Fairtrade in Hammersmith and Fulham
Fair prices help tens of thousands of small farmers in poor countries buy food and medicines for their families and send their children to school. The producers are guaranteed a fair and stable price. This is very important when world prices can drop below the cost of production.
Brands with the Fairtrade Mark are your guarantee of a fair deal for the producer because they are grown on estates with decent wages, and trade unions health, safety and environmental standards, a social premium for the local community.
What is the council doing?
The council supports fair trade and uses FAIRTRADE Mark brands of tea and coffee at its meetings and events. We achieved FAIRTRADE Borough status in 2005 which demonstrates our commitment. For more information on the Foundation awards and the FAIRTRADE Mark visit www.fairtrade.org.uk (opens new window).
What you can do
We encourage local residents, businesses, schools and community groups to support fair trade too. It is very easy to do. You can do this by buying Fairtrade Mark brands, and encouraging others to do so.
Buy Fairtrade Mark goods
To help you the steering group has produced a list of shops and cafes where you can buy or consume food and drink made with these brands.
» Download a list of outlets where you can buy Fairtrade Mark brands (pdf 115KB).
Support the Fairtrade campaign
We would be very pleased to receive support. You could encourage your local shop office or school to serve FAIRTRADE Mark brands if they don't already. Hammersmith & Fulham's Fairtrade status was renewed in June 2008.
We shall be running sampling stalls again during Fairtrade Fortnight (23 February - 8 March): Make It Happen - Choose Fairtrade!
Saturday 28 February, 2-6pm, at Morrison's, West 12 Shopping Centre
Saturday 7 March, 2-6pm, at Sainsbury's, Fulham Broadway Retail Centre
Volunteers will offer tastings of chocolate and Geobars and free samples of coffee. They will also hand out copies of Fair Comment, the 2009 edition of the London Fairtrade Guide, general information leaflets and Stock It cards for store managers. Thanks to Sainsbury's, Kings Mall, for vouchers enabling purchase of Fairtrade products to sample.
GOING BANANAS FOR FAIRTRADE! It is hoped to break the world record, set by Ashbourne Fairtrade Town last year, for the number of people eating bananas in a 24 hour period from 12 noon on Friday 6 March. The Mayor, Cllr Andrew Johnson, and the Chair of the H&F Fairtrade steering group, Cllr Paul Bristow, will be joining St Peter's CE Primary School at 1pm as a local contribution to meeting this challenge.
Looking ahead to Saturday 4 April, Fairtrade will also be promoted at the Wormwood Scrubs Fun Day, 11am-4pm, through tasting and Traidcraft stalls.
The H&F Urban Studies Centre (USC) facilitated the Children's Parliament held on 26 November 2008 and St John's CE Primary School is focusing on Fairtrade. Members of the steering group served as a resource for groups of 11/12 year olds working on this project. It is hoped the school will register to join the Fairtrade Schools scheme: St Stephen's CE Primary School did so following the visit of a cotton farmer from Mali in March 2008. There are five goals to reach for qualifying as a Fairtrade School:
1. Our school has set up a Fairtrade steering group.
2. Our school has written and adopted a whole-school
Fairtrade policy.
3. Our school is committed to selling, promoting and
using Fairtrade products.
4. Our whole school learns about Fairtrade issues.
5. Our school promotes and takes action for Fairtrade both in school and the wider community.
Schools should email schools@fairtrade.org.uk and ask for a registration form and go to www.fairtrade.org.uk/schools (opens new window) for information and ideas on how to proceed. The USC can also give advice - email info@hfusc.org.uk.
Contacts
You can ring the steering group co-ordinator - Mary Corrall tel: 020 8748 7955 or email her at maryfairtrade@yahoo.co.uk.
You can also find out more from Steve McAndrews - the Council's link to the campaign, email him at stevemcandrews@lbhf.gov.uk.
