information from the Fairtrade Foundation for:
Churches here
Fairtrade Fortnight 2022 ecumenical materials here
Mosques here
Synagogues here
Temples here
“Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Help people who are in trouble. 9 Stand up for what you know is right, and judge all people fairly. Protect the rights of the poor and those who need help.” Proverbs 31:8-9
Fairtrade and your church
Simply by making a choice to use Fairtrade products you can make a real difference to the lives of people across the world. Fairtrade is not charity or aid; it is simply about empowering communities to build their own successful futures.
Lots of churches already support Fairtrade and many have Fairtrade status. Maybe your church has – but is it up to date?
3 things you need to do to achieve Fairtrade status:
- Use Fairtrade tea and coffee after services and in all meetings for which you have responsibility
- Move forward on using other Fairtrade products such as sugar, biscuits and fruit
- Promote Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight (Feb. – March) and during the year through events, worship and other activities whenever possible
Churches in Gosport and the SE Hants area have organised community meals, shown films about producers, invited speakers, held activities for young people, organised tea, cake or wine-tastings, made bunting and much more. It can be great fun as well as making links with communities around the world. And it will make a real difference.
It’s really good to encourage the groups which use your church to use Fairtrade too. You could encourage them to use Fairtrade products when they book.
Gosport Fairtrade Action organises a range of activities during Fairtrade Fortnight which runs from the end of February to early March. Check out this site for ideas
There are loads of great free materials plus films and action booklets to help you organise a coffee morning or tea party plus excellent worship materials.
Gosport Fairtrade Action sends resources to use in Fairtrade Fortnight to churches via Churches Together In Gosport, including worship materials and articles for newsletters. If you would like us to send them directly to your church please let us know.
Using Fairtrade products
You can find tea, coffee etc in most supermarkets. If you want larger supplies there’s a list of links on this website. There are lots of ‘ethical’ brands around – do look for the Fairtrade mark.
Speakers
Locally there are a number of very keen speakers for Fairtrade and we are happy to visit churches, groups and schools to raise awareness of issues that many farmers struggle with in the global south and how Fairtrade offers a solution.
We do this mostly by telling stories about individuals and families. Stepping into another person’s shoes can show us what we have in common – whoever we are, wherever we are from. There are excellent short videos on the Fairtrade Foundation website of interviews with Fairtrade farmers. (see Meet the Fairtrade farmers -here)
And when we can connect to a person through their story – from celebrating their successes and understanding the challenges they face, to hearing about their hopes and dreams – we often feel moved to act or think differently. For a speaker contact your Gosport Fairtrade group – here
This Gosport website, the SE Hants Facebook page and the Campaign Exchange website have details of events we organise here in Gosport and the wider region of South East Hampshire
Please tell us
Please contact us and use the Facebook page to inform people if you are holding an event. We would be really pleased to hear from you to advertise your event and celebrate it afterwards with photos.
Selling Products
A number of churches promote and sell Traidcraft products: gifts, food and household products that are all Fairtrade or directly sourced from farmers and crafts people across the world. If you’d like to do the same, contact us at Gosport Fairtrade Action who can put you in touch with a local Traidcraft Rep. .
Non- food products you can use
There are lots of Fairtrade products you could use like cleaning materials, candles and cotton products. Readily available from Traidcraft.
You might also consider:
Fairtrade Communion Wine
Poterion specialises in providing Fairtrade Communion wine direct from South Africa, or have a look for the Fairtrade logo on wines from local suppliers.
Fairtrade Wedding rings
Maybe you could encourage people to support the movement to source precious metals fairly, so you can feel sure that the jewellery we treasure is mined without causing environmental devastation and exploiting miners. Find out more here.
Cred in Chichester, for example, are pioneers of ethical jewellery, sourcing precious metals from mines with responsible practices in Peru and Uganda. (more about this here). Fairtrade gold ring suppliers are listed on the Fairtrade website (here)
Contacts and information
For more information about becoming a Fairtrade church
You can sign up for a churches newsletter too.
Gosport Fairtrade Action welcome volunteers too. Please contact us
Join our Facebook group Fairtrade South East Hampshire
For local Traidcraft information: contact us
Thank you for your support – we look forward to working with you
Page updated 03-02-2022