayor at around 11 am before cycling to Harper Adams.
Friday 2 March Harper Adams University - Whitchurch
The fifth leg was another cycling leg to Whitchurch met by a civic reception before Fairtrade refreshments at St Alkmund's Church, at the top of High Street. See photos in the link above on this page to Harper Adams.
Monday 5 March Whitchurch - Oswestry
The sixth leg floated the flag to Whixall by narrow boat along the Llangollen Canal! The Whitchurch Fairtraders then walked to Ellesmere along the canal towpath, and then took a bus to Oswestry. Congratulations to Whitchurch who surely win the prize for the most inventive method of carrying the flag from one Fairtrade Town to another.
Wednesday 7 March Oswestry - Shrewsbury
The seventh and final leg saw the flag and bunting collected from Tracey and Mark Derham in Oswestry. Tracey and Mark run the Bridge Coffee Company, which naturally can provide Fairtrade beverages, and are founder members of the Shropshire Fairtrade Coalition. The flag was then walked to Gobowen and then travelled by train to Shrewsbury. By the time the relay finished in Shrewsbury it had travelled on foot, by cycle, by bus, by narrow boat and by train! The relay was met by the Shrewsbury Town Clerk at the Guildhall on its return to Shrewsbury, and by the Shropshire Council Cabinet member at Shirehall, also in Shrewsbury. See photos of the relay in Coalition Photos.
Other Fairtrade Fortnight events in Shropshire
Saturday 25 February Fairtrade Coffee Morning Oakengates United Church, Stafford Street, Oakengates, Telford TF2 6GH, 10 am - 12 noon
Monday 27 February Church Stretton Methodist Church Hall SY6 7BG 1:30 pm.
Light lunch followed by a Fairtrade talk by Rev Sarah Cawdell from Bridgnorth. Tickets £4. At the end of this event the Fairtrade walkers and cyclists from Shrewsbury on the Fairtrade relay passed on the Fairtrade Flag to Church Stretton at around 3 pm.
Tuesday 28 February Telford & Wrekin Council Civic Offices
TF3 4HD
Telford & Wrekin Council were taking a step by inviting local businesses, groups and residents to an event at Civic Offices to explore how we can better work together to actively support Fairtrade in the borough. There was also a Fairtrade stall in the Scrutiny Room from 10:30 am - 3 pm provided by Shrewsbury Fair Trade for staff and members only.
Tuesday 28 February Coffee at the Maltings Cafe, Clun 10 am - 12 noon
(introducing Take a Step for Fairtrade in 2012 and launching the Fairtrade treasure trail)
Thursday 1 March Bicton Heath Midcounties Co-op SY3 5AD 11 am - 2 pm
Fairtrade Stall provided by Shrewsbury Fair Trade as part of the Co-op's support for Fairtrade Fortnight.
Thursday 1 March Radbrook Green Midcounties Co-op SY3 6DU 11 am - 2 pm
Fairtrade Stall provided by Stretton Traidcraft as part of the Co-ops's support for Fairtrade Fortnight
Friday 2 March Fairtrade Stall on Farmers' Market, The Square, Shrewsbury SY1 1LH.
Fairtrade tastings of products from the Co-op, Take a Step cards and goods to buy from
Shrewsbury Fair Trade and
and Albert
Saturday 3 March Treasure Trail and Tastings High Town Community Room, Clun SY7 8JG 10 am - 12 noon
(bring your treasure trail findings for prizes, or just come along! Coffee, tasty treats and Fairtrade stall)
Saturday 3 March Fairtrade Big Brew, St Alkmund's Church. Whitchurch 10 am - 12 noon
Saturday 3 March am World Development Movement stall, Shrewsbury Unitarian Church, High Street, Shrewsbury SY1 1LR
Tea campaign and food derivatives
Monday 5 March 12:30pm onwards Ecumenical event for Fairtrade Fortnight, Lunches, Fairtrade stalls and afternoon teas, Preeshenlle United Reformed Church, St Martin's Road, Gobowen
Monday 5 March pm Mereside CE Primary School, Shrewsbury
Years 3 and 4 played the Chocolate Trade Game as part of their work on Fairtrade in Fairtrade Fortnight
Tuesday 6 March Fairtrade talk by Jennipher Wettaka, an African Coffee farmer, of the Nasufwa Growers' Co-operative, Uganda. 2 pm - 4 pm United Reformed Church, High Street, Church Stetton SY6 6BY
This was a rare opportunity to hear first hand from an African producer, followed by questions. This talk had been arranged by the Midcounties Co-op as part of its support for Fairtrade Fortnight.
See the DVD link featuring Jennipher's talk at Church Stretton along with other Midcounties Co-op activities for Fairtrade Fortnight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQCQ1jMx1MQ
Thursday 8 March Ludlow Farmers' Market, Fairtrade stall
with tastings of Fairtrade products suppied by the Co-op, take a step postcards, drawing round people's feet.
Thursday 8 March Church Stretton Midcounties Co-op
Fairtrade Tea tasting event.
Friday 9 March and Saturday 10 March Fairtrade Exhibition in Telford Shopping Centre.
This was a free event in Primark Square to come along and see what was on offer. There were a number of stalls promoting Fairtrade and the products on offer, and the chance to buy Fairtrade products. There were people on hand to answer questions, and to canvass opinions. There was also the opportunity to win a Fairtrade hamper, so people were invited to "take a step" and come along and join in the fun.
Saturday 10 March Fairtrade Fortnight Five a Side Football Tournament, Abraham Darby Academy, Telford
Sunday 11 March Fairtrade Fortnight Fairtrade stall, St Giles' Church, Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury SY2 6JP,
after 9:30 am service in Fellowship Room next to church, with Fairtrade tea and coffee.
Also During Fairtrade Fortnight:-
Fairtrade tastings and "Take a Step" cards and a full range of Fairtrade products at Shrewsbury Fair Trade
8 St John's Hill, Shrewsbury SY1 1JD, open 10 am - 4 pm Tuesday - Friday and 10 am - 1 pm Saturday. Tel: 01743 352048
Fairtrade exhibition at Ludlow Library, SY8 2PG
Fairtrade exhibition at Whitchurch Library, SY13 1AX
And Fairtrade Fortnight related!
Thursday 15 March 'The Fight for Fordhall Farm' Newcastle-on-Clun Community Centre 7.00pm
Charlotte Hollins told the inspiring story of creating Shropshire's first community - owned organic farm. Followed by a discussion about local food initiatives in the Clun valley. Local food meets Fairtrade
