2021 and the Challenge of COVID
We began 2021 still in the midst of lockdown. The restrictions meant we had to rethink how we connected with our community during Fairtrade Fortnight and beyond. While we couldn’t meet in person, we remained committed to sharing Fairtrade’s key messages — especially around climate change and how it affects the farmers and workers who grow our food and make our clothes.
This is how Gosport Fairtrade Action (GFA) adapted and kept the movement alive during a difficult year.
Fairtrade Fortnight 2021 (22 February – 7 March)
Fairtrade Fortnight usually means coffee mornings, tea parties at the Town Hall, family fun days in the Discovery Centre and more. In 2021, we went fully online — and found new ways to connect and inspire.
Local Virtual Events
- Climate, Fairtrade and You(1 March)
Organised with Portsmouth, Fareham and Havant Fairtrade groups.- Adam Gardner, Head of Campaigns at the Fairtrade Foundation, spoke about the impact of climate change on some of the world’s poorest producers and how Fairtrade helps them adapt.
- We shared videos directly from farmers about their real-life challenges and solutions.
- Climate, Fairtrade and Loud and Proud(25 March)
Youth group Loud and Proud invited June Cully and Sarah Hirom to explore how Fairtrade supports farmers in the face of climate change.- Sarah presented the Climate, Fairtrade and You video, followed by Q&A and a fun quiz.
- Feedback from the group was encouraging and insightful.
Churches & Worship
Gosport churches were encouraged to hold Fairtrade services.
A pre-recorded ecumenical service curated by Kevin Snyman (URC Commitment for Life) was made available for churches and individuals.
Schools
We emailed schools with:
- Assembly ideas and lesson resources
- Links to short videos and Fairtrade Foundation materials
- Climate, Fairtrade and You education packs (tailored for Early Years, Primary and Secondary)
These helped teachers run socially distanced or online assemblies exploring how Fairtrade empowers farmers to face the climate crisis.
Joining the National Conversation
We encouraged supporters to take part in the Fairtrade Foundation’s virtual festival — Choose the World You Want.
Highlights included:
- Eating Ethically in a Climate Crisis – Guardian Live discussion with Fairtrade farmers and climate experts.
- Creativity Against the Climate Crisis – Actor and patron Adjoa Andoh with artists, writers, and musicians.
- The Climate Change Garden – Sustainable growing workshop with Chris Warburton-Smith.
- Arts-based events: music from a Ghanaian banana worker, cookalongs with Caribbean chef Euten Lindsay and even a Fairtrade-themed Taskmaster challenge!
- Regional collaborations — e.g., Fairtrade Yorkshire and Devon’s Fairtrade Connections Community Arts Festival.
The key takeaway: Winning a fairer deal for farmers is essential to tackling the climate crisis.
How People Got Involved Locally
- Sharing — Many told friends and family about Fairtrade, posted on social media, and used the revamped Fairtrade Resources Library.
- Learning — Supporters read farmers’ stories and watched climate impact videos.
- Schools — Explored how fairer incomes help farmers adapt to extreme weather and environmental changes.
Even during lockdown, the Fairtrade movement stayed active and creative.
Returning to In-Person Events
By late summer 2021, we were able to meet face to face again.
Great Big Green Week (September 2021)
Our theme: Fairtrade and Climate Change — echoing the call from Fairtrade farmers to world leaders ahead of COP26.
- Exhibition: “How Choosing Fairtrade Helps Combat Climate Change”
(21 September – 5 October, Gosport Discovery Centre)- Explained how Fairtrade farmers are adapting to climate change while protecting the environment.
- Encouraged visitors to sign the Fair Climate Promise petition and write to our MP, Caroline Dinenage, supporting Fairtrade farmers’ demands at COP26.
Engaging the Community
- Talk to the Women’s Institute (19 October)
GFA Co-ordinator Sarah Hirom spoke to the Stokes Bay WI about how Fairtrade tackles poverty, empowers women and supports climate action. - Elson Library Exhibition (8–13 November)
Timed to coincide with the second week of COP26, the display explained:- How Fairtrade enables a living income.
- Why that income helps farmers adapt and protect the planet.
- Fairtrade Advent Calendar (December)
We invited the public to join a daily online quiz about Fairtrade products. Winners received Fairtrade prizes, and everyone learned more about the movement while having fun.
Reflections: Fairtrade in a Time of Global Crisis
COVID-19 reminded us just how interconnected our world is — a truth at the heart of Fairtrade.
Despite restrictions, we:
- Shared powerful stories from farmers on the front line of climate change.
- Learned new ways to campaign online and reach more people.
- Saw schools, churches and individuals embrace creative approaches to Fairtrade action.
The climate crisis is urgent, but Fairtrade gives farmers the tools and security to adapt and protect their land. Our role is to keep supporting them — through our shopping choices, by spreading the message, and by urging our leaders to make trade fair and climate action real.