Suffolk Association of Fairtrade Towns

What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing

world. Buying Fairtrade products ensures that producers receive a fair price for their goods - and there is also a ‘social

premium’ which goes towards providing community facilities such as clean water.

Producers decide on projects democratically.

Paying sustainable prices addresses the injustices of conventional trade which can discriminate against the

poorest, weakest producers.

To find out more about Fairtrade visit the Fairtrade Foundation website at www.fairtrade.org.uk

Felixstowe

Ipswich

Framlingham

Lowestoft

Beccles

Bury St Edmunds

Sudbury

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The Suffolk Association of Fairtrade Towns was set up in July 2016 following a meeting in Bradfield St George, hosted by the Bury St Edmunds Group. Its aims are to promote Fairtrade in Suffolk, to share information on good practice and to co-ordinate action where appropriate. For more information click here.

Suffolk has a number of Fairtrade Towns which have come together to form the Suffolk Association of

Fairtrade Towns (SAFT). Fairtrade towns are towns where a special effort has been made to promote

Fairtrade, usually involving local councils, businesses, churches, schools and voluntary organisations.

To obtain Fairtrade Town status towns have to meet a number of criteria laid down by the

Fairtrade Foundation (see the link at the foot of the page). To find out more about SAFT please

click here to find out more about each individual town click on the name in the map below.

Leiston

Woodbridge

Profile of Felixstowe

Felixstowe is a seaside town with a population of about 29,000. The Port

of Felixstowe is the largest container port in the UK.

The Felixstowe Fairtrade Forum is a voluntary organisation set up in 2007

to promote Fairtrade in Felixstowe. We have worked closely with the

Town Council, businesses, churches and voluntary organisations. We

have given talks, organised events and participated in town activities

such as Art on the Prom. We have worked closely with the town’s Youth

Forum and with schools to promote an interest in Fairtrade among young

people in the town.

In recognition of the town’s involvement in supporting Fairtrade,

Felixstowe was granted Fairtrade Town status in 2009 and this has

subsequently been renewed.

Profile of Beccles

Beccles is a market town in the Waveney Valley, on the edge of the

Broards and 10 miles from the Suffolk coast. It has a population of about

11000 and also serves as a centre for many villages in the surrounding

area.

It has a range of small, independent shops and businesses besides

supermarkets. There is a street market on Fridays.

It has been a Fairtrade Town since 2008 but has a longer history of Fair

Trade; in 1986 it had the first Fair Trade shop in Suffolk which traded for 16

years until fairly traded goods became more readily available in local shops.

More information can be found on our Facebook page (see link below)

Profile of Bury St Edmunds

Bury St Edmunds is an old market town and the site of a once great abbey.

It has a cathedral and is a centre for the brewing and sugar processing

industries. It is also an important tourist destination. The town has a

population of about 42,000.

Bury St Edmunds has a Fairtrade shop situated in the St John’s Centre in

St John’s Street. The Bury St Edmunds Fairtrade partnership is a voluntary

organisation set up in 2014 to gain Fairtrade Town status for Bury and to

promote Fairtrade in the town. To achieve this we have worked closely

with the Town Council, businesses, churches, schools and voluntary

organisations. We have given talks, organised events, arranged meetings,

put up displays and encouraged shops and cafes to take pride in their

support for Fairtrade. In recognition of the town’s involvement in supporting

Fairtrade, Bury St Edmunds was granted Fairtrade Town status in 2015

and we are now working hard to promote Fairtrade throughout the town so

that our status can be renewed in 2016.

Profile of Framlingham

Framlingham is a small market town with a population of approximately

3,500 and with a historic castle is something of a visitor hot-spot. We have

been a Fairtrade Town since 2008. The steering group is comprised of

representatives from the Town Council, the town’s churches, The Library

and Christian Aid. Fairtrade Fortnight is celebrated every year in the town

and we have a FT stall which pops-up in the church and library every month,

and also at community events and in the Co-op foyer from time to time. The

group has a website and is on Facebook (links below).

Profile of Ipswich

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk and is located on the estuary of the

River Orwell. Ipswich is one of England's oldest towns being founded in 7th

century. In 2011 the population was approx 133,384. The town has been

steeped in history and connected with many famous names. Thomas

Gainsborough lived and worked in Ipswich. Charles Dickens stayed in

Ipswich. Lord and Lady Nelson moved to Ipswich and Lord Nelson was

appointed High Steward in 1800. Thomas Wolsey was born in Ipswich. Our

football club was once managed by Alf Ramsey and Bobby Robson.

Ipswich gained Fairtrade status in 2008 and status was renewed in 2012.

We are very proud to be a Fairtrade town and how we are playing our part to

help those across the world work their way out of poverty with dignity.

Ipswich has a Fairtrade shop set up 25 years ago selling a range of fairly

traded and environmentally friendly goods. For further information see the

‘links’ page from the menu.

Profile of Lowestoft

Lowestoft is on the North Sea Coast and is England’s most Easterly town

with a population of about 71000. It is an important centre for oil and gas

exploration and for the renewable energy industry. Lowestoft was the first

town in Suffolk to achieve Fairtrade status in 2004.

Profile of Sudbury

Sudbury is a vibrant, market town in the South-East of Suffolk, on the

border with Essex. The River Stour flows through with its delightful

meadows either side. It is famous as the home of the landscape and

portrait painter Thomas Gainsborough (1727 - 1788). A statue of

Gainsborough stands on Market Hill. The town has been a centre of silk

production since the late Middle Ages.

Simon of Sudbury (1316 - 1361) was the Archbishop of Canterbury and the

Lord Chancellor of England.

In April 2012 Sudbury became a Fairtrade Town and this has been

renewed. Fairtrade status is proudly displayed on the town entry signs.

Profile of Leiston

Leiston is situated in East Suffolk about 2 miles from the coast near

Saxmundham and Aldeburgh. It has a population of approximately 5,500.

Leiston-cum-Sizewell was first awarded Fairtrade Town status in 2009 and

this has been renewed at intervals since.

Profile of Woodbridge

Details to be supplied

Contact information to follow