Diocese of Ely swaps up a storm

Pauline and Ben Jupp, from Ely, Cambridgeshire are very clear about the benefits of Fairtrade, because they’ve heard about it straight from one who knows.

‘One coffee grower from Costa Rica visited us and explained how the Fairtrade premium paid to his local community on top of the guaranteed price made all the difference in the world to them. Fairtrade is a brilliant way of tackling poverty, but it can also benefit the environment too. The grower told us how his local area has been rejuvenated and fish have returned to the river. Before they went Fairtrade, people would just throw rubbish in it.’

In November 2009, the Diocese of Ely made the swap to Fairtrade. In the record time of just 15 months, 50% of the churches gained Fairtrade status. The Archibishop of York visited Ely Cathedral to present the Fairtrade Foundation Diocesan Certificate for Ely Diocese and all over the Diocese, more than half the churches  – 160 – now serve Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits.

But Pauline and Ben aren’t going to stop there. ‘As well as getting the rest of the churches in the diocese to go Fairtrade, the City of Ely Fairtrade Forum was launched in late 2008 to turn Ely into a Fairtrade city. We want to encourage local shops, businesses and schools to go Fairtrade too.' In the meantime, Pauline is also trying to convert her wardrobe to Fairtrade!