News & Events

A daytime event in Victoria Square, Birmingham, on Thursday 6th March, will enable passers by and shoppers to sample for free some of the delicious fair trade food products now available in shops around the city. There will also be live music, games, fair trade market stalls and a fair trade bus. Alastair Gibbons, Chair of Fairtrade Association of Birmingham, says: "Across Birmingham there is a huge variety of fair-trade products available in shops and cafes but many people have yet to try them - we urge people to come to Victoria Square on 6th March to see what's on offer and to find out how fair-trade makes a difference." This event is one of a series of thrilling nation-wide events organised by the Fairtrade Foundation. During Fairtrade fortnight the fairtrade bus will travel across the country, stopping in 8 cities including London, Cardiff and Glasgow to raise awareness of fair trade. For more details about this exciting event, please phone Lorraine Cookson on 0121 303 5449.
The University College of Birmingham (formerly the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies) is running an exciting Fairtrade recipe competition. The recipes will feature a Fairtrade product as the main ingredient or flavouring, or as many Fairtrade products as possible. Once all the entries have been submitted, they will be judged by the executive chef of the Radisson hotel with the best entries being made up for tasting at the Victoria Square event on Thursday 6th March. Two of the people tasting the winning recipe will be the Birmingham Mail's food critic and a banana producer from the Winward Islands. Some of the most delicious entries will be published in the next issue of the FAB newsletter for you to try out at home! Staff at the University will also be baking a Fairtrade themed cake for the Victoria Square event with ingredients kindly donated by the Co-op. If you'd like to get involved in fairtrade recipe competitions or to learn more about the wide range of fair trade products available, check out : www.myspace.com/fairtradewoman
Fairtrade Tea Time At the Warehouse Cafe in the City Centre ther'll be a Faitrade Tea Time every weekday in Faitrade Fortnight (daily until 7th March) Drop in (54-57 Allison Street, B5 5TH), or contact them on 0121 633 0261 or info@thewarehousecafe.com
Tuesday 26th February 2008 Birmingham Central Library & Library Theatre Fair Trade and Liberty is the last event of a programme of over 150 workshops and events citywide, managed by Birmingham Library services as part of 'a shared history a shared future'. Chad Vale Primary School will work with artists to produce a song to highlight the links between Fair Trade and slavery. There will also be an exhibition in the Central Library throughout Fair Trade fortnight, to mark the launch of 'The Liberty Box'. The Liberty Box is an archived collection of resources presenting a range of campaigns, projects, displays, events and performances in Birmingham marking 200 years since the abolition of slave trading in the British Empire. Unfortunately since that time there are more slaves now than ever, in the UK and abroad. Fair Trade prevents slavery by providing a reasonable income for producers across the world, and by supporting families and communities that might otherwise be vulnerable to human trafficking and slavery. Marcus Belben from Birmingham Central Library has been co-ordinating the project he said "Events are attended by a range of Schools and Community Centre users, including the African Caribbean Group, Kings Heath Primary School Play scheme and many other local groups. This year the centre continues to promote Fair Trade through its 'Fair Trade' Stay and Play Group, and Fair Trade promotion and activities throughout the fortnight.
27th February, 12.00pm - 2.00pm Aston University Guild Hall A fun and informal event to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. Enjoy Fairtrade tea, coffee, biscuits and chocolate treats! Browse a variety of stalls selling Fairtrade goods, find out a little bit more about Fairtrade and enter our free prize draw!
If you are likely to be in London on 24th February why not go to this?	Larger image not available.
The University of Birmingham, which is a fair trade university, is hosting various events throughout the fortnight, including a fair-trade wine tasting evening, a band night, a themed evening and celebrations linked to the opening of a new fair trade shop at the university
Traidcraft Open House You are invited to join us for a Traidcraft Open House on Thursday 6th March 2.00pm to 7.00pm at Bradnock Close. There will be an opportunity to sample some products, find out about Fairtrade wine, browse the new catologue, watch a short film about Fairtrade in Chile, or simple enjoy a drink and a chat. Contact Gill Parkin 0121 604 6127

FAB News for Birmingham. The Radisson Hotel, Holloway Circus Queensway, has a Fairtrade drinks pack in all its 211 rooms.

	The six year old winner of the T competition proudly shows off his design accompanied by Neena Gill MEP
Schools also received prizes and a plaque

Also at the Edwardian Tea Rooms

Richard Burden MP and Joan Davies from Carrs Lane Traidcraft

FAB 2005 logo

The winners of the competition to design a logo for FAB are Aarti Sehdev and Lizzie Farrow of King Edwards VI High School for Girls. They say:
The face means the sign is about people. The arrows show that what people in the third world countries put in they should get back. They can do this with the Fairtrade Association in Birmingham.