BECOMING A FAIRTRADE DIOCESE

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Many churches, offices and other organisations in the Southwark Diocese already use or sell Fairtrade products, and embrace its values. To achieve Fairtrade status more must get involved and in so doing demonstrate Christian care and concern for poverty and injustice throughout the world.

Southwark will join other Fairtrade Diocese in England and Wales (Chester, Oxford, Chichester, Blackburn, Bangor and Llandaff) which have already achieved Fairtrade status. In London there are five Fairtrade Boroughs (Croydon, Lambeth, Camden, Kingston, and Lewisham) which contribute to London’s move towards becoming a Fairtrade City see www.fairtradelondon.org.uk.

How do we qualify?

The Fairtrade Foundation officially recognises a diocese as Fairtrade if 30% of its churches pledge to only use Fairtrade coffee and tea. However, Southwark has chosen to follow other Diocese’ examples and aim for 60% of churches and all diocesan offices.

Churches and offices, which pledge to adopt Fairtrade purchasing practices, will receive a certificate and be listed on this website. Once 60% have pledged, an application will be made to the Fairtrade Foundation for formal recognition.

What should we do now?

To pledge the support of your church (or office), each Parochial Church Council (or management committee) is asked to discuss and compile a resolution in support of Trade Justice and Fairtrade (an example resolution is provided on this page). Your discussion should also include groups that use the premises to encourage their support, for example Toddler and Pre-school groups, uniformed organisations and lunch clubs. It could even become part of the hiring contract for those that use the venue requesting that they honour the commitment to Fairtrade.

Secondly, once a resolution has been agreed (or if it has been agreed previously), you are asked to sign and return the pledge form (download 345KB Word document). The pledge commits a church or office:

• to serve only Fairtrade tea and coffee whenever providing refreshments,
• to endeavour to use other fairly-traded items wherever possible,
• to encourage the use of fairly-traded items amongst the congregation and staff,
• to support the principles of ‘Trade Justice’ and ‘Make Poverty History’.
• to introduce related initiatives particular to the church or office, as appropriate

It is important that the resolution and commitment are carefully discussed and go beyond just using Fairtrade tea and coffee. Other aspects to consider include encouraging the use of Fairtrade amongst the congregation (perhaps having fairly-traded products on sale in church) and raising awareness about the wider issues of poverty in the world.

You might chose to launch your commitment (or re-commitment) to Fairtrade by holding a special event or organising a special display. An opportune time for a specific Fairtrade promotion is Fairtrade Fortnight which in 2006 takes place between 6th and 19th March.

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