News

Design our new bag competition!

Are you a budding artist? Would you like to produce a design for our Fairtrade Cotton bag due to be launched next year?

Brief :-

The bags are screen printed and the screen is made directly from your artwork - it will not be altered in any way. What you send to us must be correct in size and clear. It must be in ONE colour and the size is 13"x11"
(33x28cm)

The design will be judged in February and the winner announced during Fairtrade Fortnight.

The deadline for entries is Fri. 30th January 2009

Download an application form here

FAIR PLAY KICKS OFF AT STOCKPORT COUNTY

Bringing a fairtrade initiative to the game, as part of the popular Community Day, is the Stockport Fairtrade Campaign Group, whose involvement was led by Ilse Collinge, who is also a committed County fan! Younger supporters attending the match on 5th April enjoyed the chance to win a signed Fairtrade football in a free raffle, sample some fairtrade sweets at half-time, as well as watch local schools taking part in a penalty shoot-out with fairtrade footballs, during the half-time break.

The hand-made footballs originate from the Sialkot region of Pakistan, renowned for its output of sports balls to the sports industry worldwide. Poverty is rife in Pakistan, with over 30% of the population estimated to be living under the national poverty line. Approximately 40,000 people are involved in the sports ball industry as a whole. Talon Sports is the world's primary exporter and it's involvement with the Fairtrade organisation, ensures that its workers are paid a fair wage and work within a safe environment. As a fairtrade standard, no child labour is involved. The lives of the workers, their families and communities are enhanced through health, education and livelihood opportunities. To give an idea of how thorough and time consuming the process of making the sports balls is: - a worker can stamp out hexagonal patches for 300-400 balls per day - an experienced worker can stitch around three footballs during an 8 hour shift.

Stockport Fairtrade Campaign Group formed in 2001, working closely with Stockport Council to raise awareness of fairtrade within the Stockport area. We give support to the mission of the Fairtrade Foundation at a local level: - to work with businesses, community groups and individuals, to improve the trading position of producer organisations in the South and to deliver sustainable livelihoods for farmers, workers and their communities.

Stockport has been a Fairtrade borough since 2003, with products such as tea, coffee, fruit and clothes, becoming more widely available in local shops, superstores and cafes. Together with Stockport Council, we aim to be able to remain so each year; encouraging and supporting businesses to sign up to the Pledge scheme. For consumers the reward is the choice of quality products for a fair price, knowing that it is the people at the heart of the supply chain that benefit directly.

Our group has a visible presence at local fairs and community events in the area on a regular basis, the most recent being Heaton Mersery Farmer's Market on Easter Monday. Our own Annual Fairtrade Fair (this year 8th November 2008 at Stockport College) continues to grow in numbers attending, due to the media coverage and increase in awareness in the Borough of Fairtrade.

Fairtrade footballs can be bought at Oxfam shops, Arkadash and also online: www.fairdealing.com Thanks is given to the Fairtrade Foundation for the fairtrade football facts and information

STOCKPORT FAIRTRADE CHRISTMAS FAIR

17TH NOVEMBER 2007