RAH Parking problems
September 17, 2010Lamont Farm Open day
September 21, 2010
Renfrewshire’s Fairtrade campaign has been named runner up for a national award by the Fairtrade Foundation.
Renfrewshire’s Fairtrade Steering Group was runner up for the Best Outreach and Networking Campaign in the Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 awards.
The awards, sponsored by the Co-operative Group, celebrate the achievements of Fairtrade campaigners and supporters during the annual two-week Fairtrade Fortnight campaign, this year held from 22nd February – 7th March 2010.
Fairtrade Fortnight is promoted by networks around the country including businesses, charities, trade unions, student groups, churches and other faith-based organisations. Thousands of people organized events all over the country to raise awareness of Fairtrade, and encourage people to swap to Fairtrade products, in keeping with the overall theme of Fairtrade Fortnight 2010: The Big Swap.
The judging panel were impressed with Renfrewshire’s Fairtrade Fortnight events including a Fairtrade Tea Dance, Tea Party, roadshow and producer visits to schools as well as taking part in national events such as the COSLA conference. They also praised Renfrewshire’s
‘ I Swap’ campaign as an excellent resource for getting people to sign up to pledges to swap their regular shopping items for Fairtrade versions.
Councillor Brian Lawson, chair of the Renfrewshire Fairtrade Steering Group, said: “This is a huge compliment to the volunteers who have made Renfrewshire’s Fairtrade campaign such a success. Without their dedication we would not be able to run such a range of events and initiatives which enable us to reach out to all aspects of our communities and beyond.
“Since Fairtrade Fortnight we’ve continued to spread the Fairtrade message by taking part in a wide range of events from running a schools World Fairtrade Day poster campaign, to handing out Fairtrade bananas to the 1500 runners in this year’s Paisley 10k, thanks to support from the Co-operative Group.
“We are all delighted with this award and will put the prize money to good use continuing our success with next year’s Fairtrade Fortnight.”
The winners will be presented with prizes by Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director Harriet Lamb, at the national Fairtrade Supporter Conference at Kings College London on Saturday 9 October.
400 Fairtrade campaigners from around the UK will attend to share the latest Fairtrade news, hear from keynote speakers and pick up new skills to help promote Fairtrade in their local communities. For full details of the conference visit: www.fairtrade.org.uk/supporterconference2010.
Veronica Pasteur, competition judge and Head of Campaigns at the Fairtrade Foundation said: ‘I wish we could award prizes to all the groups across the country who put on an amazing range of events and activities during Fairtrade Fortnight 2010. But these winners showcase some of the most creative, interesting, far-reaching and media-worthy actions that happened as part of the Big Swap and we hope that the funding they receive as part of their award will help them to greater things in Fairtrade Fortnight 2011! Huge congratulations to everyone involved: the winners and all the Fairtrade Town groups as well as schools, universities and faith groups who got involved in Fairtrade Fortnight. Together we reached more people than ever with the Fairtrade message, helping them to understand the impact of Fairtrade and make positive choices when they shop to ensure farmers and workers get a better deal..’
