Service celebrates 10 years of Fairtrade Plymouth

The future Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev Nick McKinnel, will be speaking at an anniversary service to mark the city’s commitment to Fairtrade this week. Although he does not officially take up his position until after Easter, he will be visiting Plymouth for this special occasion at St Andrew’s Minster.

The service will celebrate Plymouth’s ten years as a Fairtrade city, although people from across the city have been supporting and buying fairly traded goods for decades. Bishop Nick McKinnell, who is familiar to many in the city as the former long-serving parish priest of St Andrew’s minster, and who knows the city’s commitment to Fairtrade, said: “Fairtrade has been an important part of Plymouth’s economic activity over the last ten years. It is a positive example of how we can make choices when we shop which are more beneficial to growers and producers. Fairtrade is justice in action by providing a fairer return to those who produce our tea, coffee and chocolate, as well as other goods.”

The Lord Mayor of Plymouth and the Roman Catholic Dean will also participate in the service, which begins at St Andrews at 5pm on Thursday 5 March.

Fr John Webb, the RC Dean of Plymouth said: “The growth of Fairtrade in the Plymouth is a truly powerful witness to the power of community in our city. Over the past two decades dedicated Churches, local associations, unions and businesses have steadfastly bought and sold Fairtrade products to ensure that their sisters and brothers around the world who produce our goods are ensured fair prices, decent working conditions and a chance to improve their communities. It is truly an inspiration to know that in our own small way we are transforming the world for the good just by buying Fairtrade sugar, flowers or tasty bananas.”

Fairtrade Plymouth is supported by the City Council, local businesses, the University and churches, together with many other organisations, and was launched in 2004.