'Fairtrade' is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development through fair trading relationships. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers and workers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.

'Fairtrade' (as one word) represents the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation's standards for providing assurance on products which claim to reflect Fairtrade opportunities.

The criteria defined by the Fairtrade movement are:

• Fair producer price, guaranteeing a fair wage, covering the costs of sustainable production and living. This price needs to be at least as high as the Fairtrade minimum price and premium where they have been 'defined by the international Fair Trade associations'
• Part payments to be made in advance if so requested by the producer.
• Long-term, stable relations with producers and producers' involvement in Fairtrade standard setting.
• Transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain to guarantee appropriate consumer information.
• Conditions of production respecting the eight International Labour Organization (ILO) Core Conventions.
• Respect for the environment, protection of human rights and in particular women's and children's rights and respect for traditional production methods which promote economic and social development.
• Capacity building and empowerment for producers, particularly small-scale and marginalized producers and workers in developing countries, their organisations as well as the respective communities, in order to ensure the sustainability of Fairtrade.
• Support for production and market access for the producer organisations.
• Awareness-raising activities about Fairtrade production and trading relationships, the mission and aims of Fairtrade and about the prevailing injustice of international trade rules.
• Monitoring and verification of compliance with these criteria, in which southern organisations must play a greater role, leading to reduced costs and increased local participation in the certification process.
• Regular impact assessments of the Fairtrade activities.

The campaign to secure Fairtrade Town status for Huddersfield was launched at the University of Huddersfield on 24 October 2009

Goal 1 - Council Motion

Original Council Motion, 19 January 2005
Council Motion, 21 October 2009
Cabinet report on implementation, 24 November 2009
The Mayor, other Elected Members and Council staff serve on the Steering Group. It is Council policy to provide Fairtrade tea and coffee at Council meetings whenever refreshments are offered, and on a voluntary basis many Council staff teams also buy Fairtrade products for their own use.

Goal 2 - Retail and Catering Outlets

There is a target of 23 retail and 12 catering outlets based on the population of Huddersfield. Research has been undertaken by the Lorna Young Foundation and Young Ethical Pioneers to establish a baseline and promote Fairtrade takeup within the retail and related sectors.This found that 72 retail businesses and 29 catering outlets in Huddersfield offer Fairtrade products.

Goal 3 - Workplaces, Schools and Colleges, Community Organisations and Places of Worship

Local workplaces can support the campaign by making Fairtrade products available to their staff and clients. A number of non-retail businesses have now been identified - please tell us if you offer Fairtrade products. We have plans in place for a flagship employer and are promoting Fairtrade with places of worship, schools and colleges and other community organisations. The University of Huddersfield is already a Fairtrade University.

Goal 4 - Media Campaign

We are ensuring that there is media coverage and arranging events to raise awareness and understanding of Fairtrade across the community. The media campaign is supported by the Huddersfield Examiner. You can keep in touch with people supporting the campaign and find out about events being planned by becoming part of our Facebook group for Fairtrade Kirklees.We held events during Fairtrade Fortnight (22 February - 7 March 2010) and at Easter and held a stall at the Honley Show on 12 June. There will be Fairtrade information stands at the Emley Show (7 August) and the Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival (12 - 15 August).

Goal 5 - Steering Group

A local Fairtrade Steering Group has been convened to support the campaign and meets on a monthly basis. Notes of Steering Group meetings are available below:

• Initial Meeting, 6 October 2009
• 4 November 2009
• 30 November 2009
• 5 January 2010
  
• 3 February 2010
• 10 March 2010
• 31 March 2010
  
• 16 June 2010
  
• 21 July 2010
  

• Batley and Spen Fairtrade Constituency
• Holme Valley
• Meltham Fairtrade Group (external)
• Fairtrade Mirfield
• University of Huddersfield Fairtrade (external)

• European Commission - Communication on Contributing to Sustainable Development: The role of Fairtrade and nongovernmental trade-related sustainability assurance schemes
• ILO Core Conventions
• Fairtrade Kirklees - Change People's Lives (PDF 0.97MB): A two sided leaflet to support our campaign to achieve Fairtrade status for Kirklees.
• Fairtrade Foundation
  Comprehensive information about fairtrade, products and resources.
• Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO)
• Fairtrade Kirklees
  Facebook fan page.
• Yorkshire Fairtrade
  A website promoting Fairtrade across Yorkshire.