Divine Chocolate supports Bury Fairtrade

Bury Fairtrade received a prestigious boost when the upmarket Fairtrade brand Divine Chocolate offered to help the group’s awareness raising campaign during Fairtrade Fortnight (29 Feb to 13 Mar).

Divine said the group’s plans “really stood out” and they will be donating chocolate and information about the ethics of chocolate. The group will be offering free samples of Divine and Co-operative chocolate at the Mill Gate Centre on Saturday 5 March.

Bury Fairtrade will also have a stall at this year’s Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival, which runs on 19 and 20 March: http://www.visitramsbottom.org/chocolatefestival.html

Bernard Emblem, chair of Bury Fairtrade, said: “This is a massive vote of confidence in the work we are doing to help Bury maintain its status as a Fairtrade Town. Buying Fairtrade goods is a great way for shoppers to help farmers and their families gain some security. Despite millions of farmers and workers in developing countries working hard every day to grow the food we eat every day, many don’t earn enough to know where their next meal is coming from. And half of the world’s hungry people, nearly 400 million, live on small farms. We invite anyone willing to help us raise the profile of Fairtrade to get in touch.’’

This Fairtrade Fortnight, Bury will join forces with the rest of the country by holding events throughout the fortnight in support of the campaign to highlight the severe lack of food security faced by farmers around the world.

Faith groups will be holding coffee mornings and sales of Fairtrade goods: details http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/en/get-involved/in-your-community/faith-groups

Schools and colleges will be focusing on Fairtrade at assemblies and in lessons, some using new materials being produced by the Fairtrade Foundation: http://schools.fairtrade.org.uk/fairtrade-schools

Staff at Fairfield Hospital (Bury’s Fairtrade Flagship Employer) will be treated to free Fairtrade tea and coffee, while patients and staff will be able to view a special exhibition in the cafeteria.

Meanwhile, Bury Council display screens will be publicising the council’s support for Bury as one of the UK’s Fairtrade towns. There will be displays at Bury Town Hall, in all local libraries, Oxfam, the Tourist Information Centre and the Mosses Centre,

To find out more and get involved see @buryfairtrade on Facebook and Twitter.

ENDS

Press release issued: 23 February 2016.