Fair Trade at The Cathedral
The parish has, for a number of years, supported the Fair Trade movement by offering a range of products the purchase of which, provides funds for growers and craftsmen in developing countries. There are a number of popular lines kept in stock, but there are many more available from the Traidcraft online shop – www.traidcraftshop.co.uk – or orders can be placed by email to the Cathedral office – office@northamptoncathedral.org.
Profits from the sale of goods are donated to charities which support activities in developing countries. Initially amounts were sent to a parish project in Eritrea, then up to March 2015 CAFOD www.cafod.org.uk. Since April 2015 our profits go to Mary’s Meals www.marysmeals.org.uk, a charity providing meals in schools to children in developing countries. The aim is to encourage children to attend school as well as to provide nourishment in places where there is a severe lack, thus overcoming the cycle of poverty and giving the opportunity for the children to become self-sufficient and successful in adult life. Read more here www.marysmeals.org.uk/get-involved/child-31. Over 1 million children are now fed daily, using produce from local suppliers – but Mary’s Meals would dearly like to provide for the other 54million undernourished children in the world! It costs Mary’s Meals just £12.20 to feed a child for a whole year!
From time to time Traidcraft initiates special fund-raising projects such as the Fair Necessities appeal early in 2015. Donations received by 3rd April were matched by the UK government under the UK Aid Match scheme. The Cathedral was able to send £250 to Traidcraft, part of the £615,000 raised across the UK, becoming £1,230,000 in total. This will go to growers and craftsmen to help them buy raw materials and seed for their developing businesses.
