Blackpool fairtrade fortnight launches

Organisations across Blackpool are celebrating the international Fairtrade Fortnight, which begins this week.

A plethora of events including Fairtrade restaurant menus, taste tests and coffee mornings will promote the Fairtrade message to the general public, explaining the importance of buying Fairtrade products such as coffee, fruit and chocolate.

The events are being coordinated by Blackpool’s Fairness Commission.

Local schools, libraries, churches and private businesses have all got involved in organising the events, which will help the town as it applies for Fairtrade status.

In order to get local people involved in the campaign, schools and businesses are being asked to create their own ‘Fairtrade photo’ as part of a special competition.

People are asked to create their own photo depicting the importance of using Fairtrade products and send them to the Blackpool Fairtrade campaign, with the winners getting a free food hamper full of Fairtrade prizes.

As well as the photography competition, a number of extra events are being held around the town. Some of the key highlights include:

• A Fairtrade Photography Exhibition is being held at Blackpool and the Fylde College’s University Campus until Thursday.
• Sainsbury’s on Bickerstaffe Square will hold taste tests throughout the fortnight, for people to taste the difference of Fairtrade foods.
• Libraries around town are holding a variety of Fairtrade tea and coffee mornings.
• All Saints, St Paul’s Church, Holy Trinity and Anchorsholme Methodist churches are also holding Fairtrade coffee mornings.
• Pupils across the town are learning about Fairtrade in some Blackpool schools.
• Local retailers such as Bookers wholesalers, Marks and Spencer’s, The Co-operative and Sainsbury’s will also be displaying their support for Fairtrade throughout the fortnight.

Cllr Martin Mitchell, who campaigned for Blackpool to become a Fairtrade town, is looking for more organisations to get on board. He said: “We know that some businesses in Blackpool are already in support of Fairtrade and we are looking for more of them to get on board in helping us to become a Fairtrade town and make Blackpool a fairer place to live and work.

“Being a Fairtrade business is a bigger gesture than just stocking a couple of products – adopting Fairtrade status will help businesses motivate employees, stand out from the crowd and, of course, keep customers happy.

“It’s great to see so many people active in the Fairtrade movement and I’d encourage everybody to get involved.”

On behalf of Blackpool Fairness Commission, Ian Collins, Manager of Sainsbury’s Blackpool, added: “There’s a real community spirit around making Blackpool a Fairtrade town.

“We’ve got churches, local businesses and schools all involved and there is a real determination to promote Fairtrade products across the town.”

To enter the photo competition, take an interesting Fairtrade themed picture or video and email it to blackpool_fairtrade@outlook.com or send it to ‘BlackpoolFairtrade’ on Facebook or ‘@bpl_fairtrade’ on Twitter.

For a full schedule of events as part of Fairtrade fortnight, visit www.blackpool.gov.uk/fairtrade