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Sheringham fairtrade lynda bre

Fairtrade success for Sheringham Christians

2018: A group of Christians in Sheringham have been expanding the presence of their Fairtrade stall in the town, and have already raised over £1000 this year so far for the Fairtrade charity Traidcraft Exchange.

 
Since getting Sheringham established as a Fairtrade Town back in 2014, Brenda Smith and her team have been spreading the influence of Fairtrade on the town’s churches and other organisations, and have now brought their well-stocked stall to Sunday services at Lighthouse Community Church in the town.
 
“We already had a monthly stall at the mid-week Kaleidoscope club based at Lighthouse” explained Branda, “but the pastor, Ian Savory, asked if we would also set up the stall at Lighthouse on a Sunday morning once a month. We were, of course, delighted to oblige”.  
 
All the town’s churches have embraced Fairtrade to some extent, and Lighthouse café already serves Fairtrade coffees and teas supplied by Kingdom Coffee.
 
Traidcraft Exchange tells the story of Asina, aged 28, who is a widow with three children in Bangladesh, working very hard at any job she can - looking after goats or cows, or labouring in the fields. Anwar, her eldest son would like to start school, but he must help his mother, struggling to earn enough. Traidcraft Exchange works alongside smallholders like Asina, providing training on cultivation and good agricultural practice, so that they can learn new skills and leave poverty behind.
 
Sheringham fairtrade table 640Brenda says “We raised £350 from events at St.Peter's and St.Andrew's Churches in Sheringham during Fairtrade Fortnight earlier this year, and together with the profits from stalls in North Norfolk, since Christmas, we have sent a cheque for just over £1000, to Traidcraft Exchange. And, of course, the UK Government has been doubling all donations to this charity until April, so we have been able to make a magnificent contribution to helping people get themselves out of extreme poverty.
 
“But it’s not just the money that matters – It is essential that we continue to raise awareness of the need for us to buy fairly traded food and goods from these countries”.

Pictured top are Lynda, Brenda and Harry with the Fairtrade stall at Lighthouse.
 
 



TonyRothe150Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in North Norfolk?  

If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture. 


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