Fairtrade Foundation UK – New method of Fairtrade Group Renewal 2023
The Fairtrade Foundation decided, after extensive consultation with campaigners from all parts of the UK fair trade movement, that there was overwhelming support for a refreshed approach to campaigning for fairer trade in 2023.
There was a two-year Fairtrade Foundation automatic extension to all UK groups during the Covid-19 pandemic period from 2020 to 2022, plus a further one-year extension to become familiar with the new platform. This meant moving away from a manual paper recording system, which was both time-consuming and cumbersome, to a quicker and simpler Community Space online portal to apply to renew our Fairtrade Community status. Wycombe For Fairtrade began the online application to become a Fairtrade Community in August 2023, completing and finally submitting the online document in early September 2023.
The new system certainly simplified the application process, with a strict word limit meaning, one had to be quite succinct and precise when describing notable events, activities, collaborations, project outcomes, and presentations engaged in by the Wycombe For Fairtrade Steering Group over the previous 3 years.
The Group liked the way that the “Take Action” options were classified into 5 types of campaigning action, for which, on production of suitable evidence, appropriate “Badges” could be awarded for, e.g. Fairtrade Changemakers or Fairtrade Ambassadors. A “Fair Trade Community” is a town, city, zone, village, or any other geographical area with Fairtrade status, with an option to select the most appropriate area type within the online application.
The online renewal was successful with the Fairtrade Community Renewal Certificate being issued on 7th September 2023 being valid for three years.
Michael King
Chairman, Wycombe For Fairtrade
30th September 2023.