Buckinghamshire New University is a Fairtrade University and we are proud to hold this status. Being a Fairtrade University means that we serve Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits in our catering outlets, ensure our merchandise is Fairtrade and we recognise and host events during Fairtrade Fortnight.
Every year we run our Smile Campaign during Fairtrade Fortnight where over 30 students head out into the community. What better way to start a Monday than with a smile and a Fairtrade breakfast snack? In exchange for a smile from commuters, our student volunteers hand out Fairtrade bananas and flapjacks, with Fairtrade facts on them to educate commuters.
To raise awareness on the variation with eating Fairtrade, we hold the Fairtrade breakfast which is completely free to students. That way students can start their day off with a good breakfast and that feel-good feeling that it was all Fairtrade produce and come away with a new understanding about Fairtrade and the impact they can have just by changing a few habits.
This year we wanted to take it further than food, and launched our Fairtrade Day where we concentrated on textiles, child labour and fair pay for farmers. Sharing facts on Fairtrade textile industry and bringing in a local shop selling Fairtrade merchandise and educating students on buying Fairtrade instead of standard products.
What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.
Meet your Fairtrade Ambassador
I’m Ann Thapa, your Fairtrade Ambassador for the 2022-23 academic year. I'm a great enthusiast of Fairtrade and I cannot wait to run the Fairtrade campaigns with the Students' Union, including:
1) Working on SMILE where we're heading out into the town to hand out Fairtrade bananas and flapjacks to commuters and making them smile.
2) Showing that everyday items can be Fairtrade with a Fairtrade breakfast and inviting Mike King, Chairman of High Wycombe Fairtrade group.
3) Raising awareness for all the Fairtrade things we can buy that are not just food with a Fairtrade day.
What Fairtrade does
Fairtrade is a simple way to make a difference to the lives of the people who grow the things we love. They do this by changing the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fair deal for farmers and workers in developing countries.
We are proud to be a Fairtrade Students' Union and you can see the full criteria for what makes us a Fairtrade organisation, on the Fairtrade website.
Fairtrade Impact Report
We also have a Fairtrade Policy in place, which you can find in the 'Central Services' section, highlighting the importance of using Fairtrade products within the university and how we will further promote the campaign amongst the student and staff body.
Are you interested in Fairtrade? Do you want to make a difference in the local area? Email volunteering@bnu.ac.uk for more information.