Annual Review 2013/14

Transcription

1 Annual Review 2013/14

2 Chair s welcome This report covers our first year since Scotland became a Fair Trade Nation. Celebration of this achievement was rightly the focus for much activity, leading up to a hugely successful Fair Trade Festival in September. However, becoming a Fair Trade Nation will only have meaning if it makes a difference to the conduct of public and private business. We will continue to focus on public procurement following our successful lobbying to have Fair Trade referenced in the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act Finally, with Fair Trade Nation status secured, I decided to step down as Chair of the Forum in April My best wishes go to my successor, Graeme Clark. Chair, Martin Meteyard Ministerial Message This has been a great year of progress for Fair Trade in Scotland. I was delighted to attend the Fair Trade Festival in Perth last year as the centrepiece of our national celebration of the achievement of Fair Trade status for Scotland. It was a privilege to be part of that colourful, lively and uplifting celebration of all that Scotland has achieved as a Fair Trade Nation. The challenge now is to develop the commitment to Fair Trade across our communities and all sections of society. The Scottish Government is proud to be supporting the Scottish Fair Trade Forum in leading Scotland to the next level as a Fair Trade Nation and a global leader in combatting inequalities in trade. Minister for External Affairs and International Development, Humza Yousaf MSP 2 Scottish Fair Trade Forum

3 Review of the Year After almost six years of determined hard work, the goal of making Scotland a Fair Trade Nation was reached in February The challenge facing the Forum in the period since that achievement has been to celebrate that success while also seeking to develop an ambitious programme for the future. As the world s second Fair Trade Nation, Scotland has a demanding role to uphold and there is much work to be done in order to follow up on the commitments made and ensure their continuing impact. Being a Fair Trade Nation, Scotland has an important role to play in challenging global inequality and poverty by encouraging international trade where the rights and dignity of all are recognised. A crucial part of achieving the goal of poverty alleviation is empowerment, increasing confidence and access to affordable credit for small-scale producers with the opportunity to form long-term trading relationships. In September 2013, the Forum hosted a national Fair Trade Festival in Perth attracting about 400 people to celebrate Scotland achieving Fair Trade Nation status. Throughout 2013/14, the Forum has continued its support for Fairtrade Town steering groups as well as working with local authorities and partners to support Fairtrade Zone activity. Two Zone steering groups, Orkney and Inverclyde, successfully submitted applications for Fairtrade Zone status during the year. We have continued our work with elected representatives in Holyrood, Westminster, Brussels and local councils across Scotland. We continue to support the Cross Party Group on Fair Trade in the Scottish Parliament and we have engaged in dialogue with the Scottish Government on the full range of Fair Trade issues including specifically on ethical and Fair Trade in public sector procurement. annual review 2013/14 3

4 Review of the Year 4 A key focus of the Forum throughout 2013/14 has been our continued commitment to creating direct links between Scotland and Fair Trade producers, through producer tours in 2013 from Malawi and Indonesia and visitors during Fairtrade Fortnight 2014 from Nicaragua, Nepal and Colombia. We have also continued to act as an exchange for information among the network of Scottish Fair Trade organisations and also the sharing of best practice between these organisations including hosting regional training workshops for campaigners around Scotland. We continue to look outwards including dialogue with Fair Trade Wales, the Fairtrade Foundation and British Association of Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers. Interest in Scotland s Fair Trade Nation status has spread further and we have had initial contacts with Fair Trade organisations in Spain, Canada and Croatia and the Ecuadorian Trade Office. Scottish Fair Trade Forum As the year 2013/14 was drawing to a close, the Forum agreed a 3 year business plan and core funding from the Scottish Government securing the future of the Forum and our campaigning. We are confident that being a Fair Trade Nation will give us the platform to promote Fair Trade and campaign against unfair trade practices in the years ahead. Director, Martin Rhodes Being a Fair Trade Nation, Scotland has an important role to play in challenging global inequality and poverty by encouraging international trade where the rights and dignity of all are recognised.

5 Fair Trade Festival 2013 was a year of celebration for Scotland after achieving its Fair Trade Nation status early in the year. The Forum brought together campaigners and supporters of Fair Trade in Scotland at the Fair Trade Festival, which took place on 7 September 2013 in Perth. A lot was happening at the Festival. After the Deputy Provost of Perth and Kinross had opened the day by welcoming everyone to the event, visitors were busy attending stalls, workshops, schools performances, a bake-off competition, wine tasting, a performance by broadcaster and journalist Tom Morton, fun activities for kids and much more, while there was also a chance to listen to engaging talks from our guest speakers including Humza Yousaf MSP, Minister for External Affairs and International Development, Elen Jones (Fair Trade Wales), Barbara Crowther (Fairtrade Foundation), Jayde Bradley (Traidcraft), Kathryn Sygrove (BAFTS) and Betsy Reed, the Forum s first Director. annual review 2013/14 5

6 Fair Trade Awards The exciting day of the Fair Trade Festival ended on a high note with the first Scottish Fair Trade Awards being presented to campaigners. The following awards were presented: Volunteer of the Year 2013 Juliek Manowski for his IT and communications support work for Castle Douglas Fairtrade Town Group, demonstrating his outstanding commitment to Fair Trade Community Award 2013 Saint Elizabeth s Primary School and community, Hamilton for exceptional campaigning for Fair Trade in their community Campaigner of the Year 2013 Tracy Mitchell for her active Fair Trade campaigning work throughout the year, in particular establishing a pilot Fair Trade Nurseries scheme in East Dunbartonshire Innovation Award 2013 Equal Exchange for Coffee Grown By Women for creating an innovative campaign and approach to campaigning for the Fair Trade movement A special recognition in the Innovation Award category 2013 Cally Phillips for creating an innovative approach to campaigning for the Fair Trade movement through the medium of drama, writing and publishing Outstanding Achievement Award 2013 John Riches For demonstrating consistent outstanding commitment to Fair Trade, and continually making significant achievements through Fair Trade campaigning over many years. 6 Scottish Fair Trade Forum

7 Fairtrade Fortnight 2014 Fairtrade Fortnight 2014 ran between 24 February and 9 March and the Forum was pleased to host Fair Trade representatives from three different countries, Nicaragua, Nepal and Colombia. The Forum hosted Fatima Ismael from the UCA Soppexcca co-operative, an organisation of small-holder coffee farmers from Jinotega in Nicaragua. With the One World Shop, The Forum also co-hosted Mandira Bhattarai and Amisha Bhandari who represented Get Paper Industry (GPI) from Nepal. Albeiro Alfonso Foncho Cantillo, a Colombian banana farmer and the face of the Fairtrade Fortnight 2014 campaign to Make Bananas Fair also visited Scotland. Together, Fatima, Mandira & Amisha, and Foncho visited and spoke at a large range of events and places across the country. These included schools, colleges, universities, Fairtrade town groups, Fair Trade Organisations, shops, a paper mill, the Scottish Parliament and other events such as a farmers market and an International Women s Day event in Kirkintilloch. Foncho even got to hear the bagpipes! annual review 2013/14 7

8 Producer Tours Yunita Anggraini and Ukrumah Suda travelled all the way from Indonesia specifically to speak at the Fair Trade Festival in September They work for Pekerti Nusantara, an Indonesian company which produces Fair Trade handicrafts. They attended events such as the Fair Trade Festival in Perth, Fairtrade town group meetings and visited universities, Fair Trade Organisations and even a creamery! Rice farmers from Malawi, Howard Msukwa and Susan Ntende arrived in Scotland in June 2013 to take part in a tour which included events with Fairtrade town groups, cooking demonstrations, churches, universities, events such as the Fair Trade Nursery scheme first year celebration event in East Dunbartonshire and even took part in the G8 IF campaign rally. Procurement C hanging public sector procurement so it reflects Scotland s commitment to being a Fair Trade Nation has been a key area of work for the Forum in 2013/14. We lobbied The Scottish Government and MSPs on the content of the Procurement Reform Bill as well as producing briefings for public sector organisations and hosting a one day conference for public sector procurement professionals. We are now moving forward with a two year programme in collaboration with the Scottish Government to produce comprehensive support and information for public sector procurement officers to increase ethical and Fair Trade purchasing. 8 Scottish Fair Trade Forum

9 Fair Trade Sports Balls Fair Trade Sports Balls Ltd, trading as Bala Sport, was formed by a steering group of individuals wanting to establish a Fairtrade sports balls social enterprise in Scotland. A 19,500 start-up grant from the Co-operative Glasgow Business Development Fund was awarded to the group and it was registered as an Industrial and Provident Society in March The start-up grant was partly invested in the design and purchase of 1,250 Bala branded Fairtrade sports balls and creating the Bala Sport concept. The social enterprise will be launching its business plan and a public shares issue later in Fair Trade Nurseries The financial year saw a significant shift in action on Fair Trade Nurseries, with it developing from a pilot, council-led scheme in East Dunbartonshire to a formal, Scotland-wide programme overseen by the Scottish Fair Trade Forum. Inspired by the success of the East Dunbartonshire pilot, which saw two thirds of council-run and partnership nurseries participating in various ways that were impressive both in terms of quantity and quality, the Forum Board approved a national rollout of the programme and work began on securing the necessary human, financial and educational resources to support this. annual review 2013/14 9

10 Finances Overview Incoming resources: Incoming resources from generated funds: Voluntary income: Core grants 162,090 Other grants 14,718 Membership fees and donations 4,684 Investment income: Bank interest 98 Incoming resources from generated funds: Bank interest 293 Total incoming resources 181,883 The Forum would like to thank the Souter Charitable Trust, the Voluntary Action Fund, the Fairtrade Foundation and the Third Sector Internship Scheme for their financial support during the year. Resources expended: Charitable activities: Staff costs 90,292 Campaign awareness and marketing 23,497 Fair Trade Nation achievement costs 4,925 Producer tours and links 11,001 Events 3,989 Volunteer expenses 6,681 Local groups support 454 Office premises 13,800 Office running costs 6,633 Insurance 480 Bank charges 48 Miscellaneous expenses 389 Professional support costs 798 Depreciation 432 Fundraising costs: Fundraising training 921 Governance costs 1,609 Total resources expended 165, Scottish Fair Trade Forum

11 Board and Volunteers The Scottish Fair Trade Forum s Board of Trustees is elected by members from four membership categories small, medium and large businesses and organisations, and individuals. Our Board represents local Fair Trade groups, businesses, NGOs, organisations and individual campaigners from around Scotland. They all work on a voluntary basis, and bring a range of skills and experience to the work of the Forum. Thanks to all Board members during the year: Annie Howie Bruce Stuart Graeme Clark Hilary Mackay (until 6/13) Jane Brennan (from 09/13) Jenny Fausset (until 09/13) Laura Kerr (from 09/13) Liz Cotton Martin Meteyard Rachel Farey Robin Stewart Rosie Rutherford (from 09/13) Sylvia Gray Tracy Mitchell The Forum is very grateful to all its volunteers over the past year: Andrew Dougall Angela Oakley Angus Coull Anne Fegan Charlie Crerar Chris Bell Christine Rankin Grace O Donovan Hisashi Kuboyama Jordi Albacete Karen Mathewson Laura Bain Margo Sabella-Marshall Mariana White Martina Foniokova Natalie Reading Niall Robb Nicola Jamieson Rachael McLean Sarah Aldred Sarah Middlemiss Sharon Adam Victoria Richardson annual review 2013/14 11

12 Supported by Get Involved with Fair Trade in Scotland Why get involved: The Scottish Fair Trade Forum works to help make Scotland a nation which is a global leader in challenging global poverty and recognises the dignity and rights of producers through a commitment to fairness in international trading. If you re interested in getting involved, here s how: Buy Fair Trade think about replacing regular items you buy with Fair Trade ones Ask shops to stock more Fair Trade products Get your workplace, community group and college/university to buy Fair Trade your favourite companies and ask them to make their products Fair Trade Spread the word tell friends and family why they should choose Fair Trade Speak to local business about why Fair Trade can be good for profits Speak to local community leaders to encourage wider use of Fair Trade Put on an event to engage the public Generate publicity tell us an inspirational story about a Fair Trade shop or campaigner you know Form a Fair Trade Group and join other campaigners Campaign for trade justice to secure fair deals for producers If you d like to receive more information, contact us and we will be happy to help. Let us know if you would also like to be included on our mailing list to receive our regular e-newsletter, information about Fairtrade Fortnight activities and other events. info@sftf.org.uk, for general enquiries and to ask to be added to our mailing list to get our regular e-newsletter. Phone: Website: Facebook: FairTradeNation Designed by