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. 2009 issue of “The Visitor” our church magazine, Bob gives us the latest news on Fairtrade Fortnight:

 

“Fairtrade Fortnight 23 February - 8 March
Make it Happen. Choose Fairtrade.

Two billion people - a third of humanity - still survive on less than $2 a day. Unfair trade rules keep them  in poverty, but they face the global challenges of food shortages and climate change too. Fairtrade is a people's movement for change that aims to tip the balance of trade in favour of poor producers. We all need Fairtrade more than ever and we all have the power to create positive change for people and planet.

Make it Happen. Choose Fairtrade.

Take part in Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 and play your part by joining a powerful global movement for change!

Retailers, licensees and commercial companies are gearing up for Fairtrade Fortnight (23 February - 8 March 2009), which looks set to be bigger and better than ever before, with hundreds of in-store activities planned around the country.

The theme is Make it Happen. Choose Fairtrade. This urgent call is pertinent this year as the Fairtrade Foundation is one year into its ambitious five-year strategy. Tipping the Balance which aims, by 2012, to enable twice as many producers to be benefiting from selling Fairtrade goods in the UK, while those already supplying the UK market should be able to double the proportion of the crop they sell through the Fairtrade system.

Fairtrade Fortnight presents companies with a unique opportunity to market Fairtrade and is the perfect time for companies to improve visibility at point-of-sale, or even consider extending their range of Fairtrade certified products.

There are now more than 4,500 FAIRTRADE Mark products certified, over a wide range of product categories. This is expected to include olive oil and cosmetics in the coming year as the Tipping the Balance strategy aims to increase sales four-fold by 2012, partly through the introduction of new product categories.

Bananas continue to be a best-selling Fairtrade product and one in four bananas sold in the UK are now Fairtrade. Fairtrade Fortnight will culminate with Fairtrade campaigners up and down the country attempting to set a world record for eating Fairtrade bananas between midday on 6 March and midday on 7 March. Independent shops and retailers such as Sainsbury's, Waitrose and the Co-operative will support the initiative by making supplies available.

Our coffee morning on Saturday 7th March will support the Fairtrade movement. Many goods will be available on our Fairtrade Stall and you can pick up information about Fairtrade and how you can help. I am delighted to inform you that our new Youth Group, TGIF, (Thank God It's Friday) are to open a Fairtrade tuck shop and Hannah Wilkinson has offered to run the Church Fairtrade stall each Sunday morning during refreshments. Thank you.

Please support Fairtrade at Church or when out shopping, but whatever you do this Fairtrade Fortnight make sure you take action. Thanks to you, Fairtrade has come a long way, but there is much more to be done. Use Fairtrade Fortnight to tell your friends, neighbours, colleagues and communities about why Fairtrade is vital for poor producers in developing countries. Together we can Make it Happen!”

  

 

 

 

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.