Update from the chairman (May 2021)

Fairtrade in Lockdown

Like most organisations locally and nationally our activities since March last year have been severely restricted.  We have tried to keep the Fairtrade message alive with articles in the local press, the town council magazine and the library newsletter.   Fairtrade farmers and producers are particularly in need of our support at the present time due to both the direct effects of the current pandemic and the consequent economic effects.  Kenya, where we have close links, has been badly hit.

In February, in co-operation with other Fairtrade towns in Suffolk, we had organised a link between Patrick Kaberia, our contact in Kenya, and Suffolk schools.  As the schools had to be closed because of the pandemic it was not practical to go ahead with this.  Now that they are open again and things are gradually getting back to normal, we have fixed a new date for the link – Wednesday 13 October.

The link is being co-ordinated by the Suffolk Association of Fairtrade Towns (SAFT) and will form part of a special ‘one off’ Suffolk Fairtrade Fortnight to be held from 9 – 22 October.  It is hoped that the nine Fairtrade Towns in Suffolk will organise the type of activities that they normally hold during the February/March Fortnight.  Plans for Felixstowe are at an early stage but will probably include a competition and activities for children.

For more details on the proposed link to Kenya visit the SAFT website at www.suffolkfairtrade.org,uk

Shops and Cafes Serving Fairtrade

As part of this website we show shops and cafes selling Fairtrade products, in a form which can easily be downloaded and printed.  Please take a look at it by clicking on the ‘Shops and Cafes’ link and let us know what you think.  On the page, if you click on the box ‘print detail page’ you will also see the poster we produced to go with the printed form of the list.  This will be updated and made available to visitors to Felixstowe to encourage them to support local businesses selling Fairtrade products.

Although we are pleased at the range of Fairtrade goods available at local shops we are disappointed that Greggs and Café Ology at the leisure centre appeared to be the only cafes in Felixstowe serving the full range of Fairtrade drinks.  Please ask your favourite café to consider serving Fairtrade – if they do not do so already.

Join our Team of Volunteers

If you support Fairtrade and would like to help in promoting it we are always on the lookout for volunteers. We would provide all necessary support and would not expect you to do more than you feel comfortable with. Contact us if you would like more information and we would be happy to discuss.  Even if you are not able to help we would welcome you as a member of the Forum.  Membership is free, you can join via this website and by joining you can demonstrate your support for Fairtrade.

Please be assured, Fairtrade really does make a difference.

Regards,

Alan Muchal