Scottish Fair Trade Forum

Lenzie makes progress to becoming a Fairtrade Town

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:47:00 +0000

Lenzie makes more progress to becoming a Fairtrade Town

The focus of activities in Lenzie during Fairtrade Fortnight will be in the Coffee Lounge near Lenzie Station where Fairtrade produce will be on sale and further information available during the second week. This – and other activities – are currently in the planning stages and further information will be posted on the Lenzie Community Council website.

Comedy Benefit for Fair Trade

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:58:00 +0000

This year we are breaking new ground for Fairtrade Fortnight with a comedy benefit on Monday 27th February at The Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow.

We are going one step further to ensure that Scotland is declared a Fair Trade Nation and will be bringing you Eleanor Morton, Bruce Morton, Susan Morrison and Phil Differ- four Scottish acts who are sure to brighten up your night!

Eleanor Morton is known for her oddball persona and superbly timed gags, Susan Morrison for her quick wit, Chewin’ the Fat and Only an Excuse writer Phil Differ for his ‘mad uncle’-styled comedy and Edinburgh Fringe Festival winner Bruce Morton for his cheeky Glaswegian style. They are promising a night of fun-filled laughter and a great start to Fairtrade Fortnight 2012.

Comedian Susan says: "I am a huge supporter of Fair Trade - who isn't? Its great food, great wine - and a great feeling to know that you are helping the actual producers of these great products, rather than adding to the share price of a multinational global conglomerate. "

The comedy benefit therefore marks the start of the event, which not only encourages people to help change the lives of Fairtrade producers, but brings Scotland closer to being declared a Fair Trade Nation.

Just by attending you are making a difference, so we hope you will join us and help contribute to making it happen!

Doors open at 7.30pm and admission is £5.

For tickets and more information please visit www.thestand.co.uk or telephone 0844 335 8879.

Towns and historic cities join the campaign to make Scotland a Fair Trade Nation

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:29:00 +0000

It has been a busy few weeks for Fair Trade across Scotland as people in towns and historic cities have been meeting to set up new Fairtrade groups. There have been meetings in Crieff, Cumbernauld, Dalkeith, Dingwall, Dumbarton, Dunblane, Dunfermline, Elgin, Glenrothes, Helensburgh, Kirkcaldy, Lenzie, Stonehaven, Penicuik, Prestwick and Westhill. The Arbroath group has become active again. Glasgow and Dundee groups have held their AGMs. Queensferry has held their annual Fair Trade Global Bazaar. Inverness will be holding its annual Fair Trade Bazaar on Saturday 3 December. Bathgate and Prestonpans were recently successful in achieving Fairtrade status and North Berwick had their status renewed. West Lothian has achieved Fairtrade Zone status and East Ayrshire are now actively planning to launch a Fairtrade Zone Steering Group.

This truly is a national effort to support Fair Trade and make Scotland a Fair Trade Nation in 2012.

Lothians celebrate Fair Trade successes

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:43:00 +0000

Fair Traders in West and East Lothian have been celebrating. Fair Trade supporters gathered in Livingston's shopping centre along with Forum Director, Martin Rhodes, to celebrate West Lothian being declared a Fairtrade Zone. In East Lothian, Prestonpans had cuase for celebration too when it was awarded Fairtrade Town status. North Berwick too had something to celebrate when its status as a Fairtrade Town was renewed by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Queensferry Global Bazaar

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:14:00 +0000

Queensferry Global Bazaar

Queensferry Fair Trade Group are holding their famous Global Bazaar from 10am to 3.30pm on Saturday 29 October in Queensferry Parish Church Centre, South Queensferry. There will be lots of Fair Trade and Ethical stalls; tea and coffee tasting; and refreshments. All welcome.

Dundee Fair Trade Forum AGM

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:01:00 +0000

Dundee Fair Trade Forum AGM

If you live in Dundee and want to know more about Fair Trade or want to get involved with the Dundee Fair Trade Forum, come along to their AGM on Thurday 27 October at 7pm in Room 2522, the Bell Street Building at Abertay University. The guest speaker will be our Director, Martin Rhodes.

Fair Trade all across Scotland

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:03:00 +0000

Kilmarnock a Fairtrade Town?

Do you want to help to make Kilmarnock a Fairtrade Town? Then come along to a meeting at St Matthew's Church Hall, Grassyards Road at 7pm on Wednesday 26 October and find out more about Fair Trade and how to help make Kilmarnock a Fairtrade Town.

Dundee Fair Trade Forum AGM

Fair Trade in Lenzie

Do you live in Lenzie and want to help Lenzie become a Fairtrade Town? If so come along to the Lenzie Union Parish Church, New Hall, Moncrieff Avenue at 7.30pm on Monday 24 October. There will be a guest speaker and Fair Trade stalls.

Queensferry Global Bazaar

Paisley Fair Traders win Award

The Paisley Fairtrade Town Group have won an award from the Fairtrade Foundation for their work on Fairtrade cotton during this year's Fairtrade Fortnight. Paisley Fair Traders, Maureen and Margo collected the award at the Fairtrade Foundation's annual Supporters' Conference in Birmingham.

Fair Trade in Lenzie

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:10:00 +0000

Fair Trade in Lenzie

Fairtrade Cotton Schoolwear Briefing Session

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:02:00 +0000

The Fairtrade Cotton Schoolwear Briefing proved very successful. The event on Thursday 6 October included prtesentations by Veronica Pasteur, Head of Campaigns at the Fairtrade Foundation; Angela Oakley, Schools Advisor at the Scottish Fair Trade Forum and pupils from St Andrews RC High School in Kirkcaldy who will be talking about their new Fairtrade cotton hoodies. There was also a short film on the importance of Fairtrade Cotton to the lives of farmers in West Africa.

Director's keynote speech discusses year ahead for Forum

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Director Martin Rhodes focussed on Fairtrade Towns and the year ahead in his keynote speech at this year's Campaign Day in Stirling. Whilst praising the achievements of the past twelve months, the importance of the year ahead was also emphasised. Highlights of the summary of the past year included descriptions of Fairtrade Fortnight, World Fair Trade Day and the local successes seen in Fife, East Lothian, Cambuslang, Rutherglen, Forth Valley College and Queen Margaret University. Looking towards the future of the Forum, focus was placed on the importance of increasing the number of Fairtrade Towns and the consequences of Scotland's application to become a Fair Trade Nation. Regarding the exciting developments expected this year, the conference delegates also enjoyed hearing about further campaigning with young people through the Scottish Youth Parliament and the growth of the Fairtrade Cotton School-wear Campaign.

The roll-call of A-list Scottish celebrities who have recently come out to pledge their support for the Campaign included Sir Sean Connery, Sir Alex Ferguson, The Proclaimers, Shirley Manson, DJ Mylo, Nicola Benedetti, Tom Kitchin, Iain Banks, Billy Boyd and his band Beecake. As 2012 draws ever closer we would love to hear about your pledge to do your bit for the campaign to make Scotland a Fair Trade Nation. Please send your pledge to info@sftf.org.uk and we will add it to our Countdown Calendar.