The Borough of Stockport has been awarded ‘Fairtrade Borough’ Status by the Fairtrade Foundation.

This award recognises the hard work of Stockport Council and the Stockport Fairtrade Group in ensuring that the Stockport community has made a commitment to Fairtrade by supporting disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries.

It means that:

• The community has a significant track record in campaigning for Fairtrade and has a high level of awareness and understanding of Fairtrade.


• Stockport Council has adopted a Fairtrade Resolution and has switched its catering supplies to Fairtrade tea and coffee wherever it is possible.
  
• Fairtrade products are widely available in Stockport’s shops and cafes and are popular with the Stockport community.


• A commitment has been made to increasing sales and awareness further still.

• The local council must pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in offices and canteens.


• A range of Fairtrade products must be readily available in the area’s shops and served in local cafés and catering establishments (targets are set in relation to population)


• Fairtrade products must be used by a number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations (churches, schools etc)


• Attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign


• A local Fairtrade steering group must be convened to ensure continued commitment to Fairtrade Town status.

What is the Council doing?

Stockport Council has had a Fairtrade policy since 2001. In early 2001 the full Council passed a resolution to:

• promote awareness of fairtrade issues;


• make available to local people publicity and educational information concerning the world-wide impact of unfair trade and the opportunities that fairtrade provides to promote sustainable development;


• investigate the council’s own purchasing policies including those of its suppliers and contractors and implement fairtrade where possible;


• consider buying, as they become available, fairtrade products, including those carrying the Fairtrade Mark;


• promote fairtrade issues and practices amongst businesses and commercial and other organisations; and


• develop a strategy to make the Council a fairtrade council.

The Stockport Fairtrade Group

The Stockport Fairtrade Group is a local campaign group working on Fairtrade issues and promoting Fairtrade locally.

They work to raise awareness of Fairtrade in the local area, hold events promoting Fairtrade products and issues and are working to increase the number of businesses and venues where you can buy Fairtrade goods in Stockport.

The Stockport Fairtrade Group has produced a directory of local venues where you can buy Fairtrade products (see 'Related Links'). The Directory is updated as new businesses and venues that support Fairtrade are identified.

See ‘Related Contacts’ and ‘Related Links’ to find out more about the Stockport Fairtrade Group.

The Council and the Community Working in Partnership

As part of the Council’s ongoing campaign for maintaining Stockport’s Fairtrade Borough status, and its support of Fairtrade more generally, it works cooperatively with the Stockport Fairtrade Group, a local community campaign group.

Together, the Council and the local community group form the Stockport Fairtrade Borough Steering Group. The Steering Group works in a strategic way to promote Fairtrade within the Borough and to support our Fairtrade Borough campaign.

Key activities undertaken by the Steering Group include:

• Planning and holding Fairtrade stalls and events as part of Fairtrade Fortnight (held annually in March)


• Identifying and exploiting opportunities to ‘sell’ the Fairtrade message


• Implementing the Stockport Fairtrade Business Pledge Scheme (see 'Related Items')


• Working to ensure that Stockport continues to meet the requirements of the Fairtrade Foundation to retain its status as a Fairtrade Borough