Fairtrade in Malmesbury

On Saturday July 12th 2008 Malmesbury officially launched itself as a Fairtrade Town after its application had been approved by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Fairtrade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers and workers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system. If fair access to markets under better trade conditions would help them to overcome barriers to development, they can join Fairtrade. For more information, visit the Fairtrade website.

The following is a list of organisations that are "Fairtraders"

The application is also supported by

• Malmesbury & District Chamber of Commerce
• Malmesbury Abbey
• Malmesbury School
• Malmesbury Justice & Peace Group
• Malmesbury St. Joseph’s Primary School
• Malmesbury C of E Primary School
• Malmesbury 1st King Athelstan Scout Group

EVIDENCE OF ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS 1 TO 4

GOAL 1. Local council passes a resolution supporting Fairtrade.

Resolution from Malmesbury Town Council passed on July 10th 2007.

Please see links below. These links detail the formal Town Council resolutions tabled and approved with respect to promoting Fairtrade in Malmesbury.

Council agenda

Council minutes

GOAL 2. A range of (at least two) Fairtrade products are readily available in the area’s shops and served in local cafes/ catering establishments.

See above for the organisations playing their part.

GOAL 3. Fairtrade products are used by an appropriate number of local workplaces (offices, shops etc.) and community organizations (faith communities, schools, universities etc.)

• Malmesbury Abbey Staff. Tea and Coffee for staff.
• Malmesbury C of E Malmesbury Scouts. Tea and Coffee for staff.
• Malmesbury Secondary School. Tea and Coffee for staff.
• Malmesbury Town Council Building. Tea and Coffee for staff.
• Malmesbury Peace and Justice. Tea and Coffee for staff.

Note: There are 2 primary and 1 secondary school in our area. There are 3 main faith groups in Malmesbury

GOAL 4. Support and Popular Support for Malmesbury Fairtrade Campaign

• PowerPoint presentation on March 8th 2008 to approximately 100 Malmesburians on “Making Malmesbury A Fairtrade Town”, followed by a showing of the movie Black Gold.
• Malmesbury Farmers Market Stall featuring a range of Fairtrade products sold in Malmesbury. Held February 23rd 2008. See report
• Justice & Peace local action group held a presentation and video by Collette Som of TraidCraft explaining Fairtrade on June 6th 2007
• Presentation to “Malmesbury Chamber of Commerce” on February 19th 2008 on the towns bid for Fairtrade status and a short video on Fairtrade. The Chamber subsequently passed a resolution to support Fairtrade in Malmesbury. See minutes
• Fairtrade Breakfast at St Joseph's Primary School, Malmesbury, April 3rd 2008.
• PowerPoint presentation and BBC video shown to the children of St. Joseph’s Primary School in Malmesbury.
• Over 150 letters sent to shops and businesses in Malmesbury promoting Fairtrade.
• A wide range of activities promoted by the various churches in Malmesbury, including a float in Malmesbury Carnival
• The Friday Night youth group run by Malmesbury Abbey often educates on the subjects of Fair trade, and takes part in the Drop the debt and Cut the Carbon etc campaigns. On January 18th 2008 they ran a FairTrade Chocolate Party with invited speakers to educate the local young people.
• BBC Radio Swindon 103.6FM Sue Davies interview on February 23rd 2008 described Malmesbury’s Fairtrade bid and gave the radio presenter some Fairtrade products.
• BBC Wiltshire interview Oli Dearden on April 3rd 2008. Interview recorded in Malmesbury described Malmesbury’s Fairtrade bid and described progress.
• Two Malmesbury Standard articles on Fairtrade bid and ban the bags
• “Malmesbury Gazette & Herald” Report February 23rd 2008 By Lois Avery
• Wiltshire District Council held an environmental workshop in Malmesbury attended by Malmesbury Town Councillors. Fairtrade was discussed and promoted at the event. See BBC report
• Malmesbury Scouts Activities including Fairtrade workshops and Breakfasts
• Malmesbury Secondary School Events
• Other general Fairtrade Events have been held, such as Saturday café and market stalls in the town hall. Volunteers made and donated fair trade cakes and drinks and took turns in serving and cleaning, etc. The money made bought 16 goats from Oxfam Unwrapped. Stall holders included Oxfam, Traidcraft, Lanka Kade, a Welsh charity and a ‘Make Poverty History’ stall.
  
  Saturday café and market stalls took place in St Mary’s Hall. Again, volunteers made and donated fair trade cakes and drinks and took turns in serving and cleaning, etc. The money raised bought 12 goats from Oxfam Unwrapped. Stall holders included Oxfam and Traidcraft.

GOAL 5. A local Steering Group is convened to ensure progress and continued commitment to the campaign

This Malmesbury Fairtrade Web Page

Malmesbury Steering Group
Name of Steering Group: “Malmesbury Fairtrade Steering Committee”
Chairs aim to meet every 2 weeks. General members aim to meet every month.
List of Members:

• Simon Killane, Product Design Engineer & Town Councillor, Position: Chair
• David Williams, Estate Gardens Manager, Position: Vice Chair
• Francesca Vandelli, Student, Position: Secretary.
• Georgina Peppardine, Cereal and Organic Vegetable Farmer, Position: Secretary
• Ami Bisco, Secondary School Teacher
• Rhiannon Parry, Chairperson of Malmesbury Film Society
• Anita Joy, Head of Humanities at Malmesbury Secondary School
• Rosie Hood, Secondary School Teacher
• Esther Hamill, House Wife and Head of Malmesbury Lantern Walk
• Philip Anderson, Student Malmesbury Secondary School
• Jonas Hamill, Student Malmesbury Secondary School
• Dillon Hamill, Student St Joseph's Primary School
• Richard Searle Barnes, Malmesbury Scouts
• John Bowen, Designer and Town Councillor
• Andrew Woodcock, Designer and Town Councillor
• Alice Pettit, Youth Pastor

Future Plans

• Hold a major PR event once Fairtrade status has been awarded. This would include a Fairtrade market.
• Have Fairtrade stand / event at the WOMAD festival which will be held in Malmesbury in July.
• Try to increase the number of organizations that support Fairtrade.
• Try and get all businesses in Malmesbury to stock at least 2 products.
• Create a Town Fairtrade Directory.
• Get involved with promoting Fairtrade with other regional organisations.
• Fairtrade Presentation to Upper Juniors at Malmesbury C of E Primary School.