Introduce yourself and your colleagues and say how long that you have worked for Midcounties. Explain that 26th February to the 11th March is Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual promotional campaign that takes place every year. Organised and funded by the Fairtrade Foundation to increase awareness of Fairtrade products. Campaigners, schools, businesses and places of worship show their support for the farmers and workers who grow our food in developing countries.

Co-operative businesses are unique Co-operative businesses are unique. We have been around for many years and you can trace a history of Fair trading all the way back to our 170 year old founding values and principles. Our Co operative business was born from the need to stop exploiting workers and customers therefore we launched a worldwide movement that is now larger than most countries.

We are The Midcounties Co-operative We are The Midcounties Co-operative. As you can see from the slide we have several different trading groups. Read each one . We employ over 9000 colleagues and have over 560,000 members

Our business is driven by our DOES Values Our business is driven by our DOES Values. Read Democracy, Openess, Equality and Social Responsibility. Co-op has been a leading supporter of the launch of Fairtrade in the UK and for 20 years has helped develop the market to become the world’s largest. By supporting Fairtrade we are demonstrating our DOES values.

So what is Fairtrade – Describe the logo, Ask the children if they can see the person waving in the logo. Millions of farmers in developing countries are not paid what they deserve. Many are paid prices too low to provide for their families properly and they get trapped in poverty. Farmers get a better deal if they sell their crops on Fairtrade terms.

Read slide. Farmers get a fairer, better deal if they sign up to a Fairtrade, they grow the products such as tea, coffee, fruit and companies in developed countries pay them a decent price. Just like the first co –operative shop in Rochdale Fairtrade ensures that there are decent working conditions and fair terms.

Before Fairtrade was introduced farmers would take their crops to sell in town and the buyers would close up the shop early making farmers wait for days until they were tired and desperate resulting in them selling their crops for less

But now with the introduction of Fairtrade they have a better quality of life. Farmers can invest money into education, transport, water and medical supplies

The Co-operatives Fairtrade story is packed with market leading innovation and leadership which has helped prove the commercial viability of Fairtrade to the industry and to drive customer demand and engagement. Read Slide

Read Slide

So here are some of the lines which do you think is the most popular So here are some of the lines which do you think is the most popular? Ask the students to

Count down from 12 - 1

So as it is Fairtrade Fortnight and after what you have learnt today…what will you do differently? Ask your yourself how you can promote and raise awareness of Fairtrade to others