Coffee morning to boosttown's Fairtrade status bid

The coffee morning was the first of three events held by the town's Fairtrade shop to publicise the move towards Fairtrade town status.

Another coffee morning will take place at the meeting room behind the shop in Waterloo Square between 10am and 1pm tomorrow, March 9,to further mark national Fairtrade fortnight.

In between, a meeting was held there on Monday to encourage others to join the campaign for a Fairtrade town. The shop is run by Bognor Vineyard Church. Joint organiser Lisa van Driel said: 'We had about 30 people for the coffee morning. They enjoyed coffee and home-made Fairtrade cakes.

'The morning was all about getting the message across to people about Fairtrade products.'

But the foods usually associated with Fairtrade goods are only some of the 500 products available in the shop.

Bags, picture frames and egg cups on its shelves have all been made through Fairtrade sources. The items are often made using recycled products.

'The Fairtrade sales rep who goes around the country reckons we have the biggest range of products in one place that he has seen,' explained Lisa. 'People are surprised by what we sell.

'We have built up a steady customer base since we opened in November 2005, often through word of mouth.'

The movement towards making Bognor a Fairtrade town is close to success. The only remaining obstacle is to sign up more retailers and cafes to sell Fairtrade products. Shop manager Abbey Ingate knows that for every jar of coffee she sells some 50p goes to the grower rather than the 4p from a branded jar in a supermarket.

She explained: 'People in the developing world say Fairtrade products make the difference to them of being able to afford education for their children or not. It can also ensure they can pay for health care.'

Lisa added: 'Being a Fairtrade town will be a good thing for Bognor. It brings people together to know they are doing some good and also promotes the use of local businesses.' Arundel and Chichester have Fairtrade town status.