South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 04/07/2013

School children helped celebrate the news that the district has retained its much coveted title of Fairtrade status by hosting a Fairtrade honey tasting session at the school.

This means that the district as a whole continues to show its commitment to Fairtrade by using products with the Fairtrade Mark and raising awareness about the benefits of Fairtrade to farmers across the developing world.

South Gloucestershire Council has worked alongside community organisations, businesses, schools and individuals to pledge to do what we can to support and promote the use of Fairtrade products. As a local authority, we have also shown our commitment by selling Fairtrade products in our canteen.

A number of activities have been organised over the past two years including a yearly visit from a Fairtrade producer from Nicaragua. This has been made possible thanks to partnership working between the Fairtrade networks in Bristol and South Gloucestershire and through the Bristol Link with Nicaragua.

More than 4,000 school pupils have learnt about Fairtrade products including the production of honey and sesame seeds which provide a vital source of income for local communities in Nicaragua. And several areas of South Gloucestershire have featured Fairtrade stalls at their farmers’ markets including Chipping Sodbury and the University of the West of England.

Cllr Ian Boulton said: “This is a terrific achievement for everyone involved in driving this work forward in South Gloucestershire. There are strict goals set by the Fairtrade Foundation to achieve and maintain this status and the efforts of everyone in South Gloucestershire have meant we have excelled in meeting these challenging targets.”

Anna Misterska, Communities Campaigns Officer at the Fairtrade Foundation, added: “It is clear that Fairtrade in South Gloucestershire is thriving. We were impressed to see the strength of its Fairtrade Steering Group, support of its local councils and evidence of the keen involvement of schools, churches and the University of the West of England. It is truly wonderful to learn how different community groups of all ages are all championing the Fairtrade movement in South Gloucestershire through a variety of creative events. Fairtrade is a people driven movement and it is the very dedication and persistence of local community groups in campaigning for trade justice that helps to achieve the biggest impact for producers in developing countries.”

A website www.fairtradesouthwest.org.uk has details for residents who want to know more information about where they can buy fairly traded goods and produce in South Gloucestershire and local Fairtrade events.