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In Spring 2025 we donated £200 to Transform Trade and received the following reply from them:

Thank you so much for donating £200.00 to Transform Trade on behalf of Shaftesbury Fairtrade Group. Your hard work and generosity have helped to drive the trade justice movement forward, and we can’t thank you enough.

Trade done right is powerful; it can raise incomes, build thriving communities, and enable people to determine their own futures. We work with groups of tea growers in northern Bangladesh, and starting their own tea gardens has been transformative for many growers. Mofizul used to be a day labourer and is now a tea grower and tea sapling trader:

“I have turned from a laborer into a tea garden owner and a businessman. Now I am able to fulfill all the needs of my family. Growing tea has changed our life completely. These tea leaves have changed the lives of 99 out of 100 people in this area.”

Your kind donation will help us work with more ambitious farmers and growers like Mofizul, who are fighting to earn more, be paid fairly for their labour and help their families and communities prosper.

With grateful thanks.

Thank you to everyone who supports Fairtrade! 

Shaftesbury Fairtrade Group activities during 2023

February

The second Fairtrade Town sign was erected near the Ivy Cross roundabout.

In response to Traidcraft going into administration, Transform Trade - the trade justice charity - launched a new fund to support the people this movement has always been about: the makers, growers and artisans.

The Shaftesbury Fairtrade group donated £500 to this fund.

March

Our revised directory of businesses in the area selling fairtrade and ethically produced goods was printed.

April

Arthur gave a short presentation about the Fairtrade group at a town meeting to highlight voluntary groups in the town that make a difference,

May

In celebration of the King’s Coronation and the launch of the new play area at St James Park the council facilitated a Children’s Coronation Crown Hunt. The Fairtrade group supported this event by sponsoring prizes of Fairtrade chocolate bars which were very popular with the 324 children who entered.

June

Some of the group visited 918, a certified B Corp Dorset coffee business, in Semley to hear about the business.

September

A successful Fair Trade town renewal bid was submitted. Our renewal certificate extends to July 2026. Special thanks to Anne for all her time and effort with this.

November

Arthur made his first order to We are Fair Trade and found it went very smoothly.

December

Our Fairtrade town renewal notice is displayed on the notice board in the Guild Hall

Arthur Simmonds was interviewed by Virginia Edwyn-Jones on This is Alfred.