Get Involved

We recognise that how we live and how we choose to shop and do business here in Godalming has an affect on how producers in so-called 'developing countries' are able to live and whether they are able to make basic choices to improve their own future and their children's future.

Building on the growing popuarity of Fairtrade locally, as well as nationally, the Churches Together in Godalming Justice and Peace Group felt it would be a good idea for Godalming to work towards being recognised as a Fairtrade Town in order to raise the profile of Fairtrade throughout the town by encouraging churches, schools and businesses to use Fairtrade tea, coffee etc and other to promote the concept of Fairtrade.

1. The local council must pass a resolution supporting Fair Trade, and agree to serve Fair Trade tea and coffee at its meetings and in its offices and canteens.

2. A range of (at least two) Fair Trade products should be readily available in the area’s shops and local cafés/catering establishments.

3. Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations (churches, schools etc).

4. Attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign.

5. A local Fair Trade steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its Fair Trade Town status.

In May 2000, Garstang in Lancashire declared itself “the world’s first Fair Trade Town”. The campaign caught the imagination of local people, the interest of politicians, and made headlines across the north-west – not to mention hugely raising awareness of the FAIRTRADE Mark in the area.

March 2005 saw the declaration of the 100th Fairtrade Town. Woking was one of them. Guildford has become one since and Haslemere is about to be presented with their certificate. There are now more than 150 Fairtrade Towns in the UK.

How soon can Godalming be recognised as a Fairtrade town? The steering group is hard at work, but ultimately it is up to you and all the other people who live and work in Godalming.

In September 2006 Godalming's Fairtrade Town Steering Group met for the first time. The purpose of the group is to co-ordinate the campaign for Godalming to become a Fairtrade Town, by building and maintaining links with the council and local businesses and developing strategies to promote Fairtrade products in Godamling.

However we cannot do this without you, which is why your support for this campaign is essential, so we hope that you will do whatever you can to help our efforts. Find out about the things you can do that will be a real help in moving this campaign forward.

At the very least start to buy one or two Fairtrade products when you do your weekly shopping and start to spread the word about how important Fairtrade is amongst your friends and acquaintances.

Making Godalming a Fairtrade Town has to be a group effort and we need as many people who live and work in Godalming as possible playing their part. We need wide-ranging support from all aspects of the community if Godalming is going to succeed in gaining Fairtrade Town status.

Fairtrade is a guarantee of a fair price and decent working conditions for those people in so-called developing countries who produce food and other products for us to buy. Although we may not realise it, many of the everyday things, such as tea and coffee, are produced by people who are not getting a fair price for their work and who can be working in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. Fairtrade initiatives aim to stop this.

Through selective buying, you can ensure that the producers at the bottom of the supply chain, such as poor farmers, get a fairer share of the money you spend on their goods. More on Fairtrade.

All the major supermarkets in Godalming, including the Co-op, stock Fairtrade products, as do Secretts Farm Shop at Milford. We have several Fairtrade cafes in the town, as well.

Click here for a list of Fairtrade stockists and products in the Godalming area, including some local cafes.