THE Co-operative Group is encouraging members in Wales to prepare for Fairtrade Fortnight (February 24 to March 9) by providing a Join In Fairtrade toolkit to help them stage their own events.

Groups or individuals can apply for a special Join In Fairtrade Fortnight toolkit, which contains everything they need to plan local Fairtrade activities.

Packs include a voucher for buying Fairtrade products at Co-operative Food stores, a film about Fairtrade, a quiz, an information booklet, a poster, and some stickers.

Members of The Co-operative are urged to stage any event to help raise awareness of the Fairtrade movement. These could include fashion shows, coffee mornings or wine tastings.

The consumer-owned retailer has been a strong supporter of the Fairtrade movement for many years, since becoming the first high street retailer to list Cafedirect back in 1992. Now, The Co-operative stocks the widest range of Fairtrade grocery products of any UK supermarket with 230 different lines, and is this year celebrating 10 years of Fairtrade wine.

Ashley Drake, membership manager for The Co-operative in Wales said: “As the UK’s largest mutual retailer, we have been at the forefront of developing Fairtrade products and promoting the principles of Fairtrade. Our sales figures show how important Fairtrade is to our customers and, thanks to their continued support, we can ensure a better deal for growers in developing countries whose families can also look forward to a better future.

“As well as staging our own Fairtrade wine tasting events and hosting a Fairtrade producer during Fairtrade Fortnight, we are particularly pleased to be able to offer community groups throughout the region this Join In Fairtrade toolkit to enable members to make a difference on their own doorsteps.”

To apply for a Join In Fairtrade toolkit contact 0800 088 4862 or visit www.co-operative.coop/fairtrade/campaign-toolkit.