Central England Co-op celebrates Fairtrade Fortnight with schoolchildren in the West Midlands

Posted by heather clapton | Published: 01/03/2018


Central England Co-op is educating children in Staffordshire and the West Midlands about Fairtrade. This includes how Fairtrade works and the products that are supplied into UK retailers from associated farmers across the world.  Cubs, Scouts and Beavers will be visited by the Society, who will run events with the children around Fairtrade and shopping for ethical products.

The workshops are designed to introduce the children to the concept of Fairtrade and farmers being given a fair price for their products. The ethical challenge allows the children to visit one of the stores and find the products in an interactive activity, enhancing the learning experience.

As a co-operative, Fairtrade is a critical part of the ethos and principles of the Society, meaning that Fairtrade Fortnight is an important calendar event. Educating children about the importance of Fairtrade ensures the initiative continues over time, and there is an understanding of how the initiative works, and how it affects the lives of the farmers associated with it.

The classes will be run during Fairtrade Fortnight 26 February – 11 March.

James Knight, Member and Community Relations Officer for Central England Co-op in Staffordshire and the West Midlands said: “Fairtrade and ethical practices are hugely important to us as a co-operative, so making sure that we are educating the next generation in these subjects.”

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Notes to editors

Picture reference: James Knight, Member and Community Relations Officer presents Fairtrade to schoolchildren 

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. 

It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, and property investment.

Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2018. 

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.
Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

Rob Smyth / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140

Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop