The St Andrew’s Church family will be aware that after a process of prayer and discernment, the decision has been made to close the Fairtrade Shop, after a long and hugely successful ministry. Fairtrade at St Andrew’s was one of the very early pioneers, and helped to bring what was a minority concern for trade justice right into the mainstream. Fairtrade goods are now widely available on supermarket shelves and online, and teaching young people about Fairtrade is part of the national curriculum.
Our God is Alpha and Omega, the God of beginnings and of ends, and as St Andrew’s we want to ensure that the Fairtrade shop ends well, and that we celebrate what it has achieved. Just to let you know what has been planned over the coming months:
Celebration Service and Sale: Sunday 22nd September
10 am Parish Eucharist. In Church
Service of thanksgiving for Fairtrade, led by Archdeacon Dave Middlebrook. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Fairtrade mark, and everything Fairtrade at St Andrew’s has achieved.
11am – 5 pm Celebratory Sale. In the Main Hall
An opportunity to buy a wide range of Fairtrade foods, crafts and household items, all at 25% off everything for this day only. Snap up an early Christmas present, stock up on your favourite chocolate, or buy a unique, one off craft item.
2pm – 4 pm Fairtrade Teas. In the Main Hall.
St Andrew’s will remain a Fairtrade Church, and what better way to mark that than with a fairly traded cup of tea or coffee and a slice of delicious cake!
Fairtrade Gift Shop: 23rd September – 22nd December
The Fairtrade shop will be open for its usual trading hours, and in order to give the Church family a period of adjustment, will no longer stock the usual food, drink and household items. Instead, we will run as a seasonal gift shop, with craft and Christmas items, including cards and Advent calendars. This gives us a ‘last chance to buy’ before the shop closes its doors at Christmas.
What next?
Once the shop closes its doors, St Andrew’s will be left with some assets in terms of both stock and funds. The PCC has agreed that these will be donated to charity as follows:
Food and household goods: Bedford Foodbank
Crafts and gifts: Emmaus, Carlton
Funds: Transform Trade https://www.transform-trade.org/
St Andrew’s will continue to be a Fairtrade Church, using fairly traded good across our activities, and promoting Fairtrade, for example through Fairtrade Fortnight each year.
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