In 2024, we’ll be celebrating a very special Fairtrade Fortnight.
It will take place in the autumn for the first time when we will celebrate 30 years of the Fairtrade Mark here in the UK. This means 30 years of farmers using the power of Fairtrade to drive positive change in their communities.
Instead of waiting until September 2024, we’ve put together 30 ways you can get the ball rolling. How many can you finish before Fortnight 2024 ends?
1. Sign up to get our emails – never miss our latest news!
If you don’t already get our email updates, fix that today by signing up for our Fairtrade ‘Latest news’ emails. That way, you’ll never miss an opportunity to get involved in our work to build a fairer future.
2. Sign your local Community Declaration on Climate Justice
Over 15,000 people and over 1,000 groups have already signed our Community Declarations on Climate Justice. You can sign as an individual, a school, a Fairtrade group, or any other organisation.
Once you’ve signed, remember to share to get your friends and family to join you.
3. Say it with flowers
We all love to give and receive flowers to celebrate a special occasion. To mark 30 years of our Mark, you could send a friend a special thank you and, at the same time, introduce them to the benefits of Fairtrade flowers.
They deliver a fairer deal for thousands of farm workers in East Africa and Central America.
4. Write a letter
Thirty years in, people still need to find out why choosing Fairtrade is so important. The students at Ballycarrickmaddy Primary School have been working on how to persuade important people in business, politics and their community to join them in building a fairer future.
Their excellent guide on writing a persuasive letter includes great tips for everyone.
5. Start a petition
Supporting us isn’t just about signing petitions – you can start one too! Get a bit of inspiration from the children at St. Peter’s Catholic Primary School – they started a petition urging the UK government to start including Fairtrade bananas in their Free Fruit and Vegetables scheme.
6. Quiz night? Try one of ours!
Everyone loves a quiz. We’ve created a few to try, or you can use the following information to make your own.
7. Make a smoothie
There is no better way to get your ‘5 a day’ than a nice smoothie. There are so many Fairtrade ingredients that are just perfect for smoothies: bananas, mangoes, orange juice, peanut butter, honey, nuts and spices.
Make your smoothie, then ‘smoothly’ start a conversation about how each of those ingredients means a fairer deal for so many farmers and workers all around the world.
8. Get creative in the kitchen
It’s been 30 years since the FAIRTRADE Mark hit UK shelves, and you can now cook up all sorts of tasty treats using the over 6,000 Fairtrade products available across the country.
Whether it’s banana brownies or pasta bakes, classy cocktails or coffee-flavoured cookies, the quickest way to the heart is through the stomach – so build your friends and family’s love for Fairtrade with some delicious dishes.
9. Make an exhibition of yourself – and us!
Whether it’s poetry, painting, music, or crafting, getting creative is a great way to spread the word about the difference choosing Fairtrade makes.
For example, in 2020, thousands of young people took part in our Choose the World you Want exhibition to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. Try running your own exhibition or competition in your community, school or university.
10. Get social – online!
Social media lets us connect with other Fairtrade fans from all over the country and beyond. It also tells people about the power of Fairtrade.
As we mark 30 years, take inspiration from the Felixstowe Fairtrade Forum’s excellent recent efforts in upping their social media game.
