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Fairtrade ensures that small farmers in the developing world get a fair price for their produce. Carlisle One World Centre has played a leading role in the successful campaign to make Carlisle a Fairtrade City since March 2005. The Fairtrade City Steering Group oversees the running of the campaign and the renewal of Fairtrade city status every two years awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation.

A Fairtrade guide to Carlisle includes cafes, shops, businesses and catering establishments where Fairtrade products are available.

We have set up a Facebook Group for Carlisle Fairtrade - please join us to view photos and exchange views on Fairtrade issues!

And don't forget to check out the Hadrian's Wall site with its interactive map of Fairtrade shops, cafes, businesses, guest houses and schools along the Hadrian's Wall Fairtrade Corridor

Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 in Carlisle

With Fairtrade Fortnight coming up (28^th February to 13^th March) there are plenty of ways of getting involved this year. We have just been awarded a successful renewal of our Fairtrade Status so we are celebrating!

The theme this year is “Show off your Label!” By showing off about Fairtrade, you'll be explaining the importance of Fairtrade to its producers, about the benefits of receiving a Fairtrade premium for their local communities and securing a more stable future.

This Fairtrade Fortnight, one of the many ways to show off about Fairtrade will be to paint, draw or sew a piece of bunting to express what Fairtrade looks like to you. The Fairtrade Foundation is aiming to smash the world record for the longest string of hand-designed bunting, currently at 2,696 metres of individual, hand-made, bunting triangles. To help them achieve this, we have organised a competition locally for groups, schools, churches, etc. To get involved, order your bunting through www.fairtrade.org.uk and bring along the finished triangles to the Fairtrade Coffee Morning on Saturday 12th March at the Old Town Hall 10am - 12pm. We hope to have enough bunting in Carlisle to wrap around the old Town Hall, if not more! Contact Claire Feeney, Fairtrade Co-ordinator, for more information on claire@carlisleworldshop.co.uk.

Other Events this Fairtrade Fortnight

Friday 4th March: Fairtrade and Vintage Fashion Show, William Howard School, Brampton. Wine and cheese from 7pm (show starts at 7.30). Tickets £3 from The Gallery at Brampton and Scotia Framing or on the door.

Saturday 5th March: Christian Aid Fairtrade Coffee Morning, Old Town Hall 10am - 12pm

Tuesday 8th March: Carlisle Book Trust Fairtrade and Trade Justice Book Club, COWC 10-11.30am. All welcome even if you haven't read a book! Come along for a coffee and some good book inspiration!
 

Giant Fairtrade Snakes and Ladders Game
Available for loan to groups or schools
Contact COWC: development@cowc.co.uk

Recent News from The Carlisle Fairtrade Group

The Fairtrade Group has been busy, hosting all sorts of events promoting Fairtrade and have more to look forward to in the future. Here’s a brief look at what’s been going on…….

Home Energy and Sustainability Fair

This was held at Trinity School, Carlisle on September 18th 2010 where there were lots of exhibitions, stalls and workshops offering many practical ways to save both energy and money. There was a Fairtrade stall and Fairtrade Café which proved very popular.

Fairtrade Snakes and Ladders at Guide Camp

In June, Girl Guides played Fairtrade Snakes and Ladders as one of their main activities whilst on a camping weekend at Croft Farm, Houghton, near Carlisle.  They heard lots of facts about Fairtrade and had a great time playing this popular game.

Fairtrade Fashion Show

Carlisle’s first major Fairtrade Fashion Show took place on Saturday 8^th May 2010, World Fair Trade Day. The City’s magnificent Cathedral was the setting for this great event. Carlisle Fairtrade Group celebrated 5 years of Fairtrade City status with 5 years of Fairtrade cotton. What a fabulous venue to share this wonderful achievement with the City. The evening was a real triumph, with Casualty and Hollyoaks actor James Redmond as compere.

The event featured some of the major Fairtrade cotton brands such as People Tree and the Bishopston Trading Company, as well as Fairtrade fashion items sold by high street retailers Marks and Spencers, Monsoon and Laura Ashley among others. The reception which followed the show was a lovely way to end the night with sparkling Fairtrade wine, Fairtrade stalls and information for all to browse.

 Models Alex and Joanne in Pimpfish T-shirts
Model team, father and daughter John and Hannah Feeney with James Redmond in the background

Fairtrade Fortnight 2010

Carlisle played host to many Fairtrade events during Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 which also saw Carlisle celebrate its 5^th year in achieving Fairtrade City Status. The theme of Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 was The Big Swap with the aim of reaching one million and one swaps from regular products to Fairtrade alternatives. There were numerous opportunities to swap online in the city centre, during Fairtrade coffee mornings, and also plenty of opportunities to register swaps at the various other events held in and around the City during Fairtrade Fortnight.

5^th Birthday Party Celebration

The Tithe Barn was the setting for the 5^th birthday party of Carlisle’s Fairtrade City status, which was attended by the Mayor, Cllr. Bill Graham.  Speaking at this event was Krishnan Saianathan, Project Manager of the Fairtrade cotton project at Agrocel Industries, Bangalore, India.  Sai shared with us the benefits for local people of being part of a Fairtrade co-operative. Helen Hinvest of the WI also spoke of the commitment of the WI in supporting Fairtrade.

Mayor Cllr. Graham and Fairtrade supporters celebrate 5 years of
Carlisle Fairtrade City

The following night, Fairtrade campaigners took part in a well supported talk by Ruth Taylor of Shared Interest organised by the Soroptomists Group at Morton Manor, Carlisle. The day after that a Fairtrade and Vintage Fashion Show took place at William Howard School in Brampton. This proved to be another great event which was very well supported, with Fairtrade refreshments and stalls for all to enjoy. This Fashion Show event also show-cased many outfits by ethical & fair trade companies including Bishopston Trading Company, People Tree and Traidcraft. Many of the models were students from the school, and they looked very stylish in their Fairtrade outfits. 

 
Visit from Gareth Thomas MP

Gareth Thomas MP with Lorna Strong and Claire Feeney of  Carlisle World Shop

Fairtrade Schools Conference

In January Keswick School hosted a successful Fairtrade Schools Conference. Over 25 schools from all over Cumbria came together to listen to the experiences of other schools and to hear Joe Human MBE and Harriet Lamb, director of the Fairtrade Foundation speak and inspire them. Carlisle Fairtraders ran a workshop on Fairtrade fashion to groups of school children as part of the day and these were very well received. The children learned about Fairtrade clothing and had fun dressing up mannequins in different Fairtrade outfits. Harriet also spoke at the Cumbria Fairtrade Network AGM the following day which some of the Carlisle Fairtrade group attended.

 
Fairtrade Fashion activity at the Schools Conference

Portraits from Ethiopia Photo Exhibition

Joe Human came to Carlisle in October to speak at the launch of Portraits from Ethiopia, an exhibition of photos taken in 2007 by his son, Richard, in the village of Choche, the birthplace of coffee itself. COWC brought this exhibition to Foxes Café and gallery on Abbey St. and launched it with the Mayor, Cllr. Bill Graham and the Junior Mayor present along with Cllr Geddes and many of our Fairtrade volunteers and campaigners. It was a great night for all. We were delighted that the exhibition could remain in Foxes for over a month from 23 October to 30 November.

Joe Human MBE introducing Portraits from Ethiopia

North Cumbria Girl Guide Centenary Celebrations

In September 2009, 8 volunteers took part in the North Cumbria Girl Guide Centenary Celebrations at Keswick School. They organised two workshops, one with a Trading Game and one with a Fairtrade Snakes and Ladders; they delivered these workshops 15 times each between 10am and 6.30pm! There were over 2,000   brownies, guides and their leaders at the event – and the team were delighted to pass the Fairtrade message on to so many new faces.

Brownies playing the Fairtrade Snakes and Ladders at the Centenary Celebrations

Fairtrade Fashion Show at James Rennie School

In May 2009, Carlisle’s Fairtrade Steering Group supported James Rennie School with a successful Fashion Show involving many of its students as models and organisers.

In March 2009 an INSET event was held for schools. The Future is Fairtrade was delivered by CDEC and CAFOD in partnership with Carlisle One World Centre.  Staff from over 15 local schools attended and received both information and inspiration from this full day event which took place at Warwick Mill.

Fairtrade Business Conference

 In February 2009 Carlisle hosted Cumbria’s first ever Fairtrade Business Conference. The conference’s excellent keynote speaker was the Fairtrade Foundation’s Patron and presenter of BBC News, George Alagiah. The main speakers were Julia Clark – Tate & Lyle’s Marketing Manager who turned the company around to Fairtrade and Rajah Banerjee, the inspiration behind the biodynamic, Makaibari Tea Estate, Darjeeling, India which provides teas for Hampstead Teas. Joe Human who advised on the organisation of the event gave an inspiring presentation. This was a very high profile event for the City and for Fairtrade in Carlisle and Cumbria.

Fairtrade City Leaflets, Information and Registration Forms

Fairtrade Leaflet for Workplaces
Registration Form

Fairtrade Leaflet for Guest Houses
Registration Form

Fairtrade Leaflet for Community Groups
Registration Form

Fairtrade Leaflet for Primary Schools

Fairtrade Leaflet for Schools

Links to:
 

Carlisle Fairtrade Facebook Group
Carlisle One World Centre
Carlisle City Council Fairtrade page
Cumbria Fairtrade Network
The Fairtrade Foundation
Hadrian's Wall Website