Report on Events in the Fairtrade Zone of Bradford in Fairtrade Fortnight
Monday February 26 to Sunday March 11 2007
Events which ran for the whole fortnight:
University of Bradford and its School of Management
Sodexho at Bradford University and the School of Management raised a total of £333.50 during Fairtrade fortnight through the following events.
Four Fairtrade hampers were raffled, two 1st prizes, a 2nd and 3rd; the hampers included Fairtrade wine, coffee, tea, fruit and confectionery.
At Heaton Mount a Chocolate Fountain accompanied lunch, and Fairtrade biscuits were served on a Tuesday and Thursday with Morning Coffee and afternoon tea for executive delegates.
Seasons Restaurant had a Fairtrade vegetarian option on both Wednesdays during Fairtrade Fortnight, plus a free Fairtrade Cookie with every tea or coffee purchased during the fortnight.
Bradford College.
Promotion of Fairtrade took place all fortnight in all refreshment outlets: Fairtrade recipes, product tasting, and banana promotion occurred.
Haworth Fairtrade Village.
Fairtrade Displays were in St Michael’s Church and in the Tourist Information Centre.
Bingley
There was Fairtrade Photographic exhibition in the foyer of Beckfoot School. A week-long Fairtrade exhibition was mounted in Bingley Library.
The Treehouse Café, 2 Ashgrove, Great Horton Road, Bradford BD7 1BN
Each day throughout the fortnight it showcased different fairly traded ingredients and products in the café’s dishes, and provided information about how to incorporate Fairtrade produce into a shopping basket.
Events for specific days:
Wednesday February 28. Fairtrade Coffee Producer, Sam Magona, visited from Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative, Uganda.
He talked at Year 8 Assembly and met a Fairtrade Group of students at Beckfoot School, Bingley.
He visited to ‘Taste Bonanza’ Fairtrade shop, Chapel Lane, Bingley.
He visited ‘The Olive Branch’ Fairtrade shop, Westgate, Shipley, for samples and advocacy.
He lunched at Treehouse Fairtrade café.
He spoke at the Fairtrade University of Bradford to students and staff.
Wednesday February 28. Shipley Fairtrade Fashion Show
Over 250 people attended. Brownies and Guides showed examples of the wide range of Fairtrade products available. Then 26 models (aged from 3 – 83) showcased 50 outfits made from Fairtrade certified cotton and other fabrics.
Clothes were supplied by The Olive Branch (Shipley); People Tree, Bishopston, Arkadash, Gossypium and Marks and Spencer.
There followed Fairtrade wine, and refreshments with samples of dried fruit, chocolate and Harden Foods [Bradford 7] cookies. Meanwhile stalls sold Fairtrade clothes, food and other goods from ‘Tearcraft’, ‘Fairgrounds’ and Arkadash.
It was an opportunity to reflect on how our lifestyles and shopping habits affect workers in developing countries.
Thursday 1st March. A Discussion was held at the Treehouse Café. about the importance/relevance of Fairtrade today, and how it related to other food ethics issues
Friday 2 March. Fairtrade Tasting Stall in the morning at Bingley Coop.
Friday 2nd March. Chocolate Day at Treehouse Café. Exciting chocolate dishes and promotions on Fairtrade chocolate products took place
Bradford Girls' Grammar Preparatory School held a coffee afternoon.
Saturday March 3. Fairtrade Display and Advocacy in Bingley.
Bingley saw the regular market stall with ever-popular free samples and chocolate tasting. There was also a raffle for three impressive Fairtrade hampers, kindly donated by Bingley Co-op and Bradford Marks and Spencer. However, the main attraction this year was the guest appearance by the Beckfoot School Samba Band, a lively – and loud! – drumming ensemble who braved the cold to thrill passers by with exhilarating Latin American rhythms. It was a real thrill to see these talented youngsters performing in support of Fairtrade, an issue which is growing in importance within their school, thanks to assemblies given by members of the Bingley Fairtrade group over recent months.
At the other end of the age spectrum, 3 and 4 year old pupils at Priestthorpe Primary School nursery were treated to a snack of Fairtrade bananas and chocolate, and learnt about the simple principles of Fairtrade. They then enjoyed a game of sorting a shopping basket full of groceries according to those with the Fairtrade mark and those without.
Ilkley had Fairtrade drinks in the graveyard – more fun than you might think..
There was a Fairtrade 6-a-side Football Tournament at Manningham Sports Centre, Carlisle Road. 120 youngsters took part in U12, U14 and U18 teams. Fairtrade footballs as prizes, and food were given by United Cooperatives.
Saturday March 3. ‘Fairtrade Party’ at the Treehouse Café
There was a chance to see/buy new Fair Grounds products. There was also live music and poetry, food, drink, chat, and interactive art.
Sunday March 4. ‘Fairtrade, not Slave Trade’ dialogue-sermon and talk by John D Anderson, Chair of Fairtrade Bradford, at Bradford Cathedral encouraged their nascent Traidcraft stall. .
Sunday March 4. ‘Fairtrade Tasting and Awareness Stall’ was held all day in Haworth Main Street with samples, leaflets and tombola.
Tuesday 6th March. Presentation and Discussion about Zapatistas and Fairtrade at the Treehouse café.
Wednesday March 7 and Thursday March 8. Fairtrade Display and Advocacy 48 people all day in Baildon Coop, Northgate.
Wednesday March 7. Presentation of Bradford Councillors' Scrutiny of Fairtrade. At City Hall, Councillors presented their investigation into what the Council was doing to carry out its Fairtrade Policy of 2002 and its recommendations for the future.
Friday 9th March. The Treehouse café held Chocolate Day Number 2 and an Evening of music to celebrate International Women’s Day
Saturday March 10. Fairtrade Coffee Morning was held at Denholme Mechanics Institute.
The outside of the Mechanics Institute was decorated with Fairtrade bunting and balloons which attracted a steady stream of visitors who joined them for coffee and enjoyed the cakes and biscuits made with Fairtrade ingredients. The Fairtrade and Traidcraft stalls were kept busy. There was a raffle of all Fairtrade items from wine and chocolates to home-made coffee and chocolate cakes.
The Denholme charity shop ‘Mpika’, which raises funds for a children’s orphanage in Nigeria also had a small stall and enjoyed a successful morning.
Visitors left with samples of tea and coffee as well as taking away recipes of the cakes they had sampled. The new Bradford Fairtrade Directory was very well received with the comment that “they didn’t know FT had so many different items available.”
Visitors from Otley were very surprised to find such a small village actively promoting Fairtrade. They were not aware that anything was happening in their area during FT fortnight!
John D Anderson. Chair of Fairtrade Bradford.
Email. dumelama2000@yahoo.co.uk
