Let's make Stourbridge a Fairtrade town!

It's difficult to see why anyone in the western world with a conscience would disagree with the concept of Fairtrade. I for one have no desire to buy a product that could only be supplied by people living in poverty and I suspect many other people in the Stourbridge area feel the same way. So let's support this initiative

Stourbridge Fairtrade Newsletter, July 2010

Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark on products when you shop www.Fairtrade.org.uk

The Fairtrade Logo on a product guarantees that the producer has received a Fair and Stable price which covers the cost of sustainable production. There are now over 4500 products certified as Fairtrade.

Stourbridge Fairtrade Group promotes the sale of Fairtrade items as we believe that Fairtrade provides a better deal for producers in developing countries. We are pleased to announce that at the end of July 2010 we will be applying for Stourbridge to be awarded Fairtrade Town Status by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Among the 5 Goals that we must meet is the requirement that 18 shops and 9 catering outlets in Stourbridge offer at least 2 items of Fairtrade. We now have 23 shops and 10 catering outlets who stock 2 items or more of Fairtrade…some stock many more!

Please help us by buying and asking for Fairtrade when you shop, eat or drink in Stourbridge.

What can I buy?
Apart from many other items you can choose Fairtrade cotton socks and tights in Boots, coffee and tea in Somerfield, Fairtrade Muesli in Holland and Barrett and Fairtrade Bath and Body products in “Purge” and Boots. And, please do not forget all the lovely chocolate that is Fairtrade -from Cadbury’s Dairy Milk to Divine Chocolate from Ghana and boxes of chocolates at the Co-op and Waitrose!

Fairtrade footballs and other Sportsballs can be found at www.Fairdealtrading.com. The Ethletic funball is particularly colourful.

Fairtrade wines can now be found in many supermarkets and you can find “Liberation” Fairtrade Nuts in Waitrose….a peanut and cashew nut mix.

Shops selling Fairtrade in Stourbridge
( updated July 2010)

Boots, Ryemarket
The Co-Op Store, Witton Street, Norton
Holland and Barrett, Ryemarket
Iceland, Ryemarket
Thorntons, Ryemarket
Waitrose , Ryemarket,
Stourbridge Health Food Store, Victoria Passage
Purge, Victoria Passage
Somerfields, High Street
Stourbridge Post Office, High Street
Wilkinson’s High Street
Costcutter, Hagley Road, Oldswinford
Costcutter, Texaco Garage, Oldswinford
Costcutter, Murco Garage, Gauden Road, Wollescote
Sainsbury’s, Sandringham Way,Withymoor Village
Spar, Bridgnorth Road,Wollaston
Spar, Brettell Lane, Amblecote
Spar,High Street, Lye
Spar, Wollescote,
Tesco Express, Hagley Rd, Oldswinford,
Sonas, Vicarage Road, Amblecote
Londis, Chawn Park Road
NISA, Lye

Cafes selling Fairtrade in Stourbridge
(updated July 2010)

Café at the Glasshouse Arts Centre Wollaston Road, Amblecote
The Well Coffee Shop, High Street, Stourbridge
Greggs, High Street, Stourbridge
Coffee Eclipse, Ryemarket
The Bell, Market Street
Café in Sainsbury’s at Withymoor
The Crabmill, Hagley Road, Oldswinford
The Retreat Italian, Hagley Road, Oldswinford
The Plough, Bridgnorth Road, Wollaston
Cockleshell Craft Centre, Worcester Street

Earlier news topics:

On July 16th 2009 Dudley Metropolitan Council passed a resolution to support the initiative to make Stourbridge a “Fairtrade Town”. The Resolution stated: "That Dudley MBC supports the principle of Fairtrade and the Fairtrade Foundation.The Council welcomes the work of supporters of the Fairtrade Foundation within the Metropolitan Borough and supports the efforts of all townships within the Borough in their quest for Fairtrade Town Status. The Council agrees to continue to offer Fairtrade tea and coffee at its meetings and in the offices." This is the first of the 5 goals set by the Fairtrade Foundation and it is a great step forward in the quest for Fairtrade town status for Stourbridge and other towns in the Borough.
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Stourbridge Fairtrade Town Status Steering Group:

Buying products with the Fairtrade Mark on makes a real difference to the lives of farmers and workers in developing countries. It ensures that they are not exploited and that they get a fair price for their products. Producers also receive a “social premium” which they can spend on a community project that they choose eg improved school or health facilities or developing their “businesses”.

One of the many people who has benefited from Fairtrade is Rumi, an embroiderer from Swajan, Bangladesh who says, “I feel very happy and secure working at Swajan. Now I am thinking of sending my four year old daughter to school” (Traidcraft catalogue, Winter 2006).

Making Stourbridge a “Fairtrade Town” would increase the number of Fairtrade products sold locally and directly help producers in the Third World. The Stourbridge Fairtrade Town Status Steering Group works throughout the year to promote the Fairtrade message. We have held a Fairtrade Wine Tasting, a Fairtrade Fashion Show and various other events that have showcased some of the more than 2000 Fairtrade products that are now available. We mark Fairtrade Fortnight each year.

The criteria for Fairtrade Town Status is laid down by the Fairtrade Foundation. Stourbridge would need 17 local shops and 9 catering outlets to stock at least 2 Fairtrade items. We are also trying to encourage a good number of workplaces such as offices, schools and churches to use Fairtrade products. The local council would also need to pass a resolution in support of using Fairtrade products at its’ meetings.

If you know of a shop or workplace using Fairtrade products we would love to hear about it. We would also love to hear from anyone/ any group who is already active promoting Fairtrade or who would like to join our group.

For further information please contact,

Michaela Vallance, Secretary. 07906 972153 micval@btinternet.com
Virginia Williams, Chair. 07866 171784 hugh.virginia@blueyonder.co.uk
Mary Reay, Vice Chair. 01384 372674 forhmr@hotmail.com