Carrville is a Fairtrade church.

We believe in promoting fairness, justice and equality for all, and because of this we are happy to be certified as members of the Fairtrade organisation. To this end we use Fairtrade products (such as coffee, tea, biscuits and paper products) on the premises as well as running a Fairtrade stall in the foyer at the entrance to the hall.

The stall is run by our Treasurer, Bob Sibbald. In the Feb. 2007 issue of “The Visitor” our church magazine, Bob writes:

“Change Today. Choose Fairtrade, is an urgent call to people in the UK to engage with the Fairtrade Foundation’s vision of an even bigger movement for positive change on unfair trade, including making the switch to buying Fairtrade.”

Bob’s article continues by quoting Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director Harriet Lamb: “Fairtrade has demonstrated its potential to help producers improve their livelihoods, strengthen their businesses and benefit their communities, but compared with what is needed in the poorer countries of the world, we’ve really only begun to make a dent in the struggle against poverty and unfair trade.

“We want people to understand that by changing to the huge range of Fairtrade products now available they are empowering others to work for a better life. A small change in our shopping habits can mean a community in Africa, Asia, or Latin America can build classrooms, employ a nurse or invest in processing machinery. Fairtrade has been embraced enthusiastically by people in the UK but we still need more and more people to choose Fairtrade so that farmers can sell more of their produce under Fairtrade terms.”

As part of promotional material for a Fairtrade Christmas 2007 campaign, Bob adds:

“All proceeds from the Church Fairtrade stall are used to purchase more goods so the more you buy the more help is given to poorer farmers and their families.

"Goods available include tea, coffee, chocolate, marmalade, jam, nuts, fruit, honey, sugar, spices, biscuits, cakes and fruit bars. 

"Since opening the stall in 2005 over £1,200-00 of goods have been purchased and a big thank you is extended to everyone who has supported Fairtrade.

"If you are reading about Fairtrade for the first time the aim of the Fairtrade Foundation is to ensure that disadvantaged growers in the developing World get a better deal for the goods they produce. All Fairtrade products bear the Fairtrade mark to confirm that they have been inspected and certified to internationally agreed standards. A guarantee is also given that a price has been paid to producers to cover the cost of sustainable production plus an amount to be invested in social or economic projects.

"Please purchase goods at Church or when out shopping to ensure that poorer farmers and their families are getting a better deal this Christmas and throughout 2008.”

 

Our parent district of Darlington is also affiliated to the Fairtrade organisation.

For more information about Fairtrade, have a look at the Fairtrade Foundation web site.