Scottish Fair Trade Forum
Scotland closes in on Fair Trade status
2012 is the year Scotland aims to be declared a Fair Trade Nation - we are nearly there. This promises to be the most exciting year yet for Fair Trade in Scotland. Scotland is going Fair Trade - are you? There will be lots of Fair Trade news throughout the year so keep checking out the website to keep up-to-date with what's going on.
Forum seeks to appoint Fairtrade Towns Development Officer
We are currently recruiting for a new post to play a key role in achieving Fair Trade Nation status for Scotland in 2012:
Fairtrade Towns Development Officer
Salary: £21,819 per annum. Hours: 35 per week.
Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2014 (with possibility of extension, dependent on funding) with start date as soon as possible.
Location: Regularly as required at Scottish Fair Trade Forum office, Edinburgh - but a lot of travel around Scotland.
The Forum anticipates receiving funding to appoint a Fairtrade Towns Development Officer. The postholder will play a key operational role in ensuring Scotland achieves its Fair Trade Nation tragets in 2012 and will develop the next stage of the Fairtrade Towns network in Scotland.
An application form can be dowloaded by clicking here. A job description and person specification can be obtained by clicking here. Completed application forms, together with a covering letter should be submitted by noon on Monday 30 January to towns@sftf.org.uk
It's all going on for Fair Trade
It has been a busy few weeks for Fair Trade across Scotland as people in towns and historic cities have been meeting to set up new Fairtrade groups. There have been meetings in Crieff, Cumbernauld, Dalkeith, Dingwall, Dumbarton, Dunblane, Dunfermline, Elgin, Glenrothes, Helensburgh, Kirkcaldy, Lenzie, Stonehaven, Penicuik, Prestwick and Westhill. The Arbroath group has become active again. Glasgow and Dundee groups have held their AGMs. Queensferry has held their annual Fair Trade Global Bazaar. Inverness will be holding its annual Fair Trade Bazaar on Saturday 3 December. Bathgate and Prestonpans were recently successful in achieving Fairtrade status and North Berwick had their status renewed. West Lothian has achieved Fairtrade Zone status and East Ayrshire are now actively planning to launch a Fairtrade Zone Steering Group.
This truly is a national effort to support Fair Trade and make Scotland a Fair Trade Nation in 2012.
Lothians celebrate Fair Trade successes.
Fair Traders in West and East Lothian have been celebrating. Fair Trade supporters gathered in Livingston's shopping centre along with Forum Director, Martin Rhodes, to celebrate West Lothian being declared a Fairtrade Zone. In East Lothian, Prestonpans had cuase for celebration too when it was awarded Fairtrade Town status. North Berwick too had something to celebrate when its status as a Fairtrade Town was renewed by the Fairtrade Foundation.
Kilmarnock a Fairtrade Town?
Do you want to help to make Kilmarnock a Fairtrade Town? Then come along to a meeting at St Matthew's Church Hall, Grassyards Road at 7pm on Wednesday 26 October and find out more about Fair Trade and how to help make Kilmarnock a Fairtrade Town.
Dundee Fair Trade Forum AGM
If you live in Dundee and want to know more about Fair Trade or want to get involved with the Dundee Fair Trade Forum, come along to their AGM on Thurday 27 October at 7pm in Room 2522, the Bell Street Building at Abertay University. The guest speaker will be our Director, Martin Rhodes.
Fair Trade in Lenzie
Do you live in Lenzie and want to help Lenzie become a Fairtrade Town? If so come along to the Lenzie Union Parish Church, New Hall, Moncrieff Avenue at 7.30pm on Monday 24 October. There will be a guest speaker and Fair Trade stalls.
Queensferry Global Bazaar
Queensferry Fair Trade Group are holding their famous Global Bazaar from 10am to 3.30pm on Saturday 29 October in Queensferry Parish Church Centre, South Queensferry. There will be lots of Fair Trade and Ethical stalls; tea and coffee tasting; and refreshments. All welcome.
Paisley Fair Traders win Award
The Paisley Fairtrade Town Group have won an award from the Fairtrade Foundation for their work on Fairtrade cotton during this year's Fairtrade Fortnight. Paisley Fair Traders, Maureen and Margo collected the award at the Fairtrade Foundation's annual Supporters' Conference in Birmingham.
Fair Trade in Dalkeith, Dunblane, Prestwick, Helensburgh, Arbroath, Aberdeen, Cumbernauld, Glasgow, Dundee and Queensferry
As Scotland gets closer to becoming a Fair Trade Nation in 2012, there is so much going on all across Scotland. People in Dalkeith and Dunblane are planning to establish Fairtrade Town groups. Local people in Prestwick and Helensburgh are already setting up Fairtrade Town steering groups. In Arbroath a meeting was held to relaunch its steering group
Aberdeen held a lunchtime meeting to relaunch its Fairtrade Steering Group last week.
There's going to be a public meeting in Cumbernauld Old Parish Church on 18 October at 7pm to launch a steering group for the town. The groups in Glasgow and Dundee will be having their AGMs soon.
The guest speaker at the Dundee AGM will be Forum Director, Martin Rhodes. The meeting will take place at 7pm on 27 October in the Bell Street Building of Abertay University.
Queensferry Fair Trade Group will be hosting its annual Global Bazaar on 29 October from 10am to 3.30pm at Queensferry Parish Church Centre.
Fairtrade Cotton Schoolwear Briefing Session
The Fairtrade Cotton Schoolwear Briefing proved very successful. The event on Thursday 6 October included prtesentations by Veronica Pasteur, Head of Campaigns at the Fairtrade Foundation; Angela Oakley, Schools Advisor at the Scottish Fair Trade Forum and pupils from St Andrews RC High School in Kirkcaldy who will be talking about their new Fairtrade cotton hoodies. There was also a short film on the importance of Fairtrade Cotton to the lives of farmers in West Africa.
Enthusiasm grows about Fairtrade cotton schoolwear
We were delighted this week to hear from the parents of Alexander and Jonathan Mair in Stirling who wore their Fairtrade cotton school uniforms with pride at the start of their new school term last week. We hope the two boys have a fantastic school year ahead. If you have a story about Fairtrade Cotton school-wear that you'd like to be published on our website please contact info@sftf.org.uk
Director's keynote speech discusses year ahead for Forum
Director Martin Rhodes focussed on Fairtrade Towns and the year ahead in his keynote speech at this year's Campaign Day in Stirling. Whilst praising the achievements of the past twelve months, the importance of the year ahead was also emphasised. Highlights of the summary of the past year included descriptions of Fairtrade Fortnight, World Fair Trade Day and the local successes seen in Fife, East Lothian, Cambuslang, Rutherglen, Forth Valley College and Queen Margaret University. Looking towards the future of the Forum, focus was placed on the importance of increasing the number of Fairtrade Towns and the consequences of Scotland's application to become a Fair Trade Nation. Regarding the exciting developments expected this year, the conference delegates also enjoyed hearing about further campaigning with young people through the Scottish Youth Parliament and the growth of the Fairtrade Cotton School-wear Campaign.
The roll-call of A-list Scottish celebrities who have recently come out to pledge their support for the Campaign included Sir Sean Connery, Sir Alex Ferguson, The Proclaimers, Shirley Manson, DJ Mylo, Nicola Benedetti, Tom Kitchin, Iain Banks, Billy Boyd and his band Beecake. As 2012 draws ever closer we would love to hear about your pledge to do your bit for the campaign to make Scotland a Fair Trade Nation. Please send your pledge to info@sftf.org.uk and we will add it to our Countdown Calendar.
Campaign Day workshop summary
This year's Countdown Campaign Day hosted three workshop sessions where delegates discussed Fairtrade Towns and the lessons that can be learned from people's experiences either in setting up Fairtrade Town steering groups or maintaining the vision in established Fairtrade Town groups. Having completed the workshops the volunteers were asked to compile a summary of the key recommendations resulting from their discussions, these are listed below:
- It is important to approach schools and councillors
- It is vital to maintain a presence by holding competitions/events
- Established groups need to help new groups
- There should be annual group pledges and individual pledges regarding how they choose to promote Fair Trade.
- Businesses and schools should also make yearly Fair Trade pledges
- It is important to keep asking for Fairtrade products in shops to increase local interest.
- It is important that Fair Trade steering groups have members with
- strong skills sets in IT, sales, marketing, media and publicity
- realistic ideas for the group
If you would like to add any ideas to this list or can suggest any changes please contact us at info@sftf.org.uk.
Annual report released
To view the 2011 Annual Report please click here
Campaign Day 2011
The Forum's lively and successful Campaign Day took place on Saturday 3 September at the Terraces Hotel in Stirling.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop attended the event and reaffirmed the Scottish Government's continued commitment to the Fair Trade Nation campaign. Director of Policy and Communications at the Fairtrade Foundation, Barbara Crowther gave a review of the Foundation's campaigning in the last year and plans for the year ahead.
Forum Director Martin Rhodes set out the achievements so far, the challenges ahead and the plan of action to gain Fair Trade Nation status in 2012.
Heather Baird of Equal Exchange gave an update on the Fair Trade producers who had visited Scotland during this year's Fairtrade Fortnight. Graham Hulme of Fair Trade Way and Fairtrade in Garstang outlined the recent initiative to link Fairtrade Towns in a Fair Trade Way.
The highlight of the day was a live video link up with members of the Kuapa Kokoo Cocoa farmers Co-operative in Ghana and a Q&A session with the farmers.
There were many talking points raised over the course of the Campaign Day which will be written up and published on the website in the near future.
Fairtrade cotton school uniforms prove popular
As the school term approaches again parents around the country are heading out to the shops to purchase the yearly uniform. Increasingly present in high street shops these days are school uniforms made from Fairtrade cotton. So make sure you go for the Fairtrade cotton choice this year. The parents of Alice Williams at Kelvindale Primary in Glasgow very kindly sent in the above photo of Alice with a new Fairtrade cotton cardigan. If you have a story about purchasing Fair trade cotton uniforms for the new term we'd love to hear from you. We hope that Alice enjoyed her first day back!
Dunscore Fair Trade Gala goes sweetly
The village of Dunscore in Dumfries & Galloway last week hosted their annual Fair Trade Festival with a Fair Trade themed Gala day. Villagers gathered to watch the Charlie and the Chocolate factory themed celebration of Fair trade. Children dressed as Oompa Loompas entertained the audience whilst a raffle gave out a variety of great Fair trade prizes. More information on the Fair Trade village of Dunscore can be found here.
Director Martin Rhodes takes part in Belladrum debate
From left to right: Alys Mumford, Paul Flowers, Iain Macwhirter, Martin Rhodes and Stuart Ramsay.
The Belladrum “Tartan Heart” festival hosted speakers from around Scotland to discuss Scotland’s drive to become a Fair Trade Nation. Hosted by the Herald’s Iain Macwhirter, the debate “Scotland: A Fair Trade Nation?” examined Scotland’s chances of being declared a Fair Trade Nation in 2012. Director of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, Martin Rhodes, was part of the panel along with co-panellists Alys Mumford from Jubilee Scotland, Head of Co-operative Financial Services Paul Flowers and Stuart Ramsay from the Co-operative. Martin Rhodes commented on the event:
“It’s important that we make sure the message gets out about the campaign to make Scotland one of the world’s first Fair Trade Nations and that we have debates like this to build interest in the campaign”
As a family friendly festival Belladrum organisers didn’t forget about the kids who enjoyed a Fair Trade treasure hunt with Fair Trade goodies available for all to find in the lovely setting of Belladrum and the hunt provided fun and games for the eager festival goers.
This year, the Belladrum Festival gained recognition from the Scottish Fair Trade Forum for being a Fair trade supporter in response to their great efforts to promote Fair trade. These included starting up a Fair trade café and encouraging all retailers and caterers to stock at least one Fairtrade item. The Inverness Fair Trade group were also on hand to provide complimentary Fair trade samples to festival goers.
Scottish campaigners bring Countdown to Canada
The Scottish Fair Trade Forum were delighted this week to hear of the travels of Morag Rennie, Chair of the Motherwell Fair Trade Steering group, who travelled to Montreal to attend the Soroptimist International Convention earlier this month. Whilst at the conference she gave a talk on the Principles of Fair trade and was followed by Ruth Bruce, Chair of the Garstang Fair trade steering group in Lancashire who provided at a talk on "The formation of links with producer towns." We would like to thank Morag and Ruth for their work promoting Fair trade overseas and helping spread the word on Scotland's efforts to become a Fair trade nation.
Belladrum Festival supports Fair trade
Festival organiser Joe Gibbs receives award
The Belladrum Music and Arts Festival has become the first festival to be recognised for its support of Fair Trade. As a result of efforts to promote Fair Trade produce at the festival, the Tartan Heart Festival has become a trailblazer in gaining official recognition for its contribution to Fair Trade. One of this year's key achievements has been to create the Verb Garden, a Fair Trade café for festival goers which will host debates, discussions, interviews with performers and Fairtrade wine tasting. The Verb Garden is supported by the Co-operative who will also run a convenience store at the festival, whilst the Inverness Fair Trade group will be offering complimentary Fairtrade samples to an appreciative audience. To encourage local businesses to do their bit for Fair Trade, festival organisers have also urged caterers and retailers to stock at least one Fairtrade product.
To allow festival goers to further engage in the Fair Trade movement the Scottish Fair Trade Forum will host a discussion on the role of Fair Trade in tackling global poverty. In addition, younger festival goers have not been forgotten as they will be treated to a Fair Trade treasure hunt.
Festival organiser, Joe Gibbs was thrilled with the accolade:
"We are delighted to receive this award and we are working hard this year to ensure that we continue to promote Fair Trade to our appreciative and supportive audience."
He also commented that the Scottish Fair Trade Forum acknowledge "the unique place that Belladrum has in the Scottish cultural calendar."
The Director of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, Martin Rhodes commented "We are absolutely delighted to be making this award to the Festival... The feedback we get from our supporters who attend this event is tremendous and we know that many of the festival goers appreciate being part of these efforts. As we build towards Scotland becoming a Fair Trade nation in 2012 it is only right that Belladrum is recognised for all the hard work and creativity invested."
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival will take place on the 5th & 6th August in Beauly, Inverness-shire - please go to http://www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk/ for more information.
Campaign Day details announced
The details of this year's Campaign Day have now been announced and it promises to be a fantastic celebration of the Countdown campaign. Taking place on Saturday 3rd September in the Terraces Hotel, Stirling, the day will comprise of a variety of guest speakers, workshops and talks. If you would like to book a place at the conference please email -
info@sftf.org.uk
Fair Trade for muggles
With Harry Potter fever in the air for the final installment of the film series, the One World Shop and the Edinburgh University Harry Potter Society have teamed up to create "Ethic Alley" - a magical day of potion making, tea leaf reading and games on Sunday 24th July. There will be prizes for the best costume for adults and kids and proceeds will go to the One World Shop's education programme with the Action Bag group of Bangladesh. So come along and celebrate your shared love of Harry Potter and Fair trade in style at the One World Shop!
The Facebook event page can be found here - http://on.fb.me/niyrwh
Director meets with Forfar steering group
Our Director Martin Rhodes was delighted to meet with members of the Forfar Fair Trade group earlier this month. The Forfar group aims to promote Fair Trade products in the local area and eventually gain Fair trade status for the town, helping Scotland's drive to become a Fairtrade nation. We wish them all the very best in their efforts and very much look forward to working with the group in the future!
Kyle Academy in Ayr becomes a Fairtrade school
Congratulations to Kyle Academy in Ayr which has recently become a Fairtrade school, it comes after a huge amount of effort from both pupils and staff at the school and we'd like to wish them all the very best for the future in promoting Fair Trade!
Scots lead the way in Fair Trade
The campaign to make Scotland a Fair Trade Nation was recently given a boost in Scotland by research showing that Scots are more clued up on Fair Trade products than the rest of the UK.
A recent survey shows that 81% of Scottish people polled were aware of Fair Trade products, above the UK average of 77% who are aware of the Fairtrade Mark. This will come as promising news to businesses investing in Fair Trade products as the commercial basis of Fair Trade is further strengthened. Figures show that 28% of Scots now buy Fair Trade products at least once a week and 59% of Scots purchase Fair Trade at least once a month. The survey also shows that even in difficult economic circumstances, Fair Trade is growing in popularity in Scotland as 40% are buying more Fair Trade products compared to twelve months ago.
Martin Rhodes, Director of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum welcomed the survey’s findings: “The recent poll results are testament to a growing awareness of Fair Trade in Scotland and a real boost to Scotland’s bid to become a Fair Trade Nation.”
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop was delighted with the news: "It is very encouraging to see that the Scottish Government’s commitment to promoting the fair trade agenda is capturing the imagination of Scottish consumers.
“As a nation we are renowned for our work with developing countries and for helping others to build themselves a better future. The Fairtrade Mark fits very well into our compassion for equality. The importance of this to modern Scots is reflected in the fact that each of our six cities have Fairtrade status, nine universities and 41 towns are Fairtrade and just over 800 schools are registered on the Fairtrade Schools scheme.
“I look forward to building on this momentum and announcing Scotland as a Fair trade Nation in 2012.“
Fergie backs Fair Trade
Photo by Austin Osuide [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
In a huge boost to the Scottish Fair Trade Forum’s Countdown Campaign, Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has pledged his support for the on-going campaign by promising to drink Fair Trade tea.
The Scottish footballing legend was proud to back Scotland’s bid to become a Fair trade nation. To celebrate the midway point of the Countdown Campaign, Sir Alex has pledged to drink Fair trade tea. He writes
“We have Fair Trade Tea… and therefore I can pledge to drink that”
Sir Alex is happy to use his profile to publicise the Fair trade movement and wishes the Scottish Fair Trade Forum all the very best for the success of the Countdown Campaign.
Scottish Fair Trade Forum Director Martin Rhodes was delighted to hear that such a high profile figure had joined the campaign.
“It is great to have such a high profile figure as Sir Alex Ferguson backing our campaign to make Scotland a Fair trade nation. Our Countdown Campaign aims to make Scotland top of the league in all aspects of Fair Trade and Sir Alex Ferguson has certainly helped us to achieve that goal”
Sir Alex’s pledge marks the half-way point in an exciting year of events and pledges for the Countdown campaign building up to 2012 when the Scottish Fair Trade Forum will officially submit an application for Scotland to become a Fair Trade Nation. The campaign is aiming to get 365 pledges, one for every day of 2011, to raise awareness of Fair Trade in Scotland.
Ian Baxter completes walk for the Scottish Fair Trade Forum
We were delighted to hear that Ian Baxter had completed his sponsored walk for the Scottish Fair Trade Forum. Walking from Glasgow to Inverness via the Kelvin Way, the West Highland Walkway and the Great Glen Way, Ian finished his walk on Saturday 11th June and everyone at the Scottish Fair Trade Forum would like to say a huge thank you for his efforts. The sponsorship is in aid of a small grant scheme going to local groups campaigning for Fair Trade status. Donations are still very welcome at http://www.justgiving.com/ian-baxter/
Campaign Day to take place on 3 September
The Scottish Fair Trade Forum can confirm that this year's Campaign Day will take place on Saturday 3 September in Stirling. As always, the day should be packed with Fair Trade speakers, talk, and guests, and worth attending for anyone with an interest in the movement. More details about the day will follow soon- so be sure to stay tuned!
Cambuslang and Rutherglen go Fairtrade
Cambuslang and Rutherglen officially became Fairtrade Towns on Saturday 4 June as part of a global celebration of 1000 such places worldwide. The towns joined such places as Madrid and the Prime Minister's constituency of Whitney in officially becoming Fairtrade throughout the day.
Scottish Fair Trade Forum Director Martin Rhodes said:
“It’s great to have Cambuslang and Rutherglen be part of this worldwide declaration, contributing towards a major landmark for the Fair Trade movement. As new Fairtrade Towns They’ll also be helping Scotland towards its own landmark goal of becoming one of the world’s first Fair Trade Nations.”
Kingdom of Fife declared Fairtrade
Fife became the latest area of Scotland to achieve Fairtrade status on Thursday 26 May at a special event sponsored by the Co-operative group. Fife Fair Trade Forum chair Councillor Fiona Grant welcomed Scottish Fair Trade Forum Director Martin Rhodes to the event, where he spoke on how Fife’s achievements would contribute to Scotland becoming a Fair Trade nation.
Martin said:
“I’m delighted that the Kingdom of Fife has achieved Fairtrade status. Fife going Fairtrade is a landmark achievement for Scotland- bringing us one step closer to Fair Trade Nation status and showing that we have the support of some of its finest villages, towns and people.”
The Provost of Fife Councillor Frances Melville accepted the certificate conferring Fair Trade status on behalf of the people of Fife and congratulated those who leading the local campaign. The declaration comes hot on the heels of East Lothian's, where Fairtrade status was achieved earlier in the month.
Show your support for the Fair Trade Forum
Fairtrade Fortnight saw a surge in pledges for our Countdown Campaign, which encourages people and organisations to spend just one day going that bit further to support Fair Trade. Resolutions came in all shapes and sizes- Troon’s St Medden’s Church hosted a Fair Trade coffee morning, while Sarah from Edinburgh pledged to have a girly DVD night complete with Fair Trade treats. We’ve not quite got the calendar filled up yet, though, so if you’d like to do that little bit extra for Fair Trade send your name, what you plan to do and the day you plan to do it to info@sftf.org.uk. You can also contact us at this address to find out more about our new Supporter’s Scheme. This initiative allows groups, workplaces and organisations to officially commit to our Fair Trade Nation campaign, and provides support to promote Fair Trade to organisational members.
