St Matthews Fair Trade

Fairtrade information

What is fair trade?

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

What is the Fairtrade Foundation?
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The Fairtrade Foundation is a development organisation committed to tackling poverty and injustice through trade, and the UK member of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). The Foundation works with businesses, civil society organisations and individuals to improve the position of producer organisations in the South and to help them achieve sustainable improvements for their members and their communities. Certification and product labelling (through the FAIRTRADE Mark) are the primary tools for our development goals. The backing of organisations of producers and consumers in a citizen’s movement for change is fundamental and integral to our work.

What is the FAIRTRADE Mark?

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The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on UK products as a guarantee that they have been certified against internationally agreed Fairtrade standards.  It shares internationally recognised Fairtrade standards with initiatives in 20 other countries, working together globally with producer networks as Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). The Mark indicates that the product has been certified to give a better deal to the producers involved – it does not act as an endorsement of an entire company’s business practices.

Becoming a fair trade school?

In order to become a fair trade school the following goals need to be met.

To become a Fairtrade School you need to be able to say:

  • Our school has set up a Fairtrade School Steering Group (or committee). At least half of us are pupils or students and we meet together at least once a term.
  • Our school has written and adopted a whole-school Fairtrade Policy. We have the support of the board of Governors and our Policy is signed by the Headteacher.
  • Our school is committed to selling, promoting and using Fairtrade products as much as possible. If we have problems, we can at least show that we have tried and will continue trying.
  • Our whole school learns about Fairtrade in at least three subjects in each of two year groups.
  • Our school promotes and takes action for Fairtrade at least once a term in the school and once a year in the wider community. This way it becomes a regular part of what we do, and allows everyone to take part in helping to bring about a fairer world.

 
News and events

17th October 

Opening day at St. Matthew’s

The local community were invited to come and see the facilities available at St. Matthews.  This included a bouncy castle, face painting, penalty shoot out and circus tricks, and a chance to see the new sports and fitness centre.  At the event were a number of stalls selling a range of fair trade products, this included cakes and biscuits made with Fair trade ingredients, and fair trade snacks and chocolates. Also available were juggling balls made with Fair Trade fabrics.  All refreshments on the day were also Fair Trade. This helped to raise awareness of fair trade in the local community.