1. Group meeting the Mayor of High Wycombe, Councillor Majid Hussain

Members of the Wycombe For Fairtrade Steering Group will be meeting the new Mayor of High Wycombe, Majid Hussain, for the first time on Wednesday 13^th August 2025 in Django’s Coffee House at 10.30 am. We are looking forward to a constructive dialogue, exploring existing and new collaborative projects to spread the fair trade message to the diverse population of High Wycombe.

2. International Fair Trade Towns Conference: Edinburgh 29^th – 31^st August 2025

Two Wycombe For Fairtrade Steering Group members will be attending the International Fair Trade Towns Conference from 29^th to 31^st August in the beautiful city of Edinburgh. Edinburg City Council and the Scottish Government will be funding the conference. The Scottish Fairtrade Forum will be running the 3-day event and have designed an informative, exciting, and challenging agenda. Delegates will be coming from Asia, Africa, Europe, South and Central America to attend the plenary talks and discussion sessions. There appears to be a heavy African presence, which corresponds to the energy and innovation emanating from academics, businesses and activist groups. Last year’s excellent conference was in Drakenstein, near Paarl, in the Stellenbosch Winelands of South Africa. We are looking forward to networking with old friends as well as meeting new contacts.

Mike King

Chairman, Wycombe Fairtrade

The Wycombe group’s steering group will be manning their stall on the Rye from 11.00am onwards. Apart from selling delicious Fairtrade certified tea, coffee, jams, sauces, coffee, and chocolate bars, we will be having a tombola, as well as a children’s board game. There will be both Fairtrade and cuddly toy prizes.

This Fairtrade stall is part of International Fair Trade Weekend.  While the Pan Flour Mill Open Day https://www.pannmill.org.uk/visit coincides with the National Mill Weekend.

We will have Fairtrade information leaflets and posters that tell the stories of intrepid small scale producers who are trying to earn a living wage against a background of climate change and  economic uncertainties, while seeking to improve the social fabric of their communities in the Global South.

An MP met Wycombe for Fairtrade volunteers to discuss their efforts to promote Fairtrade.

The group, dedicated to ensuring more of the town’s retailers and catering outlets stock Fairtrade certified products, was visited by Emma Reynolds MP at Django’s Coffee House in High Wycombe.

This group partners with countries such as Kenya and Costa Rica, and Bucks New University, to promote social justice and fairer opportunities for future generations.

Ms Reynolds said “I pay tribute to Fairtrade and the work it has done over 30 years with farmers, workers, suppliers, brands, retailers, government and consumers to help producers improve their living standards, invest in their communities and businesses, and protect the environment.”

“I was particularly interested to hear about the video Wycombe for Fairtrade and Buck New Uni film students are producing to raise the profile of Fairtrade in our town.”

Wycombe for Fairtrade honorary president, Professor Fred Yamoah, said “Wycombe for Fairtrade aims to convince local people of the importance of Fairtrade in improving people’s lives.”

Wycombe 4 Fairtrade is one of 30 local environmental organizations taking part in the Wycombe Celebrates event on Sunday 8th September. Our stall will be on Church Street and our neighbours will be Greener Future and Wycombe Bee Keepers Association

Take away details will be available on the purpose of Wycombe For Fairtrade and its contact details. More supporters and new Steering Group members always welcome..

Photos of the event will be added later

It was a good event which was helped by the weather.  Lesley had devised a jigsaw game for children which proved popular and drew people to the stall. We sold £106.95 worth of fairly traded products which was a reasonable amount. There were some good conversations as well,

Wycombe For Fairtrade Steering Group members have worked with the High Wycombe Mayoral Office over the past 8 years in providing Fairtrade teas, coffee, and drinking chocolate, and other refreshments at the annual Mayor’s Festival of Carols held at All Saint’s Parish Church on the second Sunday in December. Around 120 to 140 people attended this gala of carols.

It is a good opportunity to raise the profile of Fairtrade generally as well as Wycombe For Fairtrade in particular at this Festival of Carols, which raises money for two of the Mayor of High Wycombe’s charities. It is also a welcome chance to interact directly with the local community, as well as providing a “well-oiled and precision” service to the local population. Free refreshments are provided before and after the Festival of Carols service and the public are free to make a donation to Wycombe For Fairtrade if desired.

Mike King
Chairman, Wycombe For Fairtrade
10^th January 2024