Dawlish Fairtrade Friends

Dawlish Fairtrade Friends are a group of local residents working to promote Fairtrade.

  What is Fairtrade ?

Many farmers and workers in developing countries struggle to provide for their families. Poor market access and unfair trade rules often mean that the price they get for their crops does not always cover the cost of production. Fairtrade is a rapidly growing international movement which seeks to guarantee a better deal for farmers and workers in the developing world.  A product which is Fairtrade certified carries a label, the Fairtrade mark.  By participating in Fairtrade, the producer receives a fair price for his product plus a premium which can be used to improve education and healthcare, and to provide new roads and access to clean water in the area.  The effect on these people has been enormous.

      Fair Trade in Dawlish     

In March 2007, thanks to the support of many local people, Dawlish gained national recognition as a Fairtrade town.  We joined the rapidly growing list of communities worldwide who use their consumer power to improve the lives of producers in poorer countries.  With financial help from Dawlish Town Council, Teignbridge District Council The Co-operative Group and local advertisers, the first Dawlish Fairtrade Directory was produced which listed Fairtrade outlets in the town as well as further information on the Fairtrade movement locally and internationally. To become a Fairtrade town we had to reach a set of targets including the number of shops, organisations and businesses that use or sell Fairtrade products.

This year we had to bid to renew our Fairtrade status.  It must be shown that during our first year the committee has maintained the five goals set by the Fairtrade Foundation.  These are to ensure the continued involvement of the Town Council in supporting the Fairtrade movement; to increase the number of shops and cafes offering Fairtrade products; to increase the number of local work places and community organisations using Fairtrade products; to attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign; to maintain a committee in the town which ensures continued commitment to its Fairtrade Town status.  With the enthusiastic help of the residents of Dawlish, these goals have been successfully achieved and our status renewed.

The Fairtrade Foundation summarised their report thus:- 

"Congratulation on maintaining a supportive and exciting campaign in Dawlish.  A great deal has been achieved this year and it as clear that this Fairtrade Borough is going forward from strength to strength.  Well done. 

We wish you every success in your future efforts especially with gaining support from schools and would like to thank everyone that has been involved in ensuring that Fairtrade continues to flourish in Dawlish.  It is because of campaigns such as this that Fairtrade continues to grow and now brings benefit to more than 7 million people - producers and their families - in developing countries.  Thank you!"  

      Get the Fairtrade habit

• Wake up to Fairtrade coffee, tea, fruit juice or muesli.
• Put on a T-shirt made from Fairtrade certified cotton. 
• Snack on a Fairtrade biscuit or fresh fruit.
• Give Fairtrade flowers, chocolate or wine to someone you love.
• Wind down at the end of the day with a cup of Fairtrade cocoa or a glass of Fairtrade wine.
• Ask for Fairtrade products in your workplace, favourite cafeé, restaurant and bar.   
• If your local store doesn't stock the Fairtrade product you are looking for, ask the manager.

      Message from Wally Protheroe, mayor of Dawlish

It is with pleasure that I pass on to you the support of Dawlish Town Council in encouraging Fairtrade for all.

This world-wide project has been slow to develop but we are now seeing progress at an ever increasing rate.  This is because of your support here in our town and in the many other towns and cities throughout the land.  I hope that in the future we will see all producers using Fairtrade raw materials in their products and that retailers accept the need to stock the resulting goods.

The Town Council in endorsing the scheme ask that you purchase Fairtrade goods as often as you can in the knowledge that by doing so you will be helping others to a better life.

NB Click on pictures to enlarge

Local photographs on this page courtesy of Dawlish Newspapers Ltd.  Remainder of images from the Fairtrade Foundation.

Site creator Caroline Eaves