Well over 100 people are expected to come along to the event at Clayport Library, Millennium Place, Durham City where they will be offered free Traidcraft Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits and the chance to find out more about the difference that Fairtrade makes.
Visitors will also be able to test their Fairtrade tea knowledge in a quiz and can encourage the big five tea brands – PG Tips, Tetley, Yorkshire Tea, Twinings and Typhoo – to go Fairtrade by signing a campaign postcard.
In line with this year’s theme of ‘The Big Swap’ – which encourages people to swap their regular item for a Fairtrade item – pupils from two local primary schools will be visiting to learn more about the benefits of Fairtrade and swapping to Fairtrade chocolate.
Organised by Durham City Fair Trade Partnership and Traidcraft, the leading fair trade organisation based in Gateshead, the Big Brew will highlight the issues faced by some of the 20 million tea producers in the developing world who grow and pick the green leaf used in some of the 165 million cups of tea consumed daily in the UK: issues like low prices and poor working conditions, which Traidcraft and its Fairtrade tea help to address.
Holding an event in Durham is particularly exciting for Traidcraft, as founder Richard Adams is a graduate of St John’s College, Durham. The city and the university both achieved Fairtrade status in 2007 and today there are several dedicated fair trade shops, such as Gateway World Shop in St Nicholas’ Church.
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Notes to editors:
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Based in the Team Valley, Gateshead, Traidcraft is the UK’s leading fair trade organisation and has been fighting poverty through trade since 1979
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Traidcraft works to fight poverty through trade by:
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Trading with people in Africa, Asia and South America
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Supporting people in the developing world to build sustainable businesses
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Influencing policy making in government and business
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Durham City Fair Trade Partnership has been in existence since 2006, gained Fairtrade City status in May 2007, and was awarded its renewal in June 2008. Our current renewal bid will be in June 2010. We work in conjunction with Durham County Council to raise awareness of, and encourage greater usage of, products with the FAIRTRADE Mark in local businesses, retail and catering outlets, educational establishments, faith groups and community organisations. We hold regular events throughout the year to underpin our message. For more information, contact Kathryn Sygrove, Chair of Durham City Fair Trade Partnership on 07815 916978 or email kathrynssygrove@oink.co.uk.
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Traidcraft supporters will be hosting 3,000 Big Brews around the country during Fairtrade Fortnight serving Fairtrade tea and coffee and collecting donations for Traidcraft’s charity work.
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For more information contact Emma Clark on 0191 497 6462 or 07831 576 103 or email emmac@traidcraft.co.uk.
