Scottish Fair Trade Forum

Towns and historic cities join the campaign to make Scotland a Fair Trade Nation

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:29:00 +0000

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.

Fair Trade all across Scotland

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:03:00 +0000

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.

Fairtrade Cotton Schoolwear Briefing Session

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:02:00 +0000

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.

Director's keynote speech discusses year ahead for Forum

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:30:00 +0000

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.

Fair Trade Towns workshop summary

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:50:00 +0000

Fair Trade Towns 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

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:46:00 +0000

Annual report released

To view the 2011 Annual Report please click here

Fair trade school uniforms prove popular

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:26:00 +0000

Fair trade 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. We hope that Alice enjoyed her first day back!

Dunscore Fair Trade Gala goes sweetly

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:10:00 +0000

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

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:56:00 +0000

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.

Campaign Day preparations build momentum

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:09:00 +0000

Preparations for the Campaign Day are now fully underway as speakers, guests and workshops are confirmed. The event will take place at the Terraces Hotel, Stirling on Saturday 3rd September. Registration will open at 10.30am and the event will finish at 5pm.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop will be speaking at the event along with Director of Policy and Communications at the Fairtrade Foundation, Barbara Crowther. Furthermore, Forum Director Martin Rhodes and Graham Hulme of Fair Trade Way, Fairtrade Garstang and Chair of the Garstang Oxfam group will also be speaking.

In addition there will be 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.

Registration for the event is open and places are limited so be sure to email info@sftf.org.uk to register your place at the event.