The Christmas Tree Festival for local organizations at All Saint’s Parish Church, High Wycombe began on Thursday 18th of December and runs each day until Tuesday 23rd December 2026
Full details can be found at https://www.allsaintshighwycombe.org/treefestival.html
Wycombe Fairtrade sponsored a tree which we decorated with a mixture of hand-made decorations and those purchased from WFTO World Shops from Palestine, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Here are some images of our decorating team.
Christ the Servant King Church, Sycamore Road
Tues 4th November – Christ the Servant King church at
7.30pm
This was Wycombe For Fairtrade’s first visit to Marlow as part of our wider outreach plans. We sold a range of Fairtrade certified products as well as Christmas cards while encouraging people to sign a partition about prompting large UK Tea companies to sell more Fairtrade certified tea to benefit small-scale producers in the Global South.
The most popular products were the Traidcraft Christmas cards and the tropical fruit jams. Sales at this event totaled over £160.00. The Treasurer managed to successfully utilize our new SumUp card reader to record card transactions.
Sheena, Lesley, and Mike spent an interesting afternoon at Sunnybank church, setting up a Fairtrade product stall and displaying Fairtrade information and posters, both before and after their scheduled film show in the afternoon.
Fairtrade Christmas cards were a popular choice in what was a well-supported event. We enjoyed the very emotional and excellent film version of “Les Misérables”. We raised £125.55 at this event in a very welcoming atmosphere.
2025’s Fairtrade Fortnight will be taking place 22 September – 05 October. Over these fourteen days, we’ll be celebrating the difference we can all make as part of a UK-wide movement calling for a fairer system behind the things we consume every day.
Fairtrade Foundation is asking the UK government to Brew it Fair. The people growing and picking our tea deserve to be able to plan for their futures, and to protect themselves from the impacts of climate change. Take action by signing the petition.
If you’ve decide that it’s time to get involved, you could run a ‘tea party’ as suggested by the Faritrade Foundation – they have provided resources to help – tea quiz and fact sheet, stories from the people behind our tea and a 24 slide presentation ‘Brew it Fair Campaigner Launch Toolkit 2025’.
Christ The Servant King Church Sunday 26th March 2023. Fairtrade themed services.
Two Fairtrade themed services, one traditional and contemplative, the second more family oriented, were led by Reverend Chris Owen.
The traditional communion service contained two bible readings in the first service, three hymns, intercessions and prayers by Heather Serle, the licensed Lay Minister for Missions, Holy communion, and a talk by Margaret Dyke BEM, a Traidcraft Representative with over 25 years’ experience. The prayers and bible readings contained many references to the call to help and assist people, especially those who are marginalized and lack opportunities. Many of the parables Jesus told had social justice as the bedrock.
The second service was more modern and family-oriented in scope, the Reverend Chris Owen again leading the worship, and making many links with Fairtrade and social justice. Heather Serle led the prayers and choruses, supported by the choir.
Margaret Dykes than gave a different talk about the recent news of Traidcraft going into administration, but the work of the Transform Trade charity goes on as does the wider Fair Trade movement.
Mike King, Chairman of Wycombe For Fairtrade, then gave a 15-minute presentation, reminding the congregation of the purpose of Fairtrade and the reasons why supporting fair trade is essential, allowing producers, workers, and artisans access to world markets, receiving a guaranteed minimum price for their products, and the Fairtrade Premium, paid to local communities to invest in their businesses, infrastructure projects, or improving health care or schooling.
Mike King then used a 15-slide Powerpoint presentation to relate the journey of a Fairtrade coffee bean from the coffee bush to the time it arrives in a Fairtrade coffee bag in the supermarket. The audience were thoroughly engaged.
Afterward Mike and Sheena King helped Margaret and Bill Dykes run a Fairtrade stall in the church foyer. This also included taking orders for Meaningful Chocolate Easter Eggs. This stall was well supported by the congregation making just over £500.00 in sales and orders.
Mike King
Chairman, Wycombe for Fairtrade
By now you may have heard the news: Traidcraft, the fair trade pioneer and our close partner for many years, is going into administration.
Those are painful words to write, but I wanted to pass on the news personally and share some reflections at this difficult time.
Many of you will have supported Traidcraft for years and do not need me to tell you that today marks a huge loss. After an exceptionally difficult few years, one of the founders of the trade justice movement is closing its doors.
Since 1979 Traidcraft has reimagined the relationships between producers and consumers, putting justice at the heart of trade. It’s no exaggeration to say that the fair trade movement as we know it would not exist without Traidcraft.
But what now?
When we changed our name to Transform Trade, Richard Adams, the founder of Traidcraft said…
“Transform Trade have picked up the baton with their new strategy and name… the work is not done yet.”
We didn’t realise at the time just how relevant those words would be, only a few months down the line. Together, we must pick up the baton.
The good work that Traidcraft has done over the years will not disappear. Instead it must be built upon.
Our mission it to transform trade so that everybody benefits. As we continue this work, our focus right now is on two things.
1. Supporting producers
Over the years, Traidcraft did incredible work with smaller producer groups – helping them find a route to market where no one else could. We’re working on plans to expand our work supporting small groups of artisans and farmers, like those Traidcraft was originally set up to help, in order to fill the gap they leave behind.
2. The system
Trading ethically within a system that is unjust is always going to be difficult – especially during a cost of living crisis. From the start, the odds were stacked against Traidcraft. Our campaigning and advocacy work aims to level the playing field by demanding change to the entire trading system. We’ve shown in the past that it can be done, but we must press on with renewed energy.
I firmly believe that there is hope for the trade justice movement.
The good work that Traidcraft pioneered cannot and will not be undone. We are committed to transforming trade – and I am so grateful that you stand with us.
Fairtrade Wales and Fairtrade Africa take a look behind the scenes at Fairtrade storytelling and its progression over the years. This online event also discusses the ethics of promotion in the Fair Trade movement, with exciting speakers!
Fairtrade Fortnight 2023 is from Monday 27th February to Sunday 12th March.
Read more about this event and register to watch it without charge at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fairtrade-storytelling-behind-the-scenes-tickets-486899689077.
The event is live from 1pm on Wednesday 25th January. If you can’t attend it live, register anyway to watch the recording.
Check out these events to hear from the Fairtrade farmers and representatives speaking live at COP27. If you haven’t already, please sign your local Community Declaration in support of their global campaign for climate justice.
Time and date: 1PM UK time, Friday 11 November
How to join: Watch here on Youtube.
Time and date: 2.45 PM UK time, Friday 11 November
How to join: Watch here on Youtube.
Time and date: 1PM UK time, Monday 14 November
How to join: Watch here on Youtube.
