Fairtrade in Dumfries and Galloway Issue 2 Summer 2018 We are a Fairtrade Zone! and G es al ri lo f w m a u y D P r e o Dumfries and Galloway is now n u o d Z Adam Gardner, Communities Campaigns officially a Fairtrade Zone. This to e Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation, said: b ad award was given to the region by e a irtr Fa “We are delighted to welcome Dumfries the Fairtrade Foundation in October and Galloway to the Fairtrade movement 2017 and recognises the work of our which now boasts more than 1,900 communities campaign which started ten years ago. worldwide, taking practical steps to making a To achieve Fairtrade Zone status we had to demonstrate fairer world trade system a reality. Thanks to grass roots support across the region and so Fairtrade campaigners from Castle Douglas, Dumfries, Dunscore, the support of the public and campaigners, an Kirkcudbright and Wigtown, joined Dumfries and increasing number of farmers in developing Galloway Council and Loch Arthur Camphill Community countries are now selling their products on (the region’s Fairtrade Employer Champion) to promote Fairtrade terms, bringing them a stable income, Fairtrade. and the chance to trade their way out of poverty”. Celebration events were held across the region to recognise the achievement. The photos show the award being presented from the Fairtrade Foundation to the Regional Steering Group Chair Colin Smyth MSP and the celebrations at Dumfries Fairtrade Group’s annual Fairer World Fair. Dumfries Castle Douglas the use of the Fairtrade Mark, It has been a busy few months for LOCAL The High School Christmas Fayre Wigtown NATIONAL the implications of Brexit on the the Dumfries Fairtrade Group. on 30th November went like…. UK’s trade with the Global South, well…. a fair! A wonderful array Fairtrade’s place in the Scottish Fairer World Fair ROUND-UP UPDATES of handmade, ethically and locally Government’s International The annual Fairer World Fair, sourced products were on display Development Strategy and Northern organised by Dumfries Fairtrade Scottish Fair Trade and Traidcraft staff brought this fab Ireland’s journey to become a Group, was held on Saturday 4th range of goodies! Forum Fairtrade Nation. November at St George’s Church Hall. Kirkcudbright The Scottish Fair After the conference, the Scottish The highlight of the day was The Kirkcudbright Group has been Trade Forum Fair Trade Forum held their AGM celebrating Dumfries and Galloway’s busy with its many regular activities held their annual and delegates took part in a walk Fairtrade Zone status with a delicious including talks at schools, a biannual Campaigner around Perth, which incorporated cake, created by Annette’s Baking in newsletter, a Coffee Morning for Conference on stops at Fairtrade shops and a Box (recently featured in Channel One World Week, a stand at the 2nd September churches. They also heard what 4’s My Kitchen Rules UK). Country Fair in September and yet in Perth. Rolf pupils from two local schools were Rosemary Buwert, Chair of the another 90kg Rice Challenge! (every Buwert from doing to support Fairtrade. Dumfries Fairtrade Group, said, 90kg of Fairtrade rice that’s sold the Dumfries Fairtrade Group and This year the Scottish Fair Trade “The annual Fairer World Fair is a provides enough funding to pay for Rhona Macgregor from Dumfries Forum is planning to hold their showcase for many of the products ploughs for local co-operatives or Another Beltie and Galloway Council joined Campaigners Conference in a child in a developing country to that are available locally, and we also campaigners from across Scotland Dumfries and Galloway on 8th attend secondary school). joins the herd! love to support local food producers at the event. September 2018. Please look out for and businesses, so it was great to Featuring ‘Wigtown Book details nearer the time - it would be The conference involved have Annette’s Baking in a Box as Town’ on his side and sporting great if you could join us! presentations on changes in part of the day.” Dunscore a fetching mini book made The Fair was a great success and by a local artist, the Name included products and stalls from The combination of Bala Sport our Beltie competition at the Neal’s Yard, Oxfam, Hadeel (from Fairtrade footballs and Queen Wigtown Book Festival in Edinburgh), Traidcraft, Just Trading of the South Goalkeepers Scotland, Senegal, Second Nature and ensured that a ‘Beat The Goalie’ September/October attracted YhoYho as well as a wonderful café! competition at Dunscore Gala lots of interest. The winning proved a winner! Fairtrade Town Status Renewal name, suggested by Mary Mitchell from Stranraer, was Bertie the Beltie. Pictured are Mary Mitchell receiving Fairtrade flowers, Fairtrade the prize of a Fairtrade wine, Fairtrade gold and Hamper from Councillor other products were on Katie Hagmann, Vice Chair of display at the Friars Carse Wigtown Area Committee, Wedding Fayre in January Sandra McDowall, Chair of as those who attended were Scottish Parliament Cross Party Wigtown Festival Company Evidence to renew Dumfries Town’s encouraged to ‘Make Your Group on Fairtrade (who was the judge), Kenny Fairtrade status was submitted to the Wedding Fair’. The AGM of the Cross Party Group the opportunities and challenges Fairtrade Foundation in October and Barr, Fundraising Officer and on Fairtrade took place on 1st for fair trading during Brexit and we received our renewal certificate Mary’s friend Mairi McRobert. November and Colin Smyth, one of there was a lot of discussion about in early December. This is now our local MSPs, was unanimously where and how MPs, MSPs and local displayed in the Ewart Library. re-elected as the Convener. Gordon campaigners could get involved. Lindhurst MSP is the Vice Convener Updates on public procurement, and Martin Rhodes of The Scottish Sainsbury’s and links with other Fair Trade Forum is the Secretary. groups, including the UK Parliament A presentation from Fairtrade Group, also proved very useful. Foundation Campaign and Policy expert Helen Dennis highlighted Castle Douglas Dumfries Fairtrade A bag of Fairtrade goodies was the This year, Fairtrade Fortnight prize for a ‘Fair-ly Easy Fairtrade continued into May - the bad FORTNIGHT 2018 Quiz’ which was run in Castle weather in March had meant the Douglas during Fairtrade Fortnight. postponement of the Dumfries Fairtrade Group’s Tasting Evening. Fairtrade Fortnight But everyone was a winner at Instead of snow and ice, our Threave Gardens Tea Room on ran from Monday rescheduled event in May was on a Sunday 18th March which hosted lovely sunny evening which brought 26th February until free tastings of Fairtrade chocolate, more than 60 people to The Stove wine and biscuits! Sunday 11th March to try different Fairtrade teas, and this year’s coffees, chocolates, wines and even cosmetics, along with local cheeses theme was ‘Come and oatcakes accompanied by on in to Fairtrade’. It Eswatini chutneys from Swaziland. was promoted and Dumfries Fairtrade Group really enjoyed the opportunity to work celebrated right across with Fair Squared Cosmetics, Oxfam the region by local Dumfries and The Stove to create this event, which reached a wide Fairtrade Groups, range of people, and to showcase a Dumfries and Galloway diverse range of products with the Fairtrade Mark. Council, voluntary organisations, Moffat businesses and faith And here’s ‘Toffee’, the toffee coloured Beltie from the home groups. of Moffat Toffee! The name was picked through a competition amongst pupils from Moffat Primary School Poster Alison Wright, on behalf of the The children worked hard to School as part of their Fairtrade Dumfries Fairtrade Group, said demonstrate what Fairtrade meant Competition Day on 15th March which involved “Children in Dumfries and Galloway to them and the understanding of baking, games, singing and drama! To celebrate Dumfries and Galloway are passionate about Fairtrade. the importance of being a Fairtrade When the Moffat Toffee shop heard becoming a Fairtrade Zone, the We were delighted to see great supporter shone through.” about the Beltie’s name they kindly Dumfries Fairtrade Group invited entries from across the region from made a special batch of Fairtrade primary school pupils across the near Annan to Stranraer”. One of Moffat Toffee for the pupils! region to design a poster on the the judges, Julie Hollis, added “As theme “Dumfries and Galloway a judges we were impressed by the Wigtown Fairtrade Zone” linking local and standard and variety of entries! Members of two book Fairtrade themes. The winning groups and other avid posters were then displayed in the readers met in Wigtown Ewart Library in Dumfries during The judges at work Customer Service Centre Fairtrade Fortnight. The winners for ‘A Bite, A Book & A came from Noblehill, Dunscore, Blether’ on Tuesday 27th Amisfield, Park and Carrutherstown February. Using Fairtrade Primary Schools. The entries were ingredients, soup, judged by Council Leader Elaine sandwiches, cake, tea Murray; Councillor Jeff Leaver, Chair and coffee were provided of Children, Young People and for those who attended. Lifelong Learning Committee; Julie As we can see from the Hollis, Cloud 9 studio; and Rosemary smiles in the picture, an Buwert, Dumfries Fairtrade Group. enjoyable time was had by all! The winning entries 4 5 Dunscore Kirkcudbright Dunscore was highlighted Fairtrade Fortnight goes town-wide in Kirkcudbright nationally when they were They say every picture speaks a featured as the Fairtrade thousand words, and here’s proof that Fairtrade Fortnight 2018 was Foundation’s ‘Community the hot topic on everyone’s lips of the Day’ during Fairtrade in Kirkcudbright this year. The annual event was well supported Fortnight! Find out what the by businesses, churches (of every community did to celebrate denomination) and residents alike Fairtrade Fortnight below.