SUPPORT BY FAITH GROUPS TO ACHIEVE FAIRTRADE TOWN STATUS FOR HIGH WYCOMBE

The three goals for a church or faith group to become certified by the Fairtrade Foundation are:

• Use Fairtrade tea and coffee at services and in all meetings for which they have a responsibility.
• Use other Fairtrade products such as sugar, biscuits and fruit whenever possible.
• Promote Fairtrade during the year through events, worship and other activities.

Churches Together in High Wycombe

All 7 churches that are members of Churches Together within High Wycombe town are certified and promote the purchase of Fairtrade goods and knowledge of the principles of Fairtrade amongst their membership. For example, in February 2012 the WesleyMethodistChurch hosted an evening when a banana farmer from St. Vincent’s spoke about the benefits to the Island’s economy of their banana growers being Fairtrade.

Churches in the High Wycombe area

37 Churches with a High Wycombe address and within the immediate area are certified Fairtrade, including Tylers Green, Flackwell Heath, Bourne End, Loudwater, Marlow, Princes Risborough, Monks Risborough and Stokenchurch.

All these Churches have contributed significantly to the petition to the District Council.

Faith Leaders Forum and Wycombe Sharing of Faiths

The main faith communities embraced by the Forum and the Sharing of Faiths group are Christian and Muslim but they also have contact with Hindus, Sikhs and Baha’is.  These groups support the use of Fairtrade goods at their meetings and promote them in their communities, as does the South Bucks Jewish Community.