Fairtrade Yorkshire

Schools from across North Yorkshire came together for the annual Fairtrade in schools event organised by the Centre for Global Education and York Fair Trade Forum.  Pupils and teachers were able to meet Fairtrade activists and retailers and hear a key note speech from Amy Trumpeter of Kigali Crafts.  Amy’s business imports and retails fairly traded crafts and fashion accessories from Rwanda, a country still recovering from bitter civil war.

Pupils from Scarborough’s St. Martin Church of England School

The Sheriff of York was robed up and ready to present the Fairtrade in Yorkshire school awards, in recognition of those schools that have gone the extra mile in encouraging the use of Fairtrade products in school and in the wider community.  Some of the teachers present received Global Education awards from the Centre for Global Education, marking the  completion of a recognised training course. Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to all those who backed us – and to all those who’ve bought and supported Fairtrade anywhere in Yorkshire. But this is only the beginning – Fairtrade Yorkshire is a campaign, not an award!

Read on for pictures and videos from the day’s celebrations….
Read the rest of this entry »

Yorkshire will be declared as a Fairtrade Region on the 18th January.

The historic day will be marked by an afternoon celebration for schools, activists & retailers in Leeds & a formal declaration in the evening.  This will take place in York and will be attended by the Lord Mayor and the Archbishop of York.

Political figures from across the region will be supporting us, including the MP’s Hilary Benn, Greg Mulholland & Julian Sturdy & Linda McAvan MEP.

In the morning there will be a celebration in Ilkley, open to everyone:

Declaration of Yorkshire as the UK’s first Fairtrade Region:  Fairtrade Coffee Morning and Celebration

Join us to celebrate Yorkshire’s successful bid to be the UK’s first ever Fairtrade Region.

Everyone is welcome.  Free event.

When? Friday 18th January 2013, from 10am to 12 noon

Where? Riddings Hall, Christchurch, The Grove, Ilkley

At 11am Bruce Crowther, the founding father of the Fairtrade Towns movement, will make a declaration speech.  There will also be music and the singing of our Yorkshire anthem ‘on Ilkley Moor Bar T’at.’

Do come along.

Event kindly sponsored by Coop Membership.

Fairtrade Yorkshire backs Oxfam’s food justice campaign, Grow, which aims to support small scale farmers.  A major issue that Oxfam has focussed on is the issue of land grabs.

Every second, poor countries lose an area of land the size of a football pitch to banks & private investors.

Families are being evicted from their land – sometimes violently – and left with now way to grow food or earn a living.

Oxfam supporters in York drew attention to this issue with a march from the University of York to the Minster.  The Minster was symbolically ‘land grabbed’ and an eviction notice served.

Read the rest of this entry »

Haworth Fairtrade supporters celebrated the 10th anniversary of the town’s Fairtrade status on 3rd December.  A Fairtrade birthday cake was specially commissioned for the event.  The Bronte town was one of the UK’s first Fairtrade towns.

Just days before the event, the Haworth Steering Group received the confirmation from the Fairtrade Foundation that their status has been renewed for the third time.  Not only that, the Foundation acknowledged that Fairtrade in Haworth has gone from strength to strength.

Congratulations to Bradford Church of England Diocese for gaining Fairtrade Diocese status.

Many churchgoers across the Diocese have put in a great deal of effort and commitment to ensure that Bradford has won this accolade.  Well done to all involved.

Yorkshire’s Ready for Fairtrade – are you? We will having a celebration of fair trade across Yorkshire on Friday January 18th, 1.30- 4.00pm at the Civic Hall in Leeds.  Hands-on activities, fair trade stalls, cake, balloons  and inspiring speeches from Hilary Benn MP and Greg Mulholland MP.

Places are limited, email info@leedsdec.org.uk to book your place.

Lord Mayor of Leeds Cllr Ann Castle and children from local schools showing their support for Fairtrade Yorkshire

Children from 14 schools across Leeds gathered together at the Civic Hall to celebrate their fair trade work and pledge their support for Fairtrade Yorkshire. The Fair trade School Celebration was opened by the Lord Mayor Cllr Ann Castle and attended by visiting teachers from Germany, Austria and Leeds’ partner city Brno in the Czech Republic.

Hannah Dalrymple, organiser of the event and Chair of Fairtrade Yorkshire said “Yorkshire is well on its way to becoming the first region in the UK to attain Fairtrade status. It’s really exciting to see so much excellent and creative work going on in Leeds schools to raise awareness about fair trade issues, and so inspiring to hear from teachers across Europe who are pioneering similar work in their own countries.”

The event was organised to help schools share good ideas about teaching and learning about fair trade issues and celebrate their achievements. Activities included presentations from schools, animation workshops and Fairtrade Yorkshire rosette making.

Schools that attended were Adel Primary, Ireland Wood, Otley All Saints, Bankside Primary, St Marys Menston, Wykebeck Primary School, Southroyd Primary, St. Chad’s Primary School, Prince Henry’s Grammar School, Allerton C of E Primary, NWSILC, Harehills Primary.

Mo Zafir of Fairtrade wholesalers, Premcrest, who are pleased to give their backing to the campaign for Yorkshire to be the UK’s first Fairtrade region.  Premcrest supply across the UK from their base in Bradford.

The University of Hull has a new Fairtrade Steering Group.  Chris King from the group is keen to support the campaign for Fairtrade Yorkshire.