All over the UK, in thousands of schools, workplaces, communities and places of worship, Fairtrade's unique grassroots social movement is thriving.
This year we scaled up our website work to reach even more people, and encourage debate.
Towns, Cities, Villages and Islands
There are now 435 Fairtrade Towns in the UK, and they continue to inspire a growing international movement, with Fairtrade Town campaigns springing up in 18 countries worldwide.
Campaigners and businesses made London the world's biggest Fairtrade City in October 2008, the culmination of a drive launched in 2003 by the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and backed by current Mayor Boris Johnson. Across the capital, 21 boroughs now enjoy Fairtrade status, including five Olympic boroughs. This achievement completes the set of UK Fairtrade capital cities. Sophi Tranchell, Chair of London Steering Committee said: London has always been famous for doing trade. Now it can be famous for doing trade well.'
Faiths
More than 5,000 churches are registered as Fairtrade, and 67 denominational groups. We have 39 registered synagogues, and one mosque. In 2009 we published the first Muslim Action Guide, proving popular with Fairtrade Towns groups.
In London, Muslim Aid opened the Fair Factory café stocking fairtrade goods.
The Jewish Guide to Fairtrade was published in March 2009, to encourage Jewish groups to get involved. 'Fairtrade is good for business, for justice, for human decency and equity, and for the future of our world. It is the right campaign at the right time and I give it my enthusiastic support,' said Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.
Schools, Colleges and Universities
Funding from DFID supports the Fairtrade Schools scheme. In 2008 we held our first Fairtrade Schools conferences for students and teachers to swap ideas and inspiration. UK pupils also met Stephen and Joycelyn, schoolchildren from Ghana who had benefited from the Fairtrade premium paid to their communities from sales of cocoa produced by Kuapa Kokoo, a Fairtrade cocoa co-operative.
In spring 2009 we released a DVD for current and prospective Fairtrade Schools, full of short films, activities, tips and inspiration.
Fairtrade Fortnight
Our annual awareness-raising campaign was as wide-reaching and inspiring as ever, uniting campaigners, companies, retailers and producers. Around 11,000 events took place, from fashion shows to treasure hunts.
The finale was the world's biggest banana eating event. 470,001 people took part from workers at Finlay’s tea factory to the Bolton Wanderers first team. A Rapping Bananas animation reached out to younger supporters.