May 2006 - Helen Carter - Fair Trade

Tessa Makepeace with Helen Carter and some items on sale at Fayre's Fair

Andover Women in Business Club celebrated its 14th Anniversary at its May meeting, with small gifts for those attending and a talk by member Helen Carter, about her long-standing work to promote Fair Trade.  With nearly 40 members and guests assembled at The White Hart, Andover, the meeting was both energetic and enlightening.

Helen has worked as a volunteer promoting fair trade for over 23 years and is clearly passionate about the work it does and its profound effect on the people it serves.  Now with over 300 producers of Third World produce, fair trade is making a significant difference for the farmers, families and communities for whom it was established. 

With its principles of paying fair prices and fair wages, providing safe working conditions and giving respect, dignity and meaningful work to those in need, the concept is being adopted by more and more consumers who are prepared to pay a little more to support it.  The trade enables communities to thrive, passing skills down from generation to generation and helps keep local traditions alive.

Not only do the overseas producers benefit from the money they earn from selling through fair trade, but fair trade also promises a stable income and helps to improve the lives of some of the world’s poorest communities through its ‘social premium’.  Each product sold attracts a ‘premium’, which is collected through sales and ploughed back directly to the community from which it came, but most importantly, members of that community make their own decisions about how it is spent, be it on health, education or local amenities. 

Fair trade has also given small farmers a stronger position in world markets, by enabling them to form co-operatives.  It guarantees them prices in excess of stock market prices, which provides security and work for many families. 

Since the creation of Fair Trade importers, such as Tearcraft and Traidcraft, many Western consumers now have greater awareness of fair trade issues, appreciating the greater respect for the environment it delivers and are happy to support the supply of beautifully goods, entirely crafted from recycled materials, such as copper from radiators and brass from scrap metal. 

Helen brought with her a selection of goods from ‘Fayre’s Fair’, her shop in one of the converted hop booths and piggeries at the Weyhill Fairground and members were deeply impressed by the quality and artistry of some of the items.  With fair trade goods - now ranging from foodstuffs such as tea, coffee, chocolate, biscuits, wine and nuts, to footballs, fancy goods and even roses - the selection is vast.  Helen’s shop, unique in its wide ranging selection, is run entirely by volunteers and all profits are given back to promote the cause.

Deeply involved with fair trade, Helen is currently helping with a Test Valley Borough Council initiative to establish Andover as a Fair Trade Town.  To qualify, it must be able to boast 10 shops selling fair trade goods and have at least five catering outlets offering fair trade tea and/or coffee as an alternative.  Andover might be a step closer to achieving this proud new status if Helen was successful in her quest to encourage AWIBC members to recognise and support the Fair Trade label.