Birmingham’s fairtrade town status – who maintains the title?

• Mar. 13 by Katie Fox (4)

In light of the ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’ coming to an end this week, thoughts turn to Birmingham’s involvement in fairtrade outside of these two weeks.

Birmingham doesn’t tend to boast about it much, but it is a ‘Fairtrade Town’. The status will have been held for five years come November this year; so how has Birmingham maintained the title?

The Fairtrade Town movement was founded by the Fairtrade Foundation, who in turn established a set of five criterion (-PDF) which every area applying for the status must fulfil.

The criteria include cooperation from an array of local schools, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, shops and other retail outlets; involvement of the Council and community organisations as well as relevant and sufficient coverage in the local media.

Fairtrade Association Birmingham

The body governing Birmingham’s fairtrade status, as well as the city Council, is the Fairtrade Association Birmingham (FAB).

Relatively unheard of, and more than relatively unattainable for comment, FAB is a volunteer-run organisation campaigning for fairtrade in Birmingham.

FAB claim on their website:

‘FAB aims to educate the Community in the issues surrounding trade as the first step to transforming Birmingham into a wholly ethical city which can change the world’

‘To do this FAB will engage and challenge businesses and community groups throughout Birmingham to think about and question the ethics of international trade and to call for greater transparency.’

‘At all times we will be bold, transparent, passionate and knowledgeable whilst staying sensitive to the needs of global communities.’

Local Involvement

However some local fairtrade enthusiasts don’t seem to agree that FAB do challenge businesses to stock and use fairly-traded goods. George Howell, owner of Indigo Wholefoods, a Fairtrade shop in Moseley is one such person.

Mr Howell was clear that he didn’t want to undermine FAB’s work, but acknowledged that they are not a large enough organisation with enough resources to approach companies themselves. He maintains that it is Birmingham’s passionate locals who actively involve themselves in campaigning for fairtrade, who allow the City to retain its status.

He believes that it is mainly individuals and independent businesses in Birmingham that are interested in Fairtrade themselves. He said, “The movement comes better from local individuals.”

Moseley seems to be a hub of ‘green’ activity, with a ‘swap shop’, farmers market and ‘Green Christmas Fair’ amongst ecological events which the village has hosted.

Speaking of what other areas of Birmingham could do to be ‘greener’, Mr Howell said:

‘In terms of other areas (of Birmingham), it all depends on the nature of the organisations involved- are they active or not very active at all? Most of the activities here (Moseley), particularly the farmer’s market, have been the product of people being here to arrange it and make it one of the best farmers markets in the country.’

He is optimistic about the future of Fairtrade and believes that more and more people are starting to take notice, saying, “That’s the way things are going now”.

Kate Stafford is the manager of the Shared Earth fairtrade shop located on New St. In the City centre.  She said:

‘The more shops that sell fairly traded goods the better, by promoting Fairtrade, more people would buy and maybe the world that we live in would see the end of poverty and suffering.’

‘Everyone would like a fair wage for the job they do, it helps people to support their families. Everyone has a right to go to school to buy food and clothing, the things we all take so much for granted.’

‘By supporting fairtrade we can help make a difference to people’s lives.’

It seems that it really is the individuals who are enthusiastic and passionate about promoting fairtrade in Birmingham that care for the City’s title. Let’s hope that locals continue to campaign for fairtrade and that Birmingham can keep its ethical status for years to come.