Stourbridge renews its Fairtrade status

Stourbridge Fairtrade has successfully renewed its Fairtrade status for a further two years as a result of its ongoing commitment to promote Fairtrade principles.

The town was first awarded the Fairtrade status in 2010 in recognition of the strong support for Fairtrade in Stourbridge and the achievement of five qualifying goals such as the availability of Fairtrade products in shops and catering outlets, high levels of support from residents, businesses, Dudley Council and faith groups.

Thanks to continued efforts by the group - the town's Fairtrade status has been renewed every two years since 2010.

This year promotional endeavours have involved members dressing up as bananas at Stourbridge Carnival, visiting schools and highlighting Fairtrade Fortnight - the annual campaign of the national Fairtrade Foundation - during which they put up displays in libraries and did a trolley dash around the Ryemarket and Crown Centre, handing out free Fairtrade goodies to shoppers, including tea, coffee sticks and bananas.

The group also invited councillors to sign up to Fairtrade before a meeting of the full council on February 19, ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight.

Councillor Patrick Harley, Dudley Council's leader, said: “The committed volunteers at Stourbridge Fairtrade do a great job of raising awareness and hopefully changing people’s shopping habits.

“They have worked really hard with local schools and businesses to gain and maintain Fairtrade status for Stourbridge, and alongside our Fairtrade schools and supporters such as colleagues at Sainsbury’s Amblecote and Sedgley Fairtrade Initiative are working hard to make Dudley a Fairtrade borough.”

Dudley Council is a Fairtrade council and supports Fairtrade within the authority and promotes events run by the borough’s two Fairtrade towns, Stourbridge and Sedgley, during Fairtrade Fortnight.

For more information about Fairtrade and how to apply for Fairtrade status visit www.fairtrade.org.uk.