Bullet Points – NCC meeting 14 & 15 January 2015
- Fairtrade Fortnight- Below is an update from the Foundation on materials, campaigns and resources for Fairtrade Fortnight.
Order everything you need at: and find more information and downloadable resources at
Some materials have been delayed in being printed, so orders are being split up and may arrive in more than one delivery over the coming weeks. Those items already in stock will be delivered from this week (26 January). Posters are scheduled to be sent out from 29 January, with any further resources, including event packs scheduled to be sent out by 10 February. Schools packs will arrive on 2 February.
Churches and other places of worship are encouraged to consult the Action Guide and Communities Activity Insert for ideas and inspiration. Worship resources for churches will be available to download from 2 February.
Producer tour – two cocoa farmers and two sugar farmers will be on tour in the UK during Fairtrade Fortnight covering parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Film - Fairtrade Matters is a brand new thought-provoking film, which offers a glimpse into the lives of just two of the farmers and workers at the heart of Fairtrade. Filmed in Malawi, it follows two producers of tea, to explore the difference Fairtrade makes, and the daily challenges they face in a poignant portrait of the everyday reality of life behind the tea we drink. At 13 minutes long, it is ideal for screening as part of a wide range of events - and a set of posters and film programmes are available to order to help you to do just that.
The film will be available to download from 3 February, and DVDs can be ordered online (they will reach you by 20 February).
More details of Fairtrade Fortnight resources and downloads can be found here.
Schools film - a brand new Fairtrade film for young people is shortly to be released in time for Fairtrade Fortnight. It follows Tayna, a 13 year old from Enfield, England, as she meets cocoa farmers in Dominican Republic and learns what goes in to making the chocolate she enjoys, and the difference Fairtrade has made. The film will be available to download from 5 February.
View a trailer for this film here
Stock it Challenge - for groups
The Stock it Challengeis a brand new activity for Fairtrade groups, based on tried and tested success of local conversations in driving availability of Fairtrade products. The Stock it Challenge pack contains all you need to quickly organise an effective activity engaging local businesses for Fairtrade Fortnight. To be entered to the annual campaign awards to win a cash prize of £500 for your local group, return your Stock It Challenge posters to us.
Stock it Postcards - for individuals
Whether or not you choose to take up the Stock it Challenge, Stock it cards for individuals are available to order too in packs of 20. These are ideal for giving out on stalls or at events to encourage the public to take action and ask businesses to stock products that change lives.
Sugar:Although tea, sugar and cocoa are used as the primary case studies for Fairtrade Fortnight in general so as not to be too restrictive, the Foundation’s media work will be focused on sugar during Fairtrade Fortnight. This is because of the urgent challenges facing sugar cane growers in African, Pacific and Caribbean countries due to changes to the EU sugar regime.
Read more about the sugar industry and role of Fairtrade here.
And about the upcoming changes to EU sugar regime here
These changes are already having an impact on the availability Fairtrade sugar in some supermarkets. A quick online campaign action connected to the media story will also be launched during Fairtrade Fortnight, keep an eye on newsletters for further information (and sign up here to ensure you receive updates)
Business offers of support for your events:Some of theFairtrade pioneersincluding Tropical Wholefoods, Zeytoun, Divine Chocolate and Liberation Nuts are running special campaigns and offers during Fairtrade Fortnight. Read more about these offers here.
- Fairtrade Sourcing Programs
Although Fairtrade Sourcing Programmes (FSP) have been approved by the Board of Trustees of the Foundation there are no plans for a UK launch yet. FSP has been launched in several European countries and has been uncontroversial.
More information about FSPs can be found here
- Impact of Fairtrade
The NCC heard about the work being undertaken by the Fairtrade Foundation (and Fairtrade International) to better understand and measure the real impact of Fairtrade. The team working on this are also looking at how to better communicate the impact of Fairtrade and discussed with the NCC plans to produce materials which would be of use to campaigners. Two specific ideas were popular. These were a small brochure/flyer looking at the impact of Fairtrade from a sustainability point of view, and the regular provision of stories which can be distributed across our networks through campaigner newsletters and social media.
- International Fairtrade Towns Conference Bristol July 2015
Now is the time to book your place at the International Fair Trade Towns Conference 4-5 July 2015. More details here
It is being organised by the Bristol Fairtrade Network as part of Bristol’s celebrations as European Green Capital in 2015, focussing on local and global sustainability. It promises to be a fantastic networking opportunity and a great chance to meet campaigners and speakers from all over the world. Book your place here
- Church re-engagement
The Fairtrade Foundation plans to review its ‘offer’ for faith groups, specifically churches, later this year and will launch a consultation before making any changes.
- Schools: New early years resource
A new resource aimed at preschool and KS1 children is being produced. It is called ‘Pablo the Superbanana’ and will enable younger children to participate in Fairtrade awards schemes. Materials will be available soon – please contact with any queries.
- New “I DO” campaign for Fairtrade Gold
The Fairtrade Foundation’s new national “I DO” campaign was launched on 14 January to encourage up to 50,000 couples to buy Fairtrade gold rings in the month leading up to Valentine’s Day on 14 February. See more details of the campaign here
At the moment the campaign is directed at companies and consumers, but there may be campaigner materials as the campaign progresses later in the year. It would be really helpful if the above link to the fairgold website could be highlighted on Fairtrade supporter and church websites.