First steps for Fairsteps in Kings Heath

Freya examines the pledges so far

Today we started 'fairsteps', based on fairtrade foundation's 'Take a step in 2012' campaign in Kings Heath Community Centre Playgroup (thanks Midlands Coop for free chocolate and other goodies).

Children, parents and carers worked together to decorate paper feet, add their fairtrade pledges, and stick them up on our washing line.

This is the first of several workshops to take place across Kings Heath, and to be added to more in the city centre on 10th March.

It's a great opportunity to discuss what people think about fairtrade:

'This isn't something I think about everyday, and it should be.'

Attitudes to fairtrade are changing, but although fairtrade movement is growing there is still a lack of awareness about what is available - no one in the group, for instance, was aware of 'fairmined Gold', and one parent did comment, 'I can't afford fairtrade'.

The Fairtrade movement has taken many steps to get to where we are today - fairtrade still needs to work to get it's core message out, to promote the new lines and commodities available, and  to keep in step and understand what our customers are looking for, in terms of ethics and commodities.  Thank goodness for fairtrade fortnight.