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Guest Blog : The Fair Traders Co-operative

29/3/2016

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Holme Valley Fairtrade Members from The Fair Traders Co-operative write of their trip to Westminster. Read their review below:

"On a wet and windy 1st of March, Fairtrade campaigners headed for Westminster.  Co-operatives large and small played a key role in the launch of an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fairtrade, which aims to:
 
  • Promote Fairtrade within Westminster
  • Raise awareness of the importance of Fairtrade
  • Deepen relationships between local Fairtrade organizations and Parliament
 
Co-operatives showed how their Fairtrade activities contribute to a better deal for farmers and their families. The theme of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight  ‘Sit down for breakfast, stand up for farmers’ highlights seasonal hunger faced by millions of farmers worldwide.
 
Julio Mercado Cantillo of Banafrucoop, a co-operative of 40 banana smallholders in northern Colombia, spoke movingly about the positive impact of Fairtrade on his family and the community. Periods of food insecurity ‘los meses flacos’ (the thin months) were common until 2009, since when Fairtrade minimum prices have helped stabilise incomes. The Fairtrade Premium has established a mutual fund for farm repairs, retirement pensions, school toilets, housing and university scholarships.
 
For the Co-operative Group ( http://www.growingstories.coop ), Brad Hill, Fairtrade Strategy Manager, talked about ‘Growing Stories’ – a fascinating online way to meet and interact with producers of sugar, blueberries, bananas, wine, roses, tea, coffee and so much more.
 
The Co-operative - Food, Holmfirth (http://www.co-operative.coop/store/food/HD9-7AX/market-street ) was represented by Kelly Stower, recently appointed Manager, who is keen to support local charities and Fairtrade organizations.
 
Fair Trader (http://fairtrader.coop) is a Holmfirth based community co-operative that sells Fairtrade and ethically sourced goods; Michelle Brown and Kathryn Sheard championed this volunteer-owned and led organization, which now has 600 members worldwide.
 
Honley High, a 1200 pupil Co-operative School  (http://www.honleyhigh.co.uk ) sent twelve students and staff, including Assistant Headteacher Mrs Tandy. The students stole the show – serving Fairtrade tea and coffee and answering MPs queries about all aspects of Fairtrade.  Honley High has a very active Fairtrade Forum. The students are well informed about all aspects of Fairtrade – and students and staff make the effort to have lots of Fairtrade activities in school.
 
Patrick Kaberia Muthaura, a Kenyan tea producer spoke of the importance of Fairtrade to ensure better and more stable prices, and opportunities for training.
 
#FairtradeAPPG mapped live Fairtrade questions and answers and there were words also from Mike Gidney (CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation), Minister of State Desmond Swayne and Jason McCartney.  Holly Lynch talked of how far along the Fairtrade journey we’ve come – and how far there’s still to go. On recently asking in a local store “Do you have any Fairtrade biscuits? “ the response was “No, but we’ve got gluten-free, if that’s any good?”
 
It’s no co-incidence that APPG Fairtrade is jointly chaired by northern MPs Jason McCartney (Colne Valley, Conservative) and Holly Lynch (Halifax, Labour) as its creation is due in part to the lobbying of Holme Valley Fairtrade campaign group (http://www.holmevalleyfairtrade.com), chaired by Helen Robinson.
 
Thirty-eight MPs came to find out more. Each MP, understandably, proved to be an expert cherry picker of the most useful information for his/her constituency. Several MPs were interested in the community co-operative model that is Fair Trader.
 
Fairtrade cotton bags, with endorsements from the great and the good were on display. MPs were invited to sign a similar bag, to show their commitment to Fairtrade and commemorate the day.
 
So, why not contact your local MP and encourage him/her to join the APPG, link with local Fairtrade campaigners & co-operatives and promote Fairtrade in your constituency!"

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Bag A Celebrity - THE WINNERS!

23/3/2016

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On Thursday 3rd March, Holme Valley Fairtrade came together to exhibit the celebrity-signed Fairtrade cotton bags for one last time, in a grand prize draw event, 'Bag A Celebrity', at The Huntsman Inn.

The raffle was drawn over the course of the evening, with breaks for talks from key Fairtrade enthusiasts, who were invited to speak at the event. Key speakers at the event included Holme Valley Fairtrade Members Social Progress, students from Honley High School Fairtrade Forum, Holme Valley Fairtrade Chair Helen Robinson, and Tim Aldred - Head of Policy at The Fairtrade Foundation.

If you were unable to attend the event, but had bought a ticket to win a celebrity-signed Fairtrade cotton bag, then do take a look at the list of winners below to see if you have BAGGED A CELEBRITY!

*Drumroll Please*

  1. Alan Bennett – Margot
  2. Alex Yeboah-Afari – Val Hayes
  3. Anna Michael – Liz Tandy
  4. Annie Lennox – Sophie Bebb
  5. Ashley Jackson – Ellen Hannall
  6. Brian Murphy – Stephen Sheard
  7. Burt Kwouk OBE – David Fell
  8. Caroline Lucas MP – Myles
  9. Corrine Bailey Rae – Myles
  10. D. Chibonga – Mark Lewis
  11. David Cameron MP – Emma Erwin
  12. Doctor Simpo – Louise Eaglestone
  13. Fearne Cotton – Elizabeth Lord
  14. George Alagiah OBE – Ruth Hall
  15. Geoffrey Boycott – John Booth
  16. Harriet Lamb – Richard Ellis
  17. Hilary Benn MP – Peter Beetlestone
  18. Holmfirth Methodist Church Members. – Kath Beetlestone
  19. Huddersfield Giants Rugby Club. – Andrew Hayward
  20. Huddersfield Town AFC. – Amanda Butterworth
  21. Ian McMillan – Keith Kitson
  22. Jane Freeman – Stella Steele
  23. Jason McCartney MP – Alan Aldred
  24. Jean Alexander – Helen Robinson
  25. Joan Armatrading MBE – Margot
  26. Jean Fergusson – Auctioned at event
  27. Joanna Lumley OBE – Stella Steele
  28. Julie Stewart-Turner – Julie Hart
  29. Linda McAvan MEP – Anonymously claimed at event
  30. Lucy Siegle – Helen Robinson
  31. Marillion – Andrew Battye
  32. Marina Lewycka – Donata DeReus
  33. Meltham Methodist Church Members. – John McCarthy
  34. Merling Prezza – Liz Tandy
  35. Mike Gidney – Helen Robinson
  36. Sir Patrick Stewart OBE – Fran Whitworth
  37. Rowan Williams – Bobbie
  38. Roy Clarke OBE – Denise Hoyle
  39. Russ Abbot – Fiona Wilson
  40. Safia Minney MBE – Auctioned at event
  41. Sam Ubhi – B.Shuttleworth
  42. Sian Lloyd – Alan Aldred
  43. Simon Armitage CBE – Nicola Davies
  44. Sir Steve Redgrave CBE – Martin Harrison
  45. Shobna Gulati – Jo Rolling
  46. Thelma Barlow – Denise Hoyle
  47. Wettaka Jenipher – Jen Hudson 

CONGRATULATIONS to those who have won themselves a celebrity-signed Fairtrade cotton bag!

Holme Valley Fairtrade are currently busy distributing bags far and wide - from Bude to Aberdeen; Nothampton to Norfolk - so if you can see your name on the winners list, but are yet to receive your bag, don't worry, because our team of active volunteers is on it, and you should receive your winning bag soon!

We would love to see where our celebrity-signed Fairtrade cotton bags end up, so please do tweet us with a photo and a message once you've received your bag!

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Review: Fairtrade APPG by Peter Beetlestone

7/3/2016

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On Tuesday 1st March 2016, Holme Valley Fairtrade members joined Jason McCartney MP, Holly Lynch MP and the Fairtrade Foundation to launch the Fairtrade All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in the Houses of Parliament.

Committed Holme Valley Fairtrade member, Peter Beetlestone, writes below of his experience and thoughts from the day.
On March 1st 12 members of Holme Valley Fairtrade and 12 pupils from Honley High School went to Parliament to help launch the APPG for Fairtrade.

Helen Robinson and Sophie Bebb have encouraged Jason McCartney (Conservative, MP for Colne Valley) and Holly Lynch (Labour, MP for Halifax) to set up this parliamentary group whose aim is “to promote Fairtrade within Parliament; to deepen the relationship between local Fairtrade organisations and parliamentarians and to further raise awareness of the importance of Fairtrade.”

When we arrived we were treated to a mini tour of Parliament by Jason. We were given passes to hear the emergency debate on Syria from the Public Gallery, we went on the terrace with fantastic views of the Thames and the buildings along the waterfront, we met Boris Johnson and David Blunkett (I nearly fell over his dog on the stairs).

At the two hour launch in the Jubilee Room we were joined by 37 MPs, representatives from the Fairtrade Foundation (including Tim Aldred), representatives from the Co-operative Group (including Kerry Stower, the store Manager in Holmfirth) and many others.

Over a Big All Day Breakfast (the theme for this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight) there were short speeches from MPs Jason and Holly, from Holme Valley Fairtrade's Chair Helen, from the Minister of State for International Development, from Mike Gidney (Chief Executive of the Fairtrade Foundation), from Brad Hill (Fairtrade Strategy Manager for the Co-op) and most importantly from Patrick (a tea farmer from Kenya) and Julio (a banana farmer from Columbia). 

The two farmers spoke very movingly about how Fairtrade had brought great benefits to their families and their communities. One of the pupils said afterwards “he made me want to cry.” They made us all realise how important it is to keep promoting Fairtrade – helping people work their way out of poverty.

​We can all take little steps to change to world.
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    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.

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