First Fair Trade Education Pack

Riding high on the interest of teachers to incorporate the concept of fair trade into their lessons, the Fairtrade Foundation launches an exciting new education pack, Fair Trade in Action.

Produced in collaboration with Reading International Solidarity Campaign this accessible resource raises students’ awareness of trade issues and their own influence as consumers. With producer case studies and activity sheets, the pack meets a range of National Curriculum requirements at Key Stage 3 in England and Wales and 5-14 National Guidelines in Scotland. Its production was funded by the Methodist Relief Development Fund and the European Union.

"This unique resource fits beautifully into the key curriculum areas of Citizenship, Geography and Religious Studies, and allows students to learn about fairness, social justice and diversity" says Louise Robinson, a secondary school teacher and co-writer of the pack along with Phil Wells, former Director of the Fairtrade Foundation. The pack can also be used across the curriculum in any areas where teachers incorporate a global dimension - older students at key stage 4 and 16+ can use it to enhance their work too.

One of the main features of the pack is a beautifully illustrated board game, Fair Trade Rules? that enables students, in their role as coffee, banana, cocoa, tea, orange and cotton producers, to experience fair trade.

Fair Trade in Action is launched against a background of rising sales of foods with the FAIRTRADE Mark in the UK. In 2001, sales of FAIRTRADE Mark foods in the UK rose by a staggering 40% to a retail value of £46 million which means consumers are spending almost £1.50 per second on Fairtrade products. The foods include kids’ favourites such as snack bars, bananas, chocolates and chocolate money.

"Fairtrade makes immediate sense to kids – it’s an easy concept for them to grasp because they have a natural sense of fair play", says Harriet Lamb. 

For more information telephone Eileen Maybin or Abi Murray on 020 7440 7686 or mobile 07770 957 451 or email eileen.maybin@fairtrade.org.uk or abi.murray@fairtrade.org.uk

• Fair Trade in Action is available to purchase at £15.00 (inc. VAT) through the Fairtrade Foundation – telephone 0207 405 5942.
• Foods with the FAIRTRADE Mark are now sold in 17 countries through 235 traders and 452 companies, being sourced from 360 producer groups in 36 countries, representing 4.5 million growers and their families.
• Fairtrade is a trading partnership that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalised farmers and workers in the developing world. The FAIRTRADE Mark shows that producers have received a better price for their produce.
• The Fairtrade Foundation was set up at the beginning of the 1990s by agencies including Christian Aid, Oxfam, and the World Development Movement to respond to the human consequences of collapsing world commodity prices. The first FAIRTRADE Marked product, Green and Black’s Maya Gold chocolate, appeared on the supermarket shelf in 1994.

The FAIRTRADE Mark is available on the following retail products:

• Cafédirect 5065, Organic Decaffeinated Freeze Dried and Fresh Ground Coffees
• Co-op Own Brand Fair Trade Coffee, Instant Coffee Granules, Chocolate bars, Bananas, Mangoes and Chocolate Cake
• Clipper Fairtrade Teas
• The Day Chocolate Company’s Divine Chocolate, Darkly Divine & Dubble bar, Divine Tree Decorations, Divine Advent Calendar, Divine Chocolate Coins
• Equal Exchange (Organic Coffees, Teas, Cocoa, Chocolate Brazil nuts, Honey, and Sugar).
• Fairtrade Bananas (Safeways, Asda, Sainsbury’s, the Co-op, Tesco)
• Fruit Passion Orange, Breakfast and Tropical Juice
• Green & Black's Maya Gold and Cocoa
• AgroFair Fairtrade Mangoes
• Hampstead Tea & Coffee Company Teas
• Johnsons Costa Rica blend Coffee
• Morrison’s Own Brand Fairtrade Tea
• Oxfam Organic Cocoa and Fair Trade Chocolates
• Percol Fairtrade Coffees
• Sainsbury’s Own Brand Fairtrade Tea, Coffee, Bananas, Chocolate and Drinking Chocolate
• Teadirect Tea, Organic Earl Grey and Organic Green Tea with Lemon Grass and Cinnamon, Coffees, Geobars, Organic Chocolate bars, Boxed Chocolates, Sugar and Cookies
• Village Bakery Organic Fairtrade Christmas Cake, Organic Fairtrade Christmas Pudding, Fireside Cookies and Brandy Butter Cookies

Fairtrade coffee, tea and other products are also offered by more than 25 nationwide catering suppliers. For more information visit our Catering Products page.