Fairtrade Yorkshire

Christmas is a time of peace and generosity. Let’s treat each other and also treat fairly those who produce the goods that we enjoy.

Each year Fairtrade Hull remind people of the need for fairness at Christmas with their Fairtrade Christmas tree.

This is the Fairtrade Christmas Tree from last year, which was displayed in Hull Minster throughout December along with other trees from a wide range of community groups as part of the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Tree Festival. Fairtrade Hull  left tags on the table in the Fairtrade colours of blue and green and invited visitors to pledge one swap to  a Fairtrade item at Christmas and hang it on the tree.

Fairtrade Pocklington will have a produce and gift stall, and give out leaflets on where to find Fairtrade goods in Pocklington, at the Pocklington Christmas Festival on Sunday, 23rd November, from 1pm-5pm, in the Market Place / Market Street.

Fairtrade event in All Saints Church, Pocklington

Fairtrade Pocklington will sponsor a Christmas Tree at the Festival in All Saints Church from 28th November until 11th December. The Fairtrade Christmas Tree will be decorated by young people from the Young People Count group in Pocklington.

In addition to regular Fairtrade stalls at All Saints Church and St Mary and St Joseph’s Church, Fairtrade Pocklington will host produce and gift stalls at:

“Handmade in Huggate” Christmas Fair on 15th November 10am-4pm at St Mary’s Church, Huggate.

and All Saints Church Christmas Craft Fair on 29th November, 10am-2pm at All Saints, Pocklington.

Holy Trinity Church in Skipton hosted a Fairtrade weekend during Fairtrade Fortnight in collaboration with Skipton Fairtrade and the Co-op. Tina Firthlock, the Co-op’s Participation and Engagement Officer organised Fairtrade chocolate tasting using Co-op’s own brand and Whitakers bars made in their Skipton factory. This boosted chocolate sales on the Fairtrade stall and was very popular.

“If you want to go fast , go alone. If you want to go further, go together” is an African proverb reflecting the value of community and collective effort such as this.

Paddington confirmed his credentials as a fair bear at Fairtrade Haworth’s key event for Fairtrade Fortnight ‘Paddington’s Haworth Adventure.’

The event marked the 20th anniversary of Haworth’s twinning with its counterpart hilly village of Machu Pichu in Peru. Haworth was the world’s first Fairtrade Village and the twinning with Machu Pichu forged links with Fairtrade producers, including coffee farmers for the renowned Machu Pichu ground coffee.

The event celebrated Paddington for his UK-Peruvian connection. There was a prize for the best Paddington costume and the film ‘Paddington in Peru’ was screened.

As well as being great fun, the event highlighted the link between consumers here in the UK and the people behind the produce that we all enjoy, including the coffee farmers of Peru.

For Fairtrade Fortnight, the York Fair Trade Forum held an event at the city’s Spurriergate Centre. The packed event featured live world music from the renowned choir, Chechelele and an update on the fair trading organisation, Zaytoun, who bring the produce of Palestinian farmers to the UK.

Managing Director of Zaytoun, Manal

The Managing Director of Zaytoun, Manal Ramadan White, gave an update on the business. Zaytoun are faring well, thanks to an upturn in interest in purchasing as a sign of solidarity with the people of Palestine. But Manal also explained how difficult life is now for Palestinian farmers in the West Bank. A way in which the UK public can carry out a positive action to help Palestinian farmers is through Zaytoun’s tree planting scheme.

Manal (centre) with Beth and Tony from York Fair Trade Forum

The tree planting scheme provides hope in the midst of the continued uprooting of olive trees by Israeli forces and illegal incursions on Palestinian farms by ‘settlers.’

Zaytoun’s products include their high quality olive oil and world-renowned medjoul dates. Almonds, soap and the herb mix Za’atar are also available.

At the event there was a stall of Palestinian products, including many from Zaytoun, set up by the Fairer World Shop in Gillygate, York. A wide range of Palestinian products is available at the shop.

Manal was given extended applause for her honest and moving talk.

Chechelele perform

At this month’s full Council meeting, Ilkley Town Council unanimously voted to continue its support for Ilkley Fairtrade Group and Fairtrade.

Cllr Linda Brown, Ilkley Town Council’s representative on Ilkley Fairtrade Group’s steering committee, said: “I am really pleased that Ilkley Town Council has reiterated its wholehearted support for Fairtrade in the town. I have been impressed by Ilkley Fairtrade Group’s commitment to educating us all about what better trade can, and should, look like.”

Ilkley Town Council’s renewed commitment to supporting Fairtrade was further demonstrated when Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Amanda Simmonds, joined Ilkley Fairtrade Group members to promote this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight campaign.

Braving the rain, supporters gathered at Ilkley Bandstand to launch the ‘Brew it Fair’ campaign for a fairer tea trade.

Chair of Ilkley Fairtrade Group, Karen Palframan, commented: “We’re delighted that Ilkley residents have the opportunity to try a wide range of Fairtrade teas, and will hopefully find one they love and want to swap to. The local supermarkets and Ilkley Oxfam all stock a range of Fairtrade tea. Each Fairtrade purchase will contribute directly to more sustainable global trade, at a time when many tea growers are facing lower yields, harsher conditions and rising poverty.”

Do it Fair this Fairtrade Fortnight
This Fairtrade Fortnight will be taking place 22 September – 05 October 2025. Over these fourteen days we’ll be asking each of you to Do it Fair.

We’ll be celebrating the difference we can all make when we choose Fairtrade and campaign as part of a UK-wide movement calling for a fairer system behind the things we consume every day.?

With the world in a tailspin,? fairness isn’t a given.? But the power to get there is in our hands.? Together, our actions can have a positive impact? on real people’s lives.? Fairer pay. Fairer treatment. Fairer futures.? That’s Fairtrade.? It’s not just a label – it’s a movement.? So, whatever you do,? and however you do it:? Do it Fair.

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, we’re asking the UK government to Brew it Fair. Like all of us, the people growing and picking our tea deserve to be able to plan for their futures, and to protect themselves from the impacts of climate change. Take action by signing our petition and asking your MP to Brew it Fair.

Sign the Petition

Ask your MP to Brew it Fair

Join the Fairtrade Fortnight online High Tea Talk

This Fairtrade Fortnight, we’re inviting you to take a relaxing moment with your favourite cup of tea and connect with the people behind it on Thursday 25 September at 6pm.

Join our online High Tea Talk via Zoom with Fairtrade Foundation CEO, Eleanor Harrison, and Nancy Githaigo a Fairtrade tea farmer and manager of the Gatunguru Tea Factory in Kenya.

The organisation Christian Concern for One World has produced a suite of Fairtrade Fortnight resources for churches. The materials offer information for services as well as general information about Fairtrade, Fairtrade Fortnight and possible activities.

The main resource can be downloaded from the Christian Concern for One World website

Prayer and preaching resources, including a reflection on tea, can be found at: Prayer, preaching and study – Christian Concern for One World.

At the Cow and Calf rocks

Bradford Fairtrade Zone members from Fairtrade Baildon and Fairtrade Ilkley lead a very enjoyable, sunny walk on 2nd August, on leg 5 of the Bradford District Fair Trade Way as part of the City of Culture’s “Bradford on Foot” programme.

After setting out from Burley-in-Wharfedale, the walkers arrived in Ilkley to enjoy the party atmosphere as the town’s extensive Yorkshire Day celebrations continued.

Journey’s end in Ilkley by the new sphagnum moss fountain.

Hull Fairtrade Partnership has continued to mark Hull’s 20th year of maintaining Fairtrade City status with the unveiling of a redesigned flower bed in the city centre.

The vibrant Fairtrade mark is now on display on the corner of Ferensway and Freetown Way, on the same day that Hull City Council reaffirmed its commitment to the movement.

Throughout 2025, in addition to the regular Fairtrade campaigns and events to promote the ethos of social justice that fair, ethical and sustainable trade brings, Hull Fairtrade Partnership, of which Hull City Council is an important consumer, opinion leader and key member, is linking with other initiatives to mark the milestone.

This include Great Big Green Week, a celebration of community-led action on climate change, in which the message that there is no climate justice without trade justice was reinforced.

Maintaining this momentum over two decades is a cause for celebration for Hull Fairtrade Partnership and this is the first time the city centre flowerbeds have been used to promote this.

The Fairtrade Partnership members together with members of the Hull City Council grounds team responsible for installing the display