The latest addition to Fairtrade Yorkshire’s growing network of local groups is Fairtrade Halifax.

The group was brought together by Halifax’s recently elected MP, Holly Lynch and Calderdale Councillor, Adam Wilkinson.  The first meeting was held at Halifax Town Hall and representatives attended from Calderdale Council, Lloyd’s, Fairtrade wholesaler, Suma and Traidcraft.  Local activists joined together with the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of Calderdale to celebrate the launch of the group.

Holly Lynch opened the meeting which was addressed by Coordinator of Fairtrade Yorkshire, Mark Dawson and Helen Robinson from FairandFunky and Fairtrade Kirklees.  Mark stated; ‘it’s fantastic that we have this new group in Halifax and we look forward to working with Calderdale Council and local employers such as Lloyds, Nestle and Suma, as well as with small businesses.  The group has a great opportunity to promote fairness and justice for all the producers and farmers that provide us with the goods that we enjoy.  Welcome to the newest addition to our family.’

The Deputy Mayoress of Calderdale, Holly Lynch MP and the Deputy Mayor of Calderdale

Holme Valley Fairtrade was named runner-up at the Annual Fairtrade Campaign Awards.  The group was awarded second place for Best Media Campaign at the Fairtrade Foundation’s National Supporter Conference in London last weekend.

The group was recognised for their commitment to raising awareness about the principles and values of Fairtrade in their local community during Fairtrade Fortnight 2015, a highlighted campaign for the grassroots movement in the UK.

During Fairtrade Fortnight 2015 Holme Valley Fairtrade members, Social Progress displayed a 5ft inflatable Fairtrade Banana and Mug of Fairtrade Tea outside their Honley Bridge Office. Within 48 hours the banana went missing so they launched the “#MissingBanana” campaign. Through the various channels of social media and a few tongue-in-cheek posters, they called upon the help of the locals as well as Honley High School. Within another 48 hours students from the school spotted the banana in the river! The campaign was an opportunity to turn something negative into something positive. We’re pleased to say that it helped to raise the profile of Fairtrade and Fairtrade Fortnight through the use of the hashtags #FairtradeFortnight and #FairtradeMatters on social media – and the story reached the local press too!

On receiving the award, Helen Robinson from the Holme Valley Fairtrade group said: “We are so proud and excited to be runners up for the award – so much so that you’d think we came first! The best thing to come out of the #MissingBanana campaign is a new partnership with the High School, we’re looking forward to working together in Fairtrade Fortnight 2016, and maybe actually WIN next year!”
Adam Gardner, Communities Campaigns Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “We are very grateful to the Holme Valley Fairtrade Group for their valuable support to farmers and workers around the globe who are continuously working hard to bring us the products we love. All too often these communities are not receiving a fair price for their work, but campaigners from the Holme Valley have shown their dedication to this cause. It’s so important for communities to get involved and let their voice be heard.

“Thanks to the ongoing support of campaigners and businesses around the UK, including campaigners from the Holme Valley Fairtrade today reaches millions of vulnerable farmers and workers in over 70 countries.”

The one day conference in London brought together campaigners from across the UK, Fairtrade producers and experts in global development. The day featured a sneak peek into the Fairtrade Foundation’s 2016-2020 strategy, innovative and informative workshops and the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight 2016, among many other items.

Fairtrade has paved the way for sustainable trading by providing a safety net for world’s poorest farmers against volatile market prices, and the Fairtrade Premium to invest in vital community, business and environmental projects.

The UK has one of the most powerful networks of Fairtrade campaigners in the world, including over 600 Fairtrade Towns, 1350 Fairtrade Schools and 170 Fairtrade Universities, and 7,500 Fairtrade places of worship.

One of the first Fairtrade schools in Kirklees: Holme Junior and Infant School are putting together their application for Fairtrade Status renewal, and launched their campaign with a Fairtrade Coffee Afternoon for the parents and the community at the start of the new school term.

The children at Holme School know a lot about Fairtrade and were involved in every stage of the event; Reception children designed and decorated Fairtrade themed bunting, Key Stage 2 children designed brilliant posters to promote the event around the community. Working with the school cook, Class One made the cakes and biscuits for the event and proudly described the Fairtrade ingredients to visiting parents.

Throughout the afternoon parents were welcomed into busy Fairtrade focussed classrooms and invited to create the Fairtrade logo for themselves using recycled materials, or take part in a Geography activity to map Fairtrade or even use the school iPads for market research into the major supermarkets commitment to Fairtrade.

Alongside the Fairtrade refreshments the students and teachers were joined by fairandfunky with a pop-up shop to launch their rice challenge. Year 6 children helped on the fairandfunky pop-up shop, selling Fairtrade gifts to fellow students and parents using impressive mental maths as their customers all clamoured for attention at the same time!

Fairtrade is embedded into life at the school from the cups of tea in the staff room, ingredients in the school kitchen, to the footballs used by the children at playtime. Fairtrade rice and chocolate packaging is used to teach art, and Fairtrade chocolate becomes a focus for cross curricular learning with Class 2. “We’re a small school making a big difference,” says head teacher Mrs Anne Swain, “our strong links with local and global communities really enrich children’s experiences. We’re very excited to have Fairtrade at the heart of our learning in this way.”