Fairtrade City Project – Hull: Supporting Fairtrade in Churches

1. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL Thank you for the invitation to speak to the synod. Thank you to all those people who have already demonstrated their commitment to Fairtrade both personally and in the churches. Without that commitment and support Fairtrade in Hull would be much weaker than it is now. It is specifically Christian commitment that has moved Fairtrade so far as it has. But with 1,000,000,000 people living on less than 65pence per day, there is much work still to be done.

2. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL So my plea to this synod is for you to support Fairtrade. But let me step back and clarify what I am talking about.

3. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL What is Fairtrade? What is a Fairtrade City? What part does the Church have to play / what is a Fairtrade Church? What should the deanery synod do ? What can the Project Steering Group do to help?

4. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL What is Fairtrade? We are all involved in international trade. From the raisins in your breakfast muesli, to the sugar in your lunchtime chocolate bar, and the tea or coffee this evening, we participate in international trade. The absence of Fair trade is evident when greed takes over, When obscene profits are made whilst people starve when people are oppressed or repressed when the environment is degraded leading to unsustainable actions The continual pillage of the third world leads to poverty Poverty leads to crime, refugees, famine And an early death.

5. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL • What is Fairtrade? • Fair Trade exists when Christian values of love and justice are evident in all of the exchanges and relationships that form the chain between farmer or craftsman and end consumer or purchaser. • Fair trade gives a just reward for work • Is concerned for the well being of the people • Is concerned for the protection of the environment • Is concerned for the sustainability of the relationships in the supply chain. • Trade is complex, we need some assurances that Fair Trade is achieving it’s goals. • Therefore we have FLO – the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation

6. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL Fair Trade labelling gives a “brand” assurance that third world farmers receive a fair deal FTF develops product schemes which enable importers to apply the brand Labelled products include Bananas, Pineapples, Mangoes, sugar, coffee, tea, cocoa, fruit juices, and honey, and “manufactured” products such as chocolate, cookies and snack bars. There are over 140 different Fair Trade consumable products available in the UK.

7. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL Fair Trade works, there are endless stories from the producers We have photographs of the benefits of the Fair Trade Premium – classrooms, a protected well, a community hall, and so on. Not only that but Fair Trade products are high quality, Because Fairtrade pays early and pays well, only the best quality beans go into fair trade coffee, and only “the best of the best” cocoa beans go to Fair Trade in Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana. Fairtrade is growing. There were literally hundreds of events in the UK in Fairtrade fortnight Cafedirect is growing market share both in instant coffee and in ground coffee in a shrinking market Fairtrade sales in the UK are expected to be over £60m in this calendar year.

8. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL • What is a Fairtrade City? • A Fairtrade City is a city that has demonstrated and documented it’s commitment to increasing Fairtrade • Criteria are laid down by the Fairtrade Foundation • Specific number of retail outlets • Specific number of catering outlets • A programme of Fairtrade development in the community organisations such as schools, churches, and the service industries • Media profile • Education • Local Government support • A Steering Committee

9. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL • The Fairtrade City project in Hull is led by a Steering Committee formed from: • WEFT • One World Shop • Hull City Council • Broad Membership from supportive organisations inc • Anita Beer – Methodists • Michael Craughan – Fawley Judge Easton • Sylvia Usher

10. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL What part does the Church have to play / what is a Fairtrade Church? Christian values of love and justice must be upheld in the church by the visible and tangible support of Fairtrade As part of becoming a Fairtrade City we should be a Fairtrade Deanery, which in turn should have a number of Fairtrade churches The diocese of Chester looks to become the first Fairtrade Diocese with over 160 churches signing up to Fairtrade

11. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL What is a Fairtrade Church? The leadership group (=PCC, but may start with the standing committee) must approve a resolution to support Fairtrade, and to return a pledge which commits the church to: Use Fairtrade products at all meetings and services (where relevant). Support of love and justice by Fairtrade must be evident in the worship of the church Education and support must be available to enable members of the church to support Fairtrade on an individual basis.

12. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL • What should the deanery synod do ? • Resolve to become a Fairtrade deanery (= 33% of churches returning a pledge) • Request that each PCC should support this decision by taking those steps necessary to become a “Fair Trade Church” • Identify / appoint an individual who will act as a focal point / coordinator within the deanery for Fairtrade

13. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL What can the Project Steering Group do to help? We can provide education in many different forms including Talks, workshops, training events, coffee, tea, chocolate tastings, games. We can provide information on fairtrade products We can inspire people BUT We can’t do it all

14. FAIRTRADE CITY PROJECT – HULL Questions, answers, discussion