Traidcraft celebrate 40th anniversary

Marion Hill - Traidcraft ecraft volunteer

Traidcraft celebrate their 40 anniversary this week. Set up as a faith organisation in August 1979. It was launched in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne by Richard Adams with six members of staff. Its first catalogue was hand-drawn featuring a small selection of jute products from Bangladesh. Within two years tea, coffee and subsequently a wide range of other foods were introduced.

Today Traidcraft sells fair trade food, clothes/accessories, paper and crafts and works with more than 100 producers in over 30 countries around the world including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, Kenya, Malawi, Chile and Cuba. Products include coffee, tea, fruit juice, sugar, wine, clothing, jewellery, paper and craft items. Among their food products is Fairtrade chocolate, dried fruit, honey, pasta, rice and muesli.

Traidcraft is a founder member of the European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) and also helped establish the Fairtrade Foundation with CAFOD, Christian Aid, New Consumer, Oxfam and World Development Movement in 1992. It was also instrumental in the establishment of Newcastle-based company Shared Interest in 1990. Shared Interest is a co-operative lending society that aims to reduce poverty in the world, by providing fair and just financial services.

Traidcraft plc aims to tackle poverty by creating a market for fair trade producers and to show the commercial viability of the fair trade model.

Traidcraft Exchange is the charitable arm of the Traidcraft organisation. Established in 1986, Traidcraft Exchange aims to enable poor producers in Africa and Asia to grow their businesses, find markets, and engage effectively in trade. Traidcraft Exchange also lobbies and advises governments and organisations with the aim of improving trade rules and market access for small organisations in the developing world.

A special service to celebrate the anniversary will take place at Newcastle Cathedral on 14th September - more details to follow.

Marion Hill (pictured) a parishioner at St Dominic's church in Haverstock Hill north London sells Traidcraft goods to local churches and community events. On the "eve" of Traidcraft Week she was running the Traidcraft stall at Primrose Hill Designer Sale and also sold Traidcraft products at two other events. This week she will be taking Traidcraft products to her U3A class, Camden History Society meeting and a birdwatching coach trip and a coffee morning.

LINKS

Traidcraft information - www.traidcraft.co.uk

Traidcraft Shop - www.traidcraftshop.co.uk

Traidcraft Exchange - www.traidcraft.org.uk/