ABOUT HOLME VALLEY FAIRTRADE

Holme Valley Fairtrade is a group of individuals from around the Holme Valley working together to promote Fairtrade and encourage people to shop local, think global. 


Holme Valley Fairtrade is a campaign group representing The Fairtrade Foundation in this area. We raise awareness about Fairtrade through events, and social networks; promoting all the local organisations who support Fairtrade along the way.


The Holme Valley was awarded Fairtrade status in June 2006, since then we have organised Fairtrade fashion shows, held a Tropical Tea Party, hosted Fairtrade producers from Colombia and St Vincent, strung Fairtrade pants across the River Holme and helped place 5 pianos in the street during Holmfirth Arts Festival. Who knows what we will do to celebrate our 10th birthday in 2016!! 

WHAT IS FAIRTRADE?

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. The Fairtrade Mark guarantees a fair price for the people behind the product. When you buy a Fairtrade product you are having a direct positive impact on the lives of the producers and their families: from vanilla farmers in Madagascar, to cotton farmers in India; from wine growers in Chile to cocoa farmers in Ghana.


Fairtrade transforms communities in the poorest parts of the world. From empowering women, to creating democratic processes within the workplace; from training and education, to producers becoming stakeholders within the supply chain. 

'FAIRTRADE' or 'FAIR TRADE'?

A product can only carry the Fairtrade Mark and be called Fairtrade (all one word, capital F!) if it has been certified by the Fairtrade Foundation. But it doesn’t stop with Fairtrade (capital F, all one word). There are many fairly traded gifts and toys available in small independent retailers that haven’t yet been Fairtrade certified; from toys, scarfs, jewellery and gifts. If the retailer can tell you where the product is from and who made it, then it’s probably fairly traded. Buying fairly traded gifts means you are buying something handmade, not mass produced and that the person behind the product is paid a fair price.

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GET INVOLVED!

It’s very easy to get involved with Holme Valley Fairtrade either as a business, a school, a café or a Fairtrade Fanatic! Choose from 1 or more (or ALL) of these steps to join Holme Valley Fairtrade and support Fairtrade.

Step 1: Buy a Fairtrade (or fair trade!) product in a local shop

Step 2: Enjoy a Fairtrade beverage in a local café and/or restaurant

Step 3: Follow Holme Valley Fairtrade on facebook and/or twitter – and share your Fairtrade sightings

Step 4: Talk about Fairtrade to your friends, work colleagues and family. Spread the word!

Step 5: Come along to a Holme Valley Fairtrade meeting to share your ideas and views

Step 6: Email holmevalleyfairtrade@gmail.com to sign up for our monthly newsletter

Step 7: Showcase your support for Fairtrade here on this website! Enter your details here, 
send to holmevalleyfairtrade@gmail.com and watch this space!