Local History

Several of the UK's best known fair trade organisations have their roots in Newcastle. In 1974 the first shipment of Jute Handicrafts was brought back from Bangladesh by fair trade pioneer Richard Adams, and distributed by mail order from a basement in the city. This enterprising beginning became Tearcraft which established offices in the appropriately named India House, Carliol Square. In 1979 the trading operation separated itself from TEARFund and became the company Traidcraft, now a successful plc with sales of more than £10million per year. Traidcraft moved its main operations to larger premises on the Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead in 1985, but Traidcraft goods are still sold in Newcastle through the One World Shop in St Thomas the Martyr Church, Haymarket.

Fairtrade City

The Fairtrade Towns initiative was set up by the Fairtrade Foundation to act as a means by which local communities could demonstrate their commitment to Fairtrade in a high profile way. The world's first Fairtrade Town, Garstang in Lancashire, was declared in 1999, and the number of Fairtrade Towns and Cities has grown steadily since. To become a Fairtrade City, Newcastle City Council was required to agree to several actions, these being:

• to pass a resolution supporting fair trade and agree to serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in its offices and canteens
• to commit itself to promoting awareness of Fairtrade to its constituency on a regular basis through its free publication and other outlets
• to allocate staff responsibility for Fairtrade to ensure continued commitment to its Fairtrade status
• to erect street signs declaring Newcastle as a Fairtrade City
• (within its legal powers) to work energetically to explore the scope for procuring Fairtrade products

Other goals for the city as a whole include:

• ensuring a range of Fairtrade products are readily available in the city's shops, cafes and catering establishments
• producing a local Fairtrade directory advising people about where they can buy or find Fairtrade products, both on paper and on-line
• encouraging local businesses and organisations to use Fairtrade products and display stickers, posters or a certificate to demonstrate their commitment
• attracting media coverage and popular support for the campaign through participating in Fairtrade Fortnight and a wider programme of events and campaigns
• convening a local Fairtrade steering group to ensure ongoing commitment to its Fairtrade City status, with responsibility for monitoring compliance with the "five goals"
• holding special events in Fairtrade Fortnight and for young people

How Newcastle secured Fairtrade City status

The first step in Newcastle’s quest to gain "Fairtrade City" status, and one of the Fairtrade Foundation’s five key goals for doing so, was to secure the full backing of the City Council. A resolution supporting fair trade and the objective of achieving Fairtrade City status was passed in April 2002. John Marshall, the incoming Lord Mayor that year, was a key motivator and figurehead.

A formal Fairtrade steering group was set up. Local councillors, campaigners and business representatives were invited to join this group and the assistance of the Council’s Local Agenda 21 Team was enlisted. Those present committed themselves to the target of achieving "Fairtrade City" in time for Fairtrade Fortnight in March 2003. One major incentive to do this was the hosting by Newcastle of the June 2003 conference of the International Federation of Alternative Trade (IFAT).

The working group’s initial task was to raise public awareness and generate popular support for the campaign. Businesses were provided with a range of literature on Fairtrade and asked to consider getting involved in the run up to Fairtrade Fortnight. A request for information was also made to businesses stocking or using Fairtrade products to submit details to help the LA21 Team build up a directory of Fairtrade outlets and supporters in the city. The Fairtrade suppliers directory was made available through the website and subsequently published in Citylife within an annual feature on sustainable shopping.

Newcastle was awarded Fairtrade City status on 28 February 2003.

For further information please contact Stella Carmichael.
Phone : 0191 211 6117