Championing Wolverhampton Fairtrade - Doing Good Together Fund

What’s your connection to the group? 

I represent The Midcounties Co-operative on the Wolverhampton Fairtrade City Partnership, supporting its mission to raise awareness of Fairtrade across the city and facilitating volunteer opportunities for our colleagues, who actively participate in events and help promote the Partnership. A special thank you to Jake Granger, our Pricing and Promotions Analyst who has volunteered at many of our events.

I also volunteer in my own time at community events for other members of Wolverhampton City Fairtrade Partnership to support other great causes. For example, I attended the Wolverhampton Rotary Club’s annual crocus planting event with my daughter at Bantock Park and we had a great time. This initiative raises awareness of polio in developing countries and how, with support from The Rotary Clubs, polio has now been eradicated in India.

Raising awareness of Fairtrade in schools

Why did you decide to apply for funding from the Doing Good Together Fund?

As a Midcounties colleague, I was aware of the Doing Good Together Fund and some of the wonderful things it has helped achieve since it launched. I knew it was a great way to support the 21st year of the Partnership and with Fairtrade being something Midcounties is deeply passionate about, this presented a meaningful way for us to support something that aligns so closely with our values too.

Promoting World Fairtrade Day at our Society AGM

What was the money used for? 

We were delighted to receive a Co-op gift card which we used to purchase refreshments from Albrighton and Codsall stores for the 21st birthday celebrations of the Wolverhampton Fairtrade City Partnership held in March – thank you to the teams at those stores for their support.

We also used the funding to create Fairtrade Easter egg themed hampers for local schoolchildren who attended, showcasing their own Fairtrade posters, poetry and music. We were able to offer samples of the Fairtrade products you can find in our stores, which sparked some great conversations about Midcounties and our commitment to Fairtrade.

Celebrating the 21st Birthday of the Wolverhampton City Fairtrade Partnership

How has it made a difference to the group and the wider community? 

This very special 21-year anniversary celebration gave the community the opportunity to celebrate everything that’s been achieved since we gained Fairtrade city status from the Fairtrade Foundation back in March 2004. We also looked to the future of Fairtrade through the involvement of local young people—the ethical consumers and campaigners of the future. The donation of hampers as school competition prizes was a great way to incentivise children to learn more about Fairtrade and reward those already aware.