For Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 Edenbridge’s focus is on textile and football manufacture, areas where there is serious exploitation and so a great need for the development of Fairtrade products. In the process, we are also going to have a great deal of fun with very different events:

• Fairtrade Fashion Show – Friday 29th February – 8pm – Bridges Centre

This will feature the People Tree range of clothing for adults and children with accessories from Traidcraft. Entry by ticket only. Tickets (with complimentary wine and raffle) cost £5 and are available from BRIDGES Community Centre.

• Fairtrade Football Tournament – Saturday 8th March – Kick off 12 noon – Lingfield Road Recreation Ground

This is an exciting venture with 4 local companies (Bradford Electrical, Hever Castle, Manic Monsters and the Elms Nursery) sponsoring sets of Fairtrade Footballs for the 4 local primary schools. The tournament, using Fairtrade footballs (and look out for Fairtrade oranges and the Co-op’s newly launched ‘ethical’ water at half time), between the schools is likely to be opened by a professional footballer. Entry is free to this wonderful community event where you can also enjoy listening to the Pig’s Ear Folk Group and consuming Fairtrade refreshments.

• Fairtrade Design Competition

In addition, all Primary aged children in the town have the opportunity to design a poster for the Fairtrade Football Tournament. More information available from Gill Musgrove (01732 865138 or musgroves@fish.co.uk ).

All events are being generously sponsored by Co-Op Group which was set up to trade ethically in 1844 and was the first major retailer to champion Fairtrade. Since then they have converted all their coffee and block chocolate over to Fairtrade and stock more Fairtrade products than any other retailer.