Fair Trade

Banchory is going Fairtrade!

Many individuals and groups in the community have supported Fairtrade for years.  Now it is time to expand on this and for Banchory to work towards being awarded a place on the growing list of Fairtrade Towns.  So find out more and TAKE A STEP!

Latest News

Start planning events and activities for Fairtrade Fortnight:  

Monday 25^th February – Sunday 10 March 2013

What can you do to have fun and raise awareness of Fairtrade during the fortnight?  This is a great time to try out Fairtrade products, find some new ones, and make a difference.

Some ideas:

• themed coffee/tea time, with biscuits and baking
• Wine tasting
• Baking competition with Fairtrade ingredients
• Fairtrade theme fancy dress event
• Organise a Fairtrade stall at work or in your group
• Highlight the Fairtrade goods in your shop
• Order some new Fairtrade items for a special promotion

The Banchory FairTrade Group will be meeting in January 2013 to discuss, promote and support events during the Fairtrade Fortnight.  All are very welcome to come along to listen or make suggestions.  Look out for details here, or contact Fiona Graham fgkiloran@btinternet.com

What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.  Support your local farmers by buying their produce.  However, many things cannot be grown in the UK and we import them, often from developing countries.  It the developing country producers which the Fairtrade movement is aiming to support.

Look out for the logo!

If an item carries the official Fairtrade mark, it means that it has passed the official certification process and the following applies:

• A minimum price is paid to the producers, covering their costs of production
• The producers receive an additional Fairtrade premium to invest in their communities on social, economic or environmental projects.
• Workers on farms get rights, such as decent wages and joining a union.
• Producers in Fairtrade co-operatives have a democratic say in decision-making.

Sometimes an item may claim to be ‘Fair trade’ but not carry the official mark.  Always check the background to establish that the item comes from a trusted supplier.  It may be going through the process of certification, or it might just be using the term without making any changes to the local workers’ lives.

What is a Fairtrade town?

A Fairtrade Town is a community that supports Fairtrade and widens the knowledge of the benefits which Fairtrade brings.  It chooses Fairtrade products whenever possible and encourages other to do likewise.  It achieves and continues to take action on the five Fairtrade Town goals set by the Fairtrade Foundation.  These five goals are:

1. Local council passes a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and agrees to serve Fairtrade products (eg in meetings and offices)
2. A range of Fairtrade products is readily available in the area’s retail outlets and served in local catering outlets.
3. Local workplaces and community organisations (places of worship, schools, community groups) support Fairtrade and use Fairtrade products whenever possible.
4. Media coverage and events raise awareness and understanding of Fairtrade across the community.
5. A local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure the Fairtrade Town campaign continues to develop and gain new support.

Banchory Fairtrade Group

Banchory Fairtrade Group was started in 2012 to promote and encourage Fairtrade in the area, and to help achieve Fairtrade Town status for Banchory.  There is a small steering group, and meetings are open to all.

What have we done so far?

• Received the endorsement of the Community Council;
• Had a stall at the farmers’ market in February 2012;
• Held meetings in May and September;
• Set up an email mailing list, keeping all interested people informed of events and news;
• Publicity and stalls marking World Fairtrade Day in May, including wonderful posters made by pupils at Hill of Banchory and Strachan Primary Schools;
• Organised a gift sale with refreshments in November.

What are we planning?

• A survey of all shops, catering establishments and main workplaces to check the existing support for Fairtrade and provide information on how Fairtrade can be included or extended;
• Have window stickers to demonstrate local support for Fairtrade;
• To request formal endorsement by the Marr area committee of Aberdeenshire Council;
• Have a stall at the farmers’ market in February 2013;
• Promote activities and awareness in Fairtrade Fortnight 2013;
• Continue to be a source of support and information on Fairtrade;
• Apply for Fairtrade Town status!

If you are interested in any of these activities, or would like more information or to be put on the mailing list, please contact Fiona Graham fgkiloran@btinternet.com, or come along to a meeting or event.  All steps are very welcome!

What you can do

• Look out for Fairtrade items locally and buy them! See below for places.
• Use your consumer power!  Ask for other Fairtrade items so that we can have a wider range in the local shops.
• Get your workplace and local groups to use Fairtrade items.  Organise an event – Fairtrade Fortnight is a good time to make a start.
• Arrange a talk to find out more about Fairtrade.
• Join the Banchory Fairtrade Group.  Sign up for the email mailing list.  Ask for support.  Put forward some suggestions.  Come along to an event or meeting.

Find out more

There is a wealth of information and resources on the Fairtrade Foundation website:

www.fairtrade.org.uk There are specific resources to help and inspire you at home, school, workplace, church and groups.  There are downloadable items for free, and a shop for purchasing Fairtrade logo items.

In Scotland there is additional support available from the Scottish Fairtrade Forum:

www.sftf.org.uk.  You can sign up for their electronic newsletter for updates on what is happening around Scotland.

If you have a question on what we are working on locally, please contact the Banchory Fair Trade Group via Fiona Graham fgkiloran@btinternet.com

Supporting Fairtrade in Banchory

(Look out for much longer lists of names after our survey!)

Buy Fairtrade chocolate, tea, coffee, cocoa, cakes, bananas, sugar, wine, or other Fairtrade produce in

The Co-op

McColls

Morrisons

Tesco

and other places

Enjoy having Fairtrade drinks and food in

Buchanan’s Bistro at Woodend Barn

Tease

The Chatterbox

and other places