Vivien Caldwell, Francesca Denny, Veronica Trotter, Fiona Inman and other volunteers run a Traidcraft Fairtrade Stall on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month in St. Edward's church hall after 10.30am Mass; at the monthly Union of Catholic Mothers meeting; and by arrangement with other parish groups, St. Bernadette, St.Nicholas Owen and Holy Trinity churches.

Contact: Vivien Caldwell via Presbytery office Tel. 01536 512497 or via email: parishgroups@stedwardskettering.org.uk (please state the name of the person you wish to contact at the beginning of the message)

What do you think of when you hear the word Fairtrade? Bananas, Coffee, Chocolate perhaps? How about justice; education; fair income; safe working conditions; respect for the environment? Fairtrade stands for all of these.

The Fairtrade concept 'transforms the lives of disadvantaged producers in the developing world by enabling them to use their skills and resources to trade their way out of poverty.' [Traidcraft leaflet]. It is supported by many organisations, including CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, and Traidcraft.

The poorest producers of our world, are marginalised and often exploited. Fairtrade challenges the trading practices that exploit the developing world and creates opportunities and guarantees of:

fairer payment and prices

extra income for community development

safer working conditions

Different organisations under the Fairtrade umbrella help producers to:

achieve Fairtrade status

develop their own trading structures

have access to low-interest loans and share resources

lobby governments over more just trading conditions

invest in training

negotiate with retailers and supermarkets

The end result is that Fairtrade producers are now better able to survive, prosper and educate their children.

Fairtrade is now a term that we all understand. It is possible to pick up goods in all supermarkets, or buy from particular manufacturers and know that a better percentage of cost has been passed on to the original producers. However how much do we do that? Try to make a positive effort to buy Fairtrade.

Look for products that carry the mark or try out new fairtrade products with the intention of substituting them permanently in your weekly shopping. A minor change in your shopping habits can make a major change in someone's life.

If you buy Fairtrade products from St. Edward's stall rather than the supermarket or online it means that more money goes directly towards the work of Fairtrade organisations.

St. Edward's Fairtrade stall offers a 10% discount to any parish group which wants to buy its tea or coffee through them.

Help Fairtrade to help people to help themselves.

Talk to the Fairtrade helpers on the stall after Mass or check out:
Fairtrade: www.fairtrade.org.uk/what_is_fairtrade/faqs.aspx
Traidcraft: www.traidcraft.co.uk