Week one of Fairtrade Fortnight activity in the West Midlands
Central England Co-operative Western Membership and Community Council (MCC) have celebrated 25 years of Fairtrade with activity across the West Midlands.
On Monday I was invited by East Staffordshire Fairtrade Group to their Tree Planting Ceremony in Stretton, Burton on Trent. The event was attended by local school children, the Mayor of Burton and members of the public. East Staffordshire Fairtrade group purchased 25 Fruit and nut trees to be planted to celebrate 25 Years of Fairtrade. Unfortunately the weather put pay to any planting, but they had a planting by the Mayor and children. The Western MCC donated Fairtrade refreshments for the event.
On Tuesday we welcomed the 5th Minster Beavers from Lichfield into our Lichfield Supermarket. The beavers learnt all about Fairtrade and the 25 Years of Fairtrade and also I spoke to them about their Healthy Choices. Learning about these subjects goes towards earning special badges. The Beavers took part in our Ethical Challenge learning about Fairtrade and other ethical logos on our food and products.
On Wednesday we held our annual Joint Membership Fairtrade Tea-Dance in Burton with Members from our Birmingham Modern Sequence Dance Group along with Members from Leicester and Eastwood. The dance bought together over 100 Members to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight and 25 years of Fairtrade with a social dance. Fairtrade Tea and Coffee was served with lots of Co-operative cake.
On Friday morning i was invited to Oldfields Hall Middle School in Uttoxeter to talk about Fairtrade. I also spoke with the Deputy Head about other workshops we deliver. I am excited about the future work with the school.
To end our first week of Fairtrade Fortnight I went to see our Member Line Dancing class in Birmingham and talk to them about Fairtrade. I also took along some of our fantastic chocolate to have while they had their break.
Next week we have more activity taking place during the second week of Fairtrade Fortnight, including more work with schools, talking to our colleagues about Fairtrade at our Society Conference, a Fairtrade quiz night and our first ever Inter-generational Fairtrade Tea-Dance in Birmingham.