AS CRAVEN prepares to mark Fairtrade Fortnight, Skipton is celebrating the renewal of its Fairtrade status for the third time

Chrysi Dimaki, communities campaign officer at the Fairtrade Foundation, said the charity welcomed how the Skipton group had linked up with other organisations.

“We were particularly impressed by the reach of your events, with your collaboration with local restaurants providing an eventful supper evening in Fairtrade Fortnight, and your engagement with catering outlets. You have managed to engage successfully with a great number of people through a range of interesting events with a variety of local organisations. “

She added: “It is also very promising to hear that you are asked to participate with other well-known organisations and that you are targeting a wider audience through meeting with community organisations who share common values.”

Also of value was the group’s strong relationship with the town council.

Town and district councillor, Eric Jaquin, a member of the Fairtrade initiative steering group since its inception in 2012, would like to see the signs at the entrances to Skipton declaring its Fairtrade status.

Liz Roodhouse, chairman of Skipton Fairtrade Initiative said money had been raised for the signs and the group was working with the council to get them in place as a priority.

Meanwhile, Fairtrade Fortnight will run from Monday, February 24 to Sunday, March 8, with the theme ‘She deserves a living income’ - a campaign which focuses on cocoa farmers in West Africa who earn less than 80p per day.

As part of the fortnight, the Fairtrade Initiative will be promoting the town’s Whitakers Chocolates. 85 per cent of its chocolates are now Fairtrade, and free samples will be handed out at a Fairtradew Initiative pop up shop in Skipton Library on Saturday, February 29 from 9.30am to 1.30pm.

There will be fairly traded and ethically sourced non food items from Namaste and From the Source, both Skipton based, as well as other items bearing the Fairgtrade mark.