Click on the logo above to take you to the Fairtrade Devon website.

The Global Centre is one of the steering group partners involved in campaigning for Fairtrade status for the County of Devon. To achieve County wide Fairtrade status five goals must be met:

• The local council must pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in offices and canteens. Devon County Council passed such a resolution in November 2007.
• A range of Fairtrade products must be readily available in the area’s shops and served in local cafés and catering establishments. There are a number of towns in Devon that have already earned the Fairtrade Award. Each town has its own directory of where to buy and where to taste Fairtrade products. Fairtrade towns in Devon include: Dawlish, Newton Abbot, Crediton, Tavistock, Bideford, Barnstaple, Teignmouth, with Tiverton and Bovey Tracey working towards the Award.
• Fairtrade products must be used by a number of local work places. Devon County Council strives to be Fairtrade employer. The Met Office and South West Water are also very positive. A list is being compiled of Fairtrade employers. Can you help us add your employer to this list? See the Fairtrade at work website for help on how and why to become a Fairtrade workplace.
• Attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign. Fairtrade in Devon continues to attract wide media coverage; the local Exeter paper features a Fairtrade story every day of Fairtrade fortnight.
• A local Fairtrade steering group must be convened to ensure continued commitment to Fairtrade status. This was set up in September 2007 and has been meeting every 6 weeks. All the Fairtrade Towns are represented, plus the sponsoring County Councillor, Chris Bray.

Schools, churches and places of worship, community centres and other community organisations can gain the Fairtrade Award. If your organisation is not yet a Fairtrade organisation, please lobby for this to happen!

See the following links for inspiration and support:

Churches and synagogues Many faith based organisations have been at the forefront of promoting Fairtrade. There are many churches in Devon that are Fairtrade churches where Fairtrade tea and coffee is used for all meetings and where Fairtrade is promoted during Fairtrade Fortnight and during the year through events, worship and other activities.

Schools and colleges The Fairtrade Schools Award was formally launched in Autumn 2007. Which school in Devon will be first to be awarded this new award? For advice on how to work towards the Fairtrade Schools Award contact us. Every year Devon Development Education organises School conferences in Devon to promote Fairtrade. See a summary of the 2007 conferences.

Universities Exeter University gained Fairtrade status in December 2007. Congratulations!

Fairtrade fortnight 2008 Fairtrade producer tour
To help understand the importance of buying Fairtrade products to producers from low income countries, Fairtrade Devon Campaign has invited Fairtrade tea producer Martin Odoch from Uganda to spend the whole of Fairtrade Fortnight in Devon! He will have a very busy time, talking to lots of people over cups of tea (and coffee!), visiting places in Devon where Fairtrade is not so well known, visiting companies to speak to employers about supporting Fairtrade, as well as schools, churches - and libraries. For a list of events taking place during Fairtrade Fortnight in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, including Martin's schedule click here
For a profile on Martin Odoch click here