THE whole town is getting behind Abergele’s bid for Fairtrade status.
Members of the Abergele Fairtrade Coalition this week applied to the Fairtrade Foundation for the town to be recognised as a Fairtrade town, an accolade that would nationally acknowledge the town’s commitment to supporting Fairtrade and using products with the Fairtrade mark.
The application comes on the back of a Fairtrade Fortnight when many schools and community groups staged events to emphasise the willingness throughout the town to support farmers in developing countries who do not get a fair reward for their efforts.
Cllr Sam Rowlands, of Gele ward on Conwy County Council and secretary of the Fairtrade coalition, said obtaining Fairtrade status would be a welcome sign of the good Abergele is doing as a town.
He said: “This will be a mark of the Fairtrade credentials of the town to show that a number of our cafes have Fairtrade goods available and that many of our shops have Fairtrade goods to buy.
“This shows the town is willing to support people in less fortunate positions than we are. By supporting Fairtrade, the money is going to the right people.”
The coalition will recognise town retailers with special window signs promoting the Fairtrade products on sale.
Rev Shirley Griffiths, vicar of Abergele and chairman of the Fairtrade coalition, said: “We are delighted to be able to celebrate our application for Abergele to become a Fairtrade town. We are hopeful we have met all the criteria necessary and look forward to hearing soon if we have been successful.
“Fairtrade is being taken very seriously in Abergele and it has been very pleasing to see all ages getting involved in events during Fairtrade Fortnight.”
In Abergele, schools including Ysgol Glan Gele, Ysgol Glan Morfa and Ysgol St Elfod held special events including assemblies and coffee mornings to play their part in Fairtrade Fortnight and boost the town’s chances of obtaining Fairtrade status.
Gwyn Vaughan, headteacher of Ysgol St Elfod which held a Fairtrade assembly last Friday, said: “It was a really good assembly and the children here have been made aware of the importance of Fairtrade.
“As a school we were keen to play our part in Fairtrade Fortnight and Abergele becoming a Fairtrade town,” he added.
The Fairtrade coalition is expected to hear in the next few weeks if their application has been successful.