Forth Valley College and the FVC Student Association have had their Fairtrade status renewed for the fourth time.
As the first college in Scotland to attain Fairtrade status (March 2011), FVC has been at the forefront of raising awareness of the worthwhile movement and ethos in the field of further education and beyond.
Since first receiving status recognition the college – in full partnership with the Student Association - has increased the use of Fairtrade food products in its training kitchens and refectories and raised awareness of Fairtrade amongst students.
It has also incorporated teaching of the Fair Trade ethos within the curriculum of several departments including: Access and Progression, Care, Health and Sport and Hospitality, incorporated a dynamic Fairtrade policy for the College through the Estates and Facilities Management Departments and Early Education students have written the first of a series of children’s books - illustrated by a FVC BA Art and Design student.
Additionally the college has, during the last two years, held a Celebration of Fair Trade in the Falkirk Campus, engaging with the local communities and inviting delegations from local primary schools, councils, companies and other organisations to take part in games and workshops, browse stalls, and hear talks on the importance of Fair Trade. The annual Fairtrade shop has also been held in Alloa and the popular Fairtrade Quiz has gone down a storm in Stirling for the past two years.
Claire Shiels, Head of Facilities Management and Health and Safety, at Forth Valley College, said:
“We were delighted to be the first College in Scotland to achieve Fairtrade status and we are now delighted to have our status renewed for a fourth time. We are all very proud of our status and to be highlighting and supporting such a worthwhile cause. We will now do our best to move forward to continue to highlight Fair Trade and hopefully be in an even better position to have our status renewed again in 2018.”
Alan Buchan, FVC Student Association President, said:
“This is great news. Everyone within the college’s Student Association is very proud of the Fairtrade status and it is something we are delighted to be involved with. We will certainly be looking at new ways of raising awareness of Fairtrade throughout the coming year.”
“Fair Trade” as two words, is a strategy, or movement, for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalised by the conventional trading system. In Britain, fair trade is promoted and supported by a wide range of development agencies, campaigning organisations, faith groups, social enterprises and consumer organisations (eg the Co-operative Society)
“Fairtrade” as a single word was adopted to denote products that are certified by the Foundation against the internationally-agreed standards that apply to a number of specific product categories. Fairtrade Labelling is an International Structure which operates through a network of independent, non-profit national organisations in 20 countries around the world, who are all members of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). The Fairtrade Foundation is the member for Britain where the Fairtrade Label is known as the FAIRTRADE Mark.