Venue

Christ the Servant King Church, Sycamore Road

Topics discussed

Up-coming events

• Stall at the Ark Café in Marlow Methodist church on 4^th Oct
• Stall at Sunnybank Methodist church in Downley on Oct 8th
• Fairtrade stall on Oct 19^th and Fairtrade quiz on Oct 22^nd, both at Christ the Servant King church
• 2 group members visiting Kelkheim in Germany as part of the Wycombe/Kelkheim Town Twinning 40^th anniversary celebrations – hope to further the Fairtrade link between the towns
• Taking part in a video at Hazlemere Co-op on Nov 19^th – group members to talk about how the £50 donation from Midcounties Co-op was used
• Group member will talk about Fairtrade at the Creation Care meeting at All Saints church on Oct 20^th
• Serving refreshments at the Mayor’s Carol Concert on Dec 7^th

International Fair Trade Towns conference (Edinburgh 29^th Aug – 1^st Sept)

• Very well organised – speakers and social events were very good
• There is a lot of Fairtrade support in the Scottish government
• Delegates challenged to bring a young person to next year’s conference in Belgium

AOB

• To approach the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fairtrade
• To select 3 of the main 5 themes from the Edinburgh conference for the group to focus on next year

Next meeting

Tues 4^th November – Christ the Servant King church at

                           7.30pm

Venue

Christ the Servant King Church, Sycamore Road

Topics discussed:

Treasurers’s report

• Investigating the possible purchase of a portable payment device for use on stalls etc. Can either be linked to a mobile phone or a separate device with its own SIM
• Lighthouse holiday club at Cressex will now be using Fairtrade tea and coffee options for refreshments and hope to continue this in future

Online

• Up-coming events and our updated Wycombe Fairtrade directory have been added to the website. Posts have also been put on our Facebook page
• Discussion re: the functioning of the Comments Box on our website

Fairtrade Fortnight: 22^nd Sept – 5^th Oct

• Midcounties Co-op have asked the group to take part in a video about how the £50 grant from them was used. Dates for this were discussed
• Possible stall at the Ark café, Marlow Methodist Church on 4^th October
• Also a stall at Sunnybank Methodist Church in Downley on 8^th October
• BidCo have offered the opportunity to have a stall under the Pepperpot building in Wycombe
• Trinity URC will be asking the preacher to concentrate on Fairtrade at their service on 28^th September
• The Fairtrade Foundation website has information regarding their focus on tea for this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight

Bucks New Uni

• Meeting has been held with member of staff and discussion took place re: the Brunel Engine shed development. There are plans to have a permanent information centre there

AOB

• Fairtrade ‘Karma’ drinks now available at Sainsbury’s
• The group will be providing Fairtrade refreshments at the Mayor’s Carol Concert on 7^th December

Next meeting

Tuesday 23^rd September at Christ the Servant King Church

                                                                                                                 at 7.30pm

Venue

Christ the Servant King Church, Sycamore Road

Topics discussed

Treasurers’s report

• Discussion re: obtaining a Sum-up machine for future stalls etc

Pann Mill

• Stall held on 11^th May was a great success. Tombola (eco-friendly and Fairtrade prizes) went well. A donation was obtained which helped to pay for the prizes. Fairly traded goods were also on sale – supplied by local contact (previous Traidcraft agent).
• Will not apply for a stall for the July Pann Mill Open Day but may do so for the September one.

Bucks New Uni

• Possibility of liaising with next group of 2^nd year students to produce another video for our group
• Topic discussed for the video. Perhaps the Guernsey Fairtrade project or the BNU/Strathmore Uni link.
• Group member will be attending an academic partnership meeting tomorrow with BNU and Strathmore
• Strathmore are trying to involve other African universities as well

AOB

• Group member attended the inauguration meeting of the ‘Common Good’ consortium on 14^th June and gave a talk on how Fairtrade interacts with the Common Good. Same member also attended a Shared Interest members meeting on 12^th June
• 2 lectures delivered to Year 12 Business Studies students at John Hampden school
• On-going collaboration with BidCo re: High Wycombe map. Outlets supplying Fairtrade goods are now marked on this map. It is planned that the map will be handed out to 1^st year students joining BNU
• Fairtrade directory of retail outlets selling Fairtrade goods plus supportive schools, businesses, churches etc has now been updated – two directories have been compiled, one for central Wycombe and the other for the larger Wycombe area.
• Fairtrade Fortnight this year is from 22^nd Sept to 5^th Oct
• Possible venues for stalls during Fairtrade Fortnight include the Ark café in Marlow, the Trinity United Reformed Church, church(es) on the Methodist circuit or in the Eden Centre/outside Wycombe Library.

Next meeting

Tuesday 12^th August at Christ the Servant King Church

                                                                                                               at 7.30pm

Venue

Christ the Servant King Church, Sycamore Road

Topics discussed

Treasurer’s report

Social Media

• Issue raised of Comment Box on our website and which e-mail address these are being sent to

Bucks Council – Wycombe Area

• Structure of Wycombe Town Committee was discussed and the debate about whether there should be a Wycombe Town Council

Wycombe MP

• The response to the letter written by Emma Reynolds MP to Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP re: obtaining Fairtrade nation status for England was discussed

Pann Mill

• Stall will be held at the Open Day on May 11^th
• Will be running a tombola with eco-friendly and Fairtrade prizes

Guernsey Project

• Guernsey Fairtrade are encountering problems with sourcing the beans they want to use for the William Le Lacheur commemorative coffee project.

Bucks New Uni Business School

• Discussion re: the link with Strathmore Uni in Nairobi and the structure of the BNU Business School

AOB

• Have had contact with Scottish Fairtrade who run the Alternative Coffee Co. They buy coffee direct from Africa and they asked about our experience with this type of arrangement
• Bucks New Uni have asked if we would like to collaborate with next year’s students to produce another promotional video for our group

Next meeting

Date to be arranged

Christ the Servant King Church, Sycamore Road

Topics discussed:

Bucks Council (Wycombe District)

• Discussion re: lack of use of Fairtrade tea/coffee etc at the Council
• Suggested that we should challenge this as Wycombe is a Fairtrade Town

Bucks Council

• We could promote Fairtrade to the candidates standing for election on 1^st May and ask if they would support Bucks becoming a Fairtrade county if they were elected

Contact with Wycombe MP

• Meeting took place with Emma Reynolds on 14/02/25. It was a very constructive meeting and was reported, with photos, in the Bucks Free Press
• Emma will contact the relevant Minister to ask about possibility of England seeking Fairtrade nation status

Schools and Bucks New Uni work

• A link has been established with John Hampden School and a member of the steering group will be delivering 2 lessons to students in May
• The link with BNU is developing. Two lectures have been delivered to students and it is hoped that the Ambassador of Costa Rica will be able to come to BNU during Graduation Fortnight to officially open the CISE department and that Wycombe’s Mayor will also be present
• There are no plans at present to renew the Fairtrade status of BNU

Kelkheim link

• Kelkheim is a Fairtrade Town and they have sourced their own Fairtrade coffee from Brazil and had it roasted locally

Treasurer’s report

Social Media

• Our website has been updated re: the meeting with Emma Reynolds
• The BNU project to produce a promotional video for our group is on-going. Some parts will be re-recorded and interviews with shop owners are being arranged
• Cookie acceptance pop-up is now in place on our website

AOB

• World Fair Trade Day is on 10^th May
• Pann Mill stall booked for 11^th May
• Participated in a webinar by True Origin on 26^th February

Next meeting

Tuesday 6^th May at Christ the Servant King Church at 7.30pm

Christ the Servant King Church, Sycamore Road

Topics discussed:

Treasurer’s report

Social media

• Potential items for our website include a letter from Emma Reynolds (MP for Wycombe) and background on the Honorary President of our group
• Cookie requirement for our website was discussed
• Summary of visitor numbers to our website

Bucks New University

• 2 group members are meeting tomorrow with a lecturer at BNU and 2^nd year Film, TV and Media students re: the production of a promotional video for our group
• BNU will be ensuring that Fairtrade drinks are available in their refectories

Kelkheim link

• There will be a 40^th anniversary celebration in October of the High Wycombe and Kelkheim Twin Towns, hosted by Kelkheim. Two steering group members will be attending and hope to further the Fairtrade link between the towns

Discussions with local MP

• Meeting arranged for 14/02/25
• The All Party Parliamentary Group on Fairtrade doesn’t seem to be operational at the moment
• Need to ask re: the Fairtrade advocacy group in the EU

AOB

• Fairtrade stall at Christ the Servant King church on 16^th March. Also a Fairtrade quiz and stall at the church’s café on March 19^th
• Trying to organise a new contact at the school we have partnered with in Grecia, Costa Rica
• Upcoming Fairtrade coffee morning at Trinity URC church
• World Fair Trade Day is on May 10^th. We could highlight this at the Pann Mill Open Day and run a tombola
• Some new Fairtrade outlets in High Wycombe – Lacey’s Farm shop, General Havelock pub and Le De Spencer’s pub

Next meeting

Tuesday 4^th March at Christ the Servant King Church at 7.30pm

Venue

Christ the Servant King Church, Sycamore Road

Topics discussed:

Treasurer’s report

Social Media/Promotion of our group

• No longer able to access the feed from the Fairtrade Foundation blog
• Need to organise some software updates to our website
• Considering submitting an article to ‘Wycombe Life’ magazine
• It may be possible to advertise our group in the on-line publication ‘Wycombe Pulse’
• We are still a member of the ‘Mycelium Map’ which links groups with environmental concerns

Guernsey Project

• Project is going ahead to produce a coffee using beans from Costa Rica. Aim is to launch it in summer 2025

Bucks New Uni/Strathmore Uni link

• Strathmore is in the process of sending up-to-date information to BNU
• BNU have taken over the Brunel shed near Wycombe station and plan to develop it into a community hub
• A member attended the recent Sustainability Conference at BNU

Schools

• A member is trying to promote Fairtrade at King’s church

AOB

• There will be no Mayor’s Carol Concert this year
• A 15-statement document ‘Sustainability, Trade and Synergy’ has been prepared and sent out for comments. It will form the basis of the next article to be written for the Journal of Fair Trade
• Fairtrade Fortnight in 2025 is from 22^nd Sept to 5^th Oct
• Sam Rushworth MP asked a question on Fairtrade in the House of Commons on 31^st October ‘24
• Have had a communication from BNU re: an opportunity for 2^nd year students in Film, TV & Media to produce a 5-minute video for our group. Us to provide a brief and see if it is accepted

Next meeting

Tuesday 14^th January at Christ the Servant King Church, at 7.30pm

LOCATION

Christ the Servant King Church, Sycamore Road

TOPICS DISCUSSED

Treasurer’s report

Social Media

• Website is up to date. Any articles will be posted on our social media within a few days
• 63 visits to our website in the last month

Wycombe Celebrates event 08/09/24

• Facilities good and good contacts made
• Our A3 info board had been printed by the organisers and was displayed
• Possibly serve food next time to help engage public

Guernsey project

• 2 members attended the unveiling of William Le Lacheur plaque at St Katharine’s dock, London on 15^th September
• Coffee from Coope Victoria has been Q graded and aim is to have it ready for sale between Easter and summer 2025

Bucks New Uni/Strathmore Uni link

• Relationship between Business and Law schools in both universities will be formalised
• Proposed to set up joint on-line lectures, student exchanges etc

Churches

• Recent correspondence with Christian Concern for One World re: their Churches’ Action Guide

AOB

• Plans to produce a poster to take round to our events, based on posters seen at the last International Fair Trade Towns conference
• Fairtrade stall at Christ the Servant King Church on 13^th October and, on 16^th October, there will be a Fairtrade stall and quiz at the church’s community café
• Fairtrade coffee morning at Trinity URC on 25^th September, as part of Fairtrade Fortnight
• One member attended a recent Wycombe Friends of the Earth meeting

Next meeting:   To be arranged

The Avenue Methodist Church, Rutland Avenue

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

Schools/Higher Education

• Has been an on-line meeting with the lecturer for the MBA course at Bucks New Uni
• Two 40-minute sessions have been delivered to students
• Attended meeting of Sustainability Committee at Bucks New Uni
• Contact with Fairtrade Foundation re: arranging a talk to be given at Bucks New Uni by a Fairtrade farmer

Treasurer’s report

Pann Mill stall 12/05/24

• Good weather and good pitch position
• Children’s section very successful and eye-catching
• Contact made with a teacher from a local primary school who teaches about Fairtrade

Social Media

• Discussion re: posting on our Facebook page
• Steering group’s new e-mail address nearly up and running

Wycombe and Grecia/Coope Victoria Partnership

• Fairtrade Guernsey have agreed to work with us on our ‘Galleon’ coffee project
• 2 kilos of beans sent from Coope Victoria to roaster in Guernsey

Barbican Event 04/06/24

• Part of the Fairtrade Foundation’s 30^th anniversary celebrations
• Plan to ask the speakers for their opinion of ‘direct trade’

AOB

• Are progressing the 2^nd article for the Journal of Fair Trade
• Discussion on possible venue for future meetings
• Social event to mark the 10^th anniversary of Wycombe becoming a Fairtrade town
• Stall booked for ‘Wycombe Celebrates’ event on 08/09/24
• Fairtrade Foundation’s website has been revamped

NEXT MEETING

To be arranged

Venue

The Avenue Methodist Church, Rutland Avenue

Topics discussed

Synopsis of events since last AGM and thanks to all current members

Recent events

• Invitation from Fairtrade Foundation to a drinks reception at the Barbican, as a result of the ‘campaigner of the month’ award in January
• Fairtrade quiz at Christ the Servant King church
• Discussions with BidCo re: putting Fairtrade logo onto Wycombe map showing retailers that stock Fairtrade

Schools/Higher Education

• Ongoing talks with Strathmore Uni in Nairobi and Bucks New Uni re: setting up a link and Fairtrade modules within their curricula
• Upcoming presentation to be given to students at Bucks New Uni
• Meeting has taken place with 2 new teachers at Highcrest Academy

Treasurer’s report

Wycombe and Grecia/Coope Victoria Partnership

• Ongoing discussions with Guernsey Fairtrade group re: Galleon coffee project

Social media

• Need to get information out before events, so we can advertise them and ask for volunteers
• New e-mail for the group has now been set up: wycombe4fairtrade@gmail.com

Pann Mill Open Day 12/05/24

• Stall has been booked and we will be selling Fairtrade goods
• Also hope to also have an activity to engage children

AOB

• Fairtrade Foundation are running a forestation event for schools
• Possibly invite a representative from the National Campaigner Committee to one of our meetings

Next meeting

May 21st at The Avenue Church at 8pm