Fairtrade indoor night market at Southwell’s Minster School

Southwell Fairtrade Town will mark the Fortnight with a Fairtrade Market and Reception in the Minster School, on Tuesday 26th February from 7.30pm, at the start of the national Fairtrade Fortnight.  Stalls will be set out along the wide avenue that runs the length of the new school building displaying and selling Fairtrade clothing, jewellery, craftwork, fashion accessories and food.

One of the organisers, retired Bishop, the Rt Revd Ronald Milner said: “For the first time in Southwell there will be Fairtrade craftwork from the Sunbula Co-operative which markets bags, wall hangings and embroidery made by 1,800 women, refugees and disabled people in Palestine. The Minster school ‘Poverty Group’ will also contribute a display showing its links with a school in Uganda. This is a perfect opportunity for local people to support fair trade and enjoy the new school facilities.”

Throughout the evening monitors in the Market area will show film of the work of Traidcraft which imports Fairtrade produce and works to strengthen Fairtrade producer cooperatives in the developing countries. The highlight of the evening will be the visit of Gideon Gilbert, a Fairtrade banana farmer from St. Vincent in the Windward Islands in the Caribbean. He will talk about the impact of Fairtrade on the farmers in his Cooperative and the community developments made possible by the premium paid over and above the market price for the sole purpose of building up health and educational facilities.

In December 2006 Sainsbury’s started selling only Fairtrade Windward Island bananas. Waitrose is also 100% Windward Island Fairtrade bananas and Asda, the Co-op, Tesco and Morrisons sell them. As a result it is predicted that Fairtrade premiums for Community development in the Windward Islands will top $3million dollars this year.

The Southwell Market and Reception is a joint venture by the Fairtrade Town and the Minster School, which is now working to achieve Fairtrade School status. Those attending the Market will be welcomed with a glass of Fairtrade wine and Fairtrade nibbles. At the end of the evening Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits will be served. Tickets are on sale in the town price £1.

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