St Elizabeth’s Primary

Institution: St Elizabeth's Primary (Hamilton, South Lanarkshire)

Achieved Fairtrade Status: August 2008

Number of pupils: 270

Number of staff: 30

Pupils and staff at St Elizabeth's Primary in Hamilton are very proud of their Fairtrade School status, and over the years they have worked hard to create opportunities to promote Fair Trade in a fun way. One activity they've created 'Helping Fairtrade Hands', which promotes greater awareness of Fairtrade products and issues by recycling waste paper wrappers in a fun, unique art project.

Pupils save wrappers from Fairtrade snacks they have eaten at home or school. Each class then gathers their wrappers and displays them in large transparent bags for all visitors, staff and pupils to see in the school foyer. The wrappers are reused (which fits with the Eco-Schools criteria as well!) to make 'Fairtrade Hands.'  Plastic gloves collected from petrol display courts are stuffed with the wrappers and the 'hands' provide a colourful reminder of Fairtrade all to see around the school. Wrappers have also been used to make giant collages of the letter 'F' for Fair Trade - the 'F Factor'!