By Will Davies HENLEY has become a Fairtrade Town — joining over 240 towns across the UK working to guarantee a better deal for Third World producers.
Last year Henley was declined the coveted status by The Fairtrade Foundation, when, coupled with a lack of interest from schools, the town council failed to pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade, citing a need to offer ‘choice’ — in spite of a petition signed by over 500 residents.
But in November the resolution was passed and some schools adopted the scheme, fulfilling the list of five goals the town must achieve.
Proud mayor Terry Buckett said: “It may not seem popular but it is very well supported in the town — and for the right reasons, too.”
The Henley Fairtrade Initiative, set up by Peter Slip and his small band of mainly Quakers and members of Christ Church, have worked to convince councillors, businessmen, community leaders and shop, cafe and restaurant managers to introduce Fairtrade products in the town — and have enjoyed considerable success.
With a population of 10,300 Henley requires four retail outlets and two catering outlets selling two or more Fairtrade products to be awarded the status.
In his report, Fairtrade Towns Co-ordinator for the Fairtrade Foundation, Bruce Crowther, applauds the town’s success in not just meeting the targets set, but far and away exceeding them.
The town now has five shops and eight catering outlets selling Fairtrade products and has established a Fairtrade Directory for Henley.
“It is great that there are so many outlets offering Fairtrade in a relatively small town like Henley,” he said.
“It is great that there are so many outlets offering Fairtrade in a relatively small town like Henley,” he said.
“It is especially good to see smaller independent retailers like the Green Olive and Garnett and Stone offering Fairtrade options.”
The town’s major supermarkets now stock a wide range of products; Waitrose, whose constitution promotes ‘a better form of business’ leads the way, offering 32 Fairtrade goods which include not just tea and coffee, but biscuits and even wine. Henley’s recently enlarged Tesco offers 15 products.
Crowther adds: “It is important that this commitment is translated into products on shelves. We now look forward to seeing more outlets and a wider range of products offered by existing outlets.”Fairtrade changes lives. Many farmers and workers in developing countries struggle to provide for their families. Poor market access and unfair trade rules often mean that the price they get for their crop does not cover the cost of production.
Peter Slip says: “As well as guaranteeing producers a fair and stable price for their products that covers the cost of production, with Fairtrade they also receive a social premium; extra money that has to be spent on community projects.
“In Tanzania, tea pickers have chosen to spend their social premium to set up shop selling affordable food for their families. Now they want to invest in building materials to improve their homes.”
Another string to Henley’s Fairtrade bow has been getting products into the town’s work places and community groups. All but one of Henley’s six churches have subscribed to help lift Third World farmers out of poverty and six work places — including not just Oxfam but Invesco Perpetual — have also thrown their hat into the ring.
One Achilles Heel in putting Henley on the Fairtrade map has been the schools. But staff at Shiplake Junior School are now offered Fairtrade tea and coffee and The Henley College students’ union is fully supplied by Henley’s sole Fairtrade-only cafe, Bloc 2.
In his report, Mr. Crowther praises the steering group’s hard work garnering support within schools, offering an olive branch to other schools in the form of the Fairtrade Schools scheme, launching this month.“There will be a great many resources for teachers and pupils to support them in making Fairtrade a part of their school or college.”
He added: “It is important that the organisations involved continue to promote Fairtrade to others and ensure that the support already gained is developed and deepened still further.”
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