One of the most powerful weapons we have to make positive changes in the world is through what we buy. When you buy a Fairtrade product not only do you get a great tasting product but the money you pay provides a fair deal to producers in the Third World.

Fairtrade products are products that are independently certified as providing a fair deal to producers in the third world. The Fairtrade mark (shown here) can be found on a wide variety of products such as tea, coffee, sugar, honey, bananas, mangoes, cocoa, fruit juice, chocolate, wine and beers, clothing and sports equipment.

The money you pay for your Fairtrade product helps ensure that ethical standards of trade are met. These standards offer a lifeline for producers in the Third World by providing a fairer way of trading rather than simply offering aid.

Fairtrade products started in the UK in 1994. During this time Fairtrade products have grown and grown, so much so that there are currently are over 3,000 different products which have been awarded the Fairtrade mark.

Fairtrade products are now widely available and can be found in most supermarkets, health food shops and other retail outlets as well as on Hinckley Market. Details of these outlets locally can be found in the PDF "Hinckley and Bosworth Fairtrade Outlets" below. Many churches also sell Fairtrade items through Traidcraft a Christian Aid organisation which was one of the founding members of Fairtrade movement.

In many circumstances producers in the third world do not get paid enough to cover the cost of growing their crop or making their product. This can lead to the loss of their homes and land. This is mainly due to the fact that the price of these products has not risen in the past few years whereas the costs of machinery, fertilizers and pesticides has.

For instance, the low price of coffee in the early nineties had a catastrophic effect on the lives of millions of small farmers, forcing many into crippling debt and countless others to lose their land.

Fairtrade products are guaranteed to cover the cost of sustainable production which allows many poor small farmers to get back on their feet and trade their way out of poverty. Users of the mark must also pay a premium that allows producers to invest in development and they must sign contracts that allow for long term planning and sustainable production practices. This ensures decent and safe working conditions, provision of healthcare and education for the workers and their children.

Can I buy Fairtrade products locally? Yes you can. Fairtrade products are now widely available from supermarkets, local co-ops and some churches and community centres. In order to make finding Fairtrade products easier a guide has been produced which lists all of the outlets in the Borough of Hinckley & Bosworth that we know about which sell Fairtrade products.

The outlets include supermarkets, co-ops, churches, community centres, tearooms, hotels and restaurants. The guide can be downloaded as a pdf file from the bottom of this page.

The Fairtrade products that are available locally are very extensive - food, clothing even sports equipment - from wine to flowers, rice to spice, fruit to footballs. To find out where you can buy these and many more delicious Fairtrade products download the two guides below.

If you know of a restaurant, shop or tearoom that uses Fairtrade products and is not included in the 'Fairtrade in the Borough of Hinckley & Bosworth' guide please let us know. New outlets can be added when necessary.

If your favourite restaurant, tearoom or coffee shop doesn't use Fairtrade products then why not ask them if they would. If you don't ask how will they know what you like?

Look out for Fairtrade products in your local shops and those shops included in the 'Fairtrade in the Borough of Hinckley & Bosworth' leaflet.

To further support Fairtrade why not convert your school, college and workplace to use Fairtrade products. Buying Fairtrade products really does make a difference to producers in the Third World.

Some of the stories of how Fairtrade is helping producers in the Third World can be found at the Fairtrade Foundation website. Fairtrade is providing health schemes, education for producers children and better working conditions for producers in the Third World. Buying Fairtrade guarantees a better deal for Third World Producers.

The Fairtrade Group has been formed to help promote Fairtrade, raise awareness of how Fairtrade help third world producers and promote those outlets which sell or offer Fairtrade products.

The group meets on a regular basis to co-ordinate activity on the Fairtrade Borough campaign (see below), and plan events to promote Fairtrade.

The group has representatives from OXFAM, St. Mary's Church Hinckley, Vine Bookshop, Hinckley Library, the borough council, Earl Shilton United Reform Church, Christian Aid and a local school.

For information about the next Fairtrade Group meeting please contact Jane Neachell, Environmental Coordinator .The group is always looking for new members to help promote Fairtrade.

The idea of Fairtrade Town, Cities and Boroughs is promoted by the Fairtrade Foundation as a way of raising awareness of Fairtrade products and the benefit that this can bring to producers in the Third World.

In order to fulfil this aim by becoming a Fairtrade Borough the following five goals must be realised. When they are a signed and dated certificate will be presented by the Fairtrade Foundation.

1. Local Council passes a Fairtrade Resolution
2. A range of (at least two) Fairtrade products are readily available in the area's shops. Fairtrade products are served in local cafes/catering establishments.(see below)
3. Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations (churches, schools etc)
4. Attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign
5. A local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its Fairtrade Town status.

Full details of the Five Goals for a Fairtrade Borough can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council pledged its support for their principles of fair trade by passing a Fairtrade Resolution in January 2005. The Resolution, which can be downloaded below, commits the Council to provide Fairtrade tea and coffee at its meetings and in its committee rooms.

The Resolution also commits the council to work with members of the community to continue to raise awareness of Fairtrade and where Fairtrade products can be bought.

To find where you can buy Fairtrade products in Hinckley and Bosworth please click on the PDF below.

Cafes and restaurants that offer Fairtrade products are listed in the PDF below.

If you know of any cafes or restaurants that serve Fairtrade please esadmin@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk to add the outlet to the list.

Fairtrade products are used in the  workplaces and community organisations listed in the PDF below.

If your workplace uses Fairtrade products and you would like to be added to the list please esadmin@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk to add your business to the list

To open the files below please click on the name of each file. If the files do not open, press the right hand button on your mouse and select 'save target as...' from the list.

Save the file to somewhere on your computer and then open the file once it has been saved.