Wolverhampton City Fairtrade Partnership has been commended for its valuable contribution to the Fairtrade movement. It was awarded second place in best outreach and networking category at the annual Fairtrade Campaign Awards which took place at the Fairtrade Foundation’s national supporter conference in London.
The Partnership was recognised for its commitment to raising awareness about the principles and values of Fairtrade in the local community during Fairtrade Fortnight 2015.
And it was especially commended for the number of key decision makers involved in the campaign and for the ways in which producers’ voices were presented.
Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “In 2014 Wolverhampton celebrated 10 years of Fairtrade status and it’s tremendous to move into the next decade of Fairtrade with this national recognition.
“I’d like to congratulate all those involved in the Fairtrade movement in Wolverhampton on their efforts to support millions of vulnerable farmers and workers in countries around the globe.”
Receiving the award, Barbara Gwinnett, vice-chair of Wolverhampton City Fairtrade Partnership said: “This is a tremendous achievement, reflecting the commitment of groups large and small across the city to Fairtrade and supporting farmers in developing countries.”
Adam Gardner, Communities Campaigns Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation, said: "We are very grateful to Wolverhampton for their valuable support to farmers and workers around the globe who are continuously working hard to bring us the products we love.
“All too often these communities are not receiving a fair price for their work, but campaigners from Wolverhampton have shown their dedication to this cause.”
Fairtrade has paved the way for sustainable trading by providing a safety net for world’s poorest farmers against volatile market prices, and the Fairtrade Premium to invest in vital community, business and environmental projects.
To find out about Fairtrade in Wolverhampton, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/fairtrade.
