Stourbridge is celebrating ten years as a Fairtrade Town thanks to ongoing work by Stourbridge Fairtrade.

The campaign group has worked tirelessly with local shops, schools, community organisations and Dudley Council to gain and retain the status it was first awarded on 27 September 2010.

It recently had its status renewed in July 2020 thanks to a strong submission by the group and is the borough’s first Fairtrade town. The town also has two Fairtrade Schools, St James’s C of E Primary School and Oldswinford C of E Primary and a number of Fairtrade churches.

The group celebrates Fairtrade Fortnight in the town centre every year, whether it’s giving away trolley loads of bananas or hosting a bake-off, the group aims to make the message about Fairtrade accessible and fun. They’ve attended event like Love Stourbridge and the Stourbridge Carnival and continue to find new ways to spread the Fairtrade message.

Their focus for the coming year includes promoting a Fairtrade Christmas, Fairtrade fortnight and the campaign to keep Kitkat Fairtrade.

Many local people, shops, schools, churches and organisations have helped the group to promote Fairtrade locally in many ways, whether it’s stocking Fairtrade Goods, putting up displays about Fairtrade, running competitions or simply promoting the benefits of Fairtrade.

Dudley Council is a Fairtrade Council supporting Fairtrade within the authority and promoting events run by the borough’s two Fairtrade towns, Stourbridge and Sedgley during Fairtrade Fortnight. The council hosted a pop-up exhibition in the council house during this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight. Virginia Williams from Stourbridge Fairtrade, said:

"We at the Stourbridge Fairtrade Town Group want to thank everyone who, over the last 10 years helped us to achieve and maintain our Fairtrade Town status. Your buying Fairtrade really makes a difference to farmers in the developing world.

"Fairtrade Farmers get a better price for their products and use the extra money from the Fairtrade Premium to benefit their communities. During the pandemic in Ecuador, banana farmers have given their bananas free to vulnerable communities and used their Fairtrade Premium to buy essential medical equipment. We thank you all so much on behalf of these farmers."

Councillor David Vickers, deputy leader of Dudley Council added: "My congratulations to Stourbridge Fairtrade for their continuing hard work and dedication to championing Fairtrade.

"Ten years as a Fairtrade Town is really impressive as the group has to show how they are continuing to spread and grow the Fairtrade message each year and I commend them for their continuing hard."

Fairtrade brings Fair Prices and the important Fairtrade Premium to growers in the developing world. To find out more about the Stourbridge Fairtrade group and their latest campaign to help keep Kit Kat Fairtrade, visit facebook.com/stourbridgefairtrade.