On 3rd August 2009 I received an email from the Fairtrade Foundation advising that we had been successful in obaitning Fairtrade Town status.
I say we when I mean the steering group that I’m chair of. We knew when we formed in April last year that we had met the technical criteria, what was lacking was the media and community awareness. So we spent the last year tacking tables at other people’s events to raise awareness and some cash to spend on purchasing things. We also spent the time getting articles or letters on various aspects of Fairtrade in the local papers. Finally we organised a few things for Fairtrade Fortnight this year. I pulled everything togehter then submitted the application, then waited, and waited until we got the news.
The campaign to retain that status starts now, sounds like a political election doesn’t it, we have to re-apply in a years time. However, we do have the feedback from the Foundation along with recommendations/suggestions on how to take things forward. That helps a lot. It will save us scratching our heads trying to figure out “what next?”.
Meantime, we’re planning a photo call for the local papers next Monday with Iain Gray MSP and consider what kind of “celebratory event” to hold – if at all.
North Berwick is a Fairtrade Town
On 3rd August 2009 I received an email from the Fairtrade Foundation advising that we had been successful in obaitning Fairtrade Town status.
I say we when I mean the steering group that I’m chair of. We knew when we formed in April last year that we had met the technical criteria, what was lacking was the media and community awareness. So we spent the last year tacking tables at other people’s events to raise awareness and some cash to spend on purchasing things. We also spent the time getting articles or letters on various aspects of Fairtrade in the local papers. Finally we organised a few things for Fairtrade Fortnight this year. I pulled everything togehter then submitted the application, then waited, and waited until we got the news.
The campaign to retain that status starts now, sounds like a political election doesn’t it, we have to re-apply in a years time. However, we do have the feedback from the Foundation along with recommendations/suggestions on how to take things forward. That helps a lot. It will save us scratching our heads trying to figure out “what next?”.
Meantime, we’re planning a photo call for the local papers next Monday with Iain Gray MSP and consider what kind of “celebratory event” to hold – if at all.