What a Great Fairtrade Fortnight 2019
Well it’s been and gone but what a great one it was. Although the Fairtrade Foundation’s theme was cocoa and in particular women cocoa farmers (a great focus indeed), we are delighted with the additional level of support for Fairtrade sports ball workers this Fairtrade Fortnight.
Women are involved in the production of our footballs and futsal balls in Pakistan and our rugby balls in India and we would like to say a HUGE thanks to everyone who showed support to them in the run up to and during Fortnight. Here are a few of the events and campaigns that we took part in or know about. Please share any events or activity you were involved in by tagging us in a social media post.
Ipswich Town Player Joins Local School in Playing Fair
The Ipswich Fairtrade Steering Group donated balls to local primary school, St Michaels and got Ipswich Town FC player Gwion Edwards no less to go along and have a kick about with the ball and even recommend the ball would be good for schools. Gwion hadn’t heard of Fairtrade balls but likes the idea:
“It’s actually a great ball. It’s a bit different to the ball we play with on a Saturday but for the kids to play on a school yard its perfect.”
Well done Gwion – and the Ipswich group.
Read about this story and watch a short video on the Ipswich Star website.
Central England Co-operative Give Clubs a Ball Boost
With the theme of empowering women it was great to see our fellow co-op, The Central England Co-operative donate balls to the Lichfield Wildcats under 10 Girls team. This a great initiative and one we encouraged more groups to take up.
Lichfield Wildcats with their Fairtrade Play balls presented by the Central England Co-operative.
Read more here on Lichfield Live.
Chesterfield FC Get to Grips with Fairtrade Footballs
Another club supported by a Central England Co-operative Fairtrade ball donation was Chetserdield FC Community Trust, with professional players from the men’s team trying out the balls.
And the women’s team decided to put the ball through its paces in their training session..
Early Learners at the East Dunbartonshire Fairtrade Group Nursery Event
Kids seem to get Fairtrade at an early age and we partnered with the East Dunbartonshire Fair Trade Group who organised a great event for nurseries in Kirkintilloch featuring our Fairtrade balls, including colouring in ball pictures and developing footy skills and recognising the Fair-trade mark.
Ullapool Fair Trade Group & Active Schools Primary Footy Tournament
We also teamed-up with the Ullapool Fair Trade Group for their annual Fairtrade footy tournament for primary schools, excellently organised by Ben from Ullapooll Active Schools. Fairtrade footballs were the prizes for the player of the match and Fairtrade choc medals for the teams.
University Challenge
The University of Nottingham was one of several unis to promote Fairtrade sports balls this Fortnight. The sports union in collaboration with the sustainability group purchased 10 Team footballs and promoted them throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile Keele University chose to promote Fairtrade balls in a football and futsal showcase.
Girls Rugby Team Continue their Support for Fairtrade Ball Workers
The South Pembrokeshire Sharks Girls Rugby Team have been playing with our Fairtrade team rugby balls for a year, and they’ve shown their support for our sports ball workers in India as well as the cocoa farmers around the world, getting into the Tenby Observer, alongside Sharron Hardwick of the Fair Trade in Football & Rugby Campaign. Read the article here.
We were delighted to hear what Jamie Barrellie, coach for South Pembs Sharks Girls Hub and WRU GMG Girls Officer, had to say about our hand-stitched Fairtrade balls:
“The Fairtrade Bala Sport team rugby balls are quality balls that withstand all weathers, training and game situations. Knowing the background of the balls and where they have been made makes us at the Sharks proud to be part of this project.”
St Mirren Women’s FC Host Primary Schools for Footy Event
We teamed up with our friends at Rainbow Turtle and WOSDEC for the annual Rainbow Turtle Fairtrade Fortnight event which this year focussed 100% on Fairtrade sports balls for local primary schools in the Renfrewshire area – and what an event it was. The venue couldn’t have been better, it was held at the St Mirren Football Club stadium and had a strong focus on the empowerment of women and girls. It was hosted by the club’s women’s team and the pupils from 9 schools learned about how balls are made and the impact from the fairtrade Premium on workers and about supply chains. They got to train with the St Mirren’s Women’s FC on the pitch-side, learning about the differences currently faced between male and female players.
Great excitement to sit in the dugout at St Mirren Park.
Coverage in the Paisley Daily Express.
The participants were given a call to action, and that was to write to the football club to ask that the women’s team train and play with Bala Sport Fairtrade balls. Early indications are that the ladies are keen to use them. Check out this short video. Fingers crossed!
Nigerian National Team & Stoke City Player Shows Support for Fairtrade
Stoke City and Nigeria national player Peter Etebo showed support for the local community and Fairtrade Football at the Stoke City Community Trust Tournament with the Fair Trade In Football Campaign, Street Games, Port Vale Foundation and Engage Communities.
Congrats to Young Fundraisers at Linlithgow Bridge Primary School
We were delighted that despite the cocoa theme quite a few school assemblies also had a Fairtrade sports balls focus and it was great to go along to the Linlithgow Bridge Primary School to say a big thanks to them for raising more than £130 to buy Fairtrade balls for the school.
As we say, if you have any other Fairtrade Fortnight events featuring Fairtrade sports balls please let us know by sharing and tagging us in your posts.
