Step 1. Spreading the word
- Holding a successful Fairtrade stall
- Sweet Injustice: The chocolate game
- Winning them over: Frequently Asked Questions
- From football to fashion shows: More ideas for Fairtrade events
Step 2. Get Fairtrade products stocked in your school or university
Step 3. Becoming a Fairtrade school or university
Read a case-study examining how Oxford Brookes - the world’s first Fairtrade University - met the 5 goals
1. Set up a Fairtrade University Steering Group
The Steering Group will meet at least once a term to consider progress on the five goals and decide how to continue to improve in each area.
- The group should include representatives from: the residential/catering organisation; the university authority; the SU executive; an appropriate SU society (such as a P&P group!); each associated institution
In order for Fairtrade status to be awarded the steering group must send a full report to the Fairtrade Foundation, explaining how each goal has been achieved. In order for the status to be retained they must send a short progress report at the end of every academic year.
2. Write & adopt a Fairtrade policy
The Student Union and the university authorities must both create a Fairtrade policy incorporating these five goals. A member of the Union executive and a representative of the university would each take primary responsibility for implementing this policy, and agree to sit on the Fairtrade Steering Group. This could be written into their job description.
3. Commit to selling Fairtrade in all outlets
To achieve this:
- Fairtrade products must be available in all campus shops
- Fairtrade foods must be used in all cafes/bar restaurants on campus. Where this is not possible there must be a commitment to begin using Fairtrade foods in these establishments as soon as it is possible to do so. (Foods to be sold would be those currently for sale in non-Fairtrade forms that are available in Fairtrade forms e.g. a shop selling coffee must add a Fairtrade brand to their stock, or replace it with Fairtrade)
4. Commit to using Fairtrade at internal meetings and events
Fairtrade foods (for example, coffee and tea) must be served at all meetings hosted by the university and the SU, and in all university and SU management offices.
5. Commit to campaigning for increased Fairtrade consumption on campus.
At least three methods must be in operation at any one time.
- Promotion of Fairtrade in the student press, and on the university’s website. Promotion of Fairtrade could also take place in other appropriate publications, such as university prospectuses. In particular, Fairtrade Fortnight and major developments should be publicised.
- Fairtrade materials displayed on noticeboards. Materials should also be displayed where Fairtrade foods are sold.
- Events during Fairtrade Fortnight. The steering group in collaboration with other appropriate bodies would be responsible for organising this.
- The Steering Group could propose other means.
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