Dunbar Primary School are holding their school Fair at John Muir Campus this saturday 25th May at John Muir Campus between 2pm – 4pm.
Come along and join in the fun! Lots for everyone to see and do…
There will also be a Fairtrade stall with information on the Fairtrade campaign.
Hi to all our supporters, this is a reminder regarding our meeting coming up next week, Tuesday 21st May 7pm BeGreen office west port Dunbar
Jo is no longer Convenor as off end of April and we have not yet had a volunteer to chair the group, so please get in touch if anyone is interested in fulfilling this role for a while. We have agreed to try sharing both chairing and note-taking but ideally there would be one person to each role even if it rotated say 6 monthly or so, as an example.
The next meeting is a key meeting as the group needs to plan its aims, and goals and how it’ll implement them in order to fill out the renewal application forms for further Fairtrade status, so the more people and input the better! Be great to see you there.
* Philip will be chairing * Liz will be taking notes
Best jo
Hi to all our supporters,
I’m including the minutes from the last meeting on 16th April at the bottom of this post, and we have set a date for the next meeting, so please peruse the minutes (kindly taken by Philip) and do put the date for next meeting in your diary..
Tuesday 21st May 7pm BeGreen office
west port
Dunbar
We have not yet had a volunteer to chair the group, so please get in touch if anyone is interested in fulfilling this role for a while. We have agreed to try sharing both chairing and note-taking but ideally there would be one person to each role even if it rotated say 6 monthly or so, as an example.
The next meeting is a key meeting as the group needs to plan its aims, and goals and how it’ll implement them in order to fill out the renewal application forms for further Fairtrade status, so the more people and input the better! Be great to see you there.
Dunbar Fairtrade Town Notes from meeting on Tuesday 16th April 2013
Present: Jo Gibson, Liz Curtis, Mike Shaw, Lesley McPheat, Philip Revell, Mark James (popped in at the end) Apologies: Barbara Richerby, Rachel Murray, Jacqui Leslie.
1. No volunteer has as yet come forward to take on the role of Convenor of the group from Jo Gibson. Jo reiterated that due to personal and work commitments she would be unable to extend her chairing role beyond April.
2. The role of the Convenor is to chair meetings, act as a point of contact for the group and to ensure implementation of the action plan for maintaining Fairtrade Town status. 3. The possibility of having a rotating Chair was discussed, at least as an interim measure. The job of keeping notes of meetings could also be rotated. Philip is happy to continue to administer the group’s funds, using Sustaining Dunbar’s bank account for the time being. 4. It was agreed to proceed with creating an Action Plan to submit to the Fairtrade Foundation in June. This is required to maintain our Fairtrade Town status, as we will have been an official Fairtrade Town for one year in August. The Action Plan will cover the next two years and will guide the agenda for future meetings.
5. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 21st May at 7pm in the office above the BeGreen shop. Philip agreed to chair this meeting (but wishes to emphasise that he will be stepping back from involvement with the group thereafter).
6. Liz agreed to take notes at the next meeting.
7. All steering group members agreed to seek to ensure a good attendance at the action-planning meeting by publicising through their personal contacts and channels. Liz will create a press release to send to East Lothian Courier and East Lothian News.
8. Philip to put a link to the Dunbar Fairtrade website on the Sustain Dunbar website.
9. The Fairtrade resources are now being stored at the BeGreen office and can be used and borrowed from this central point. The box contains leaflets, posters, stickers and info pamphlets as well as the Fairtrade banner and inflatable banana!
10. Jo will copy documents about the requirements of the Action Plan, and an exemplar plan, prior to the meeting and make them available to collect at the Crunchy carrot.
11. It was noted that Rachel Murray will be organising a follow-up audit of local shops, cafes etc. with children from the Primary School in the next couple of weeks to assess changes since the original audit and to ask what help and support may be needed to encourage more outlets to stock Fair Trade goods.
12. Crunchy carrot will put up a display of Fairtrade items and info on sat 15th June, for civic week. Liz suggested marching in the civic parade on same day, possibly carrying the inflatable banana. Lesley felt sure the primary would also have some Fairtrade input during civic week at the school.
13. Dunbar Primary School was congratulated on achieving Fair Trade School status. Well done! A wonderful achievement.
Hi to all our supporters
Convenor Post
As you all know, in November 2012 I gave my notice as convenor of the Fairtrade Group, with affect from April 2013.
I am more than happy to overlap with the new convenor to assist in the transition and help get them ‘up to speed’.
Dunbar will have been a Fairtrade Town for a whole year by August 2013, which is a great achievement.
To maintain this status the group must apply again at the end of the first year to be hopefully awarded a further two years.I am happy to assist the group in forming and sending this application as it will need to be completed and sent by june 2013. This however will be my final task as convenor, but it will mean that the new convenor will not have to tackle this whilst newly in post.
I’ve really enjoyed my time as convenor, it will be almost two years by then, how time flies! I’m very proud of the group’s achievements, but due to other commitments I must hand over the baton. I’m sure the new convenor will find it as interesting and rewarding as I have. All those interested in taking over as the new convenor please come along to the next meeting or email me directly and i can answer questions or organise to have a chat about it.
1) Discuss/nominate new chair
2) look over the re-application forms to see what we need to do before I can produce the necessary documents and evidence etc to send in. This will involve planning our goals and aims for the next year i.e. events/audits/promoting Fairtrade via stalls etc…
3) I think the group also needs to discuss wether we think having a treasurer person separate from chair is now appropriate, as time goes by there are more receipts / money and grant applications to deal with, which are separate duties to convening ideally.
4) Allison Cosgrove has sent me forms to apply for civic fund money for town signs, they are not too complicated but will involve some work to complete, again the group should look over them to ascertain what’s needed to fill them in or if indeed we feel in a position to apply at this time.
What a fantastic event, over 150 people popped in to eat, drink and socialise over a Fairtrade cuppa! There was a raffle with over 15 prizes given out and music from Coll and Lewis that put a spring in our step.
There were lots of Fairtrade posters and leaflets on hand to help provide information and raise awareness of the huge help and support the Fairtrade Foundation gives to over 5 million people in over 54 developing countries around the world. Helping to prevent poverty and unfair treatment, helping provide an equal price for their goods and safer, healthier working conditions.
Dunbar’s whole Community has shown it’s support and understanding of these issues and should be very proud of achieving the Fairtrade Town certificate, further highlighting what a involved and caring community we live in.
A BIG THANKYOU! to everyone who has helped,baked, supported, and donated, not only on the day of events but in the run up to them.
Every area of the community has helped and supported; Bleachingfield community centre and café for the lovely space, community groups, faith groups, schools, businesses, shops, supermarkets, many individuals and East Lothian Council.
The proceeds raised will go towards further Fairtrade awareness raising activities.
The Dunbar Primary School Fairtrade poster competition winners adorned the walls for all to enjoy, the children were awarded their Fairtrade Easter egg prizes at a special assembly along with a short talk on how Dunbar achieved Fairtrade Town status.
Fairtrade display, information leaflets and tasters! at the Crunchy Carrot shop.
Fairtrade Fortnight this year is from 25th Feb to 10th March, all over the country folks in villages, towns and cities will be having fun, holding events and raising awareness of Fairtrade issues.
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.
The Fairtrade foundations vision is;
… of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices so that everyone, through their work, can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood and develop their full potential.
To achieve this vision, Fairtrade seeks to transform trading structures and practices in favour of the poor and disadvantaged. By facilitating trading partnerships based on equity and transparency, Fairtrade contributes to sustainable development for marginalised producers, workers and their communities. Through demonstration of alternatives to conventional trade and other forms of advocacy, the Fairtrade movement empowers citizens to campaign for an international trade system based on justice and fairness.
Dunbar is now a Fairtrade Town and is playing an important part in supporting the Foundation to achieve its vision, every thing we do however small helps.
This year Dunbar Fairtrade group are holding a coffee morning on Sat 2nd March 10-12 at Bleachingfield Community centre, Dunbar primary school held a Fairtrade poster competition and during the fortnight the Crunchy Carrot will have some Fairtrade tasters to sample and Fairtrade information leaflets to take away.
Do join us at our coffee morning and enjoy a Fairtrade cuppa!
Some of our fairtrade helpers!
Enjoying a fairtrade cuppa
Grant awarded
Hello to all our supporters,
East Lothian council has awarded Dunbar Fairtrade Group a grant to have made special window stickers that promote Dunbar as a Fairtrade Town.
These can then be given out to community groups, businesses and public buildings that support Fairtrade in our community.
It’s a wonderful way to raise awareness in the community for residents and visitors alike and further add to Dunbar’s reputation for being a caring, supportive and aware community.
All our thanks go to East Lothian council and their Fairtrade Grant scheme for making this possible.
