by Graham Tutthill

Shoppers in Dover are being urged to swap one of their normal brand items for a Fairtrade product as part of Fairtrade Fortnight.

Children are also being invited to take part in a competition.

The theme of the fortnight is the Big Swap, with people being encouraged to choose fairly-traded items when they do their weekly shop.

The children's competition, organised by the Dover Fairtrade Group, gives youngsters aged 11 and under the chance to decorate Fairtrade bananas in St Mary’s Church Hall on Saturday March 6 between 10am and 12.30pm. There will be free tea and coffee for parents and squash for the children.

Judging will be by the Mayor Cllr Sue Jones and Mayoress Cllr Ronnie Philpott with two small prizes donated by the Mayor.

The organisers are appealing for anyone who has pipe cleaners, glitter, glue, scissors, coloured card, material offcuts, feathers or even googly eyes to drop them into Dover Town Council offices before Friday March 5.

Tea and coffee mornings were held at Charlton Church and The Beacon Church in Dover on Saturday, February 27.

There is another at St Mary’s Parish Centre, Stembrook, on Wednesday March 3 from 10 to 11.30 a.m.

Fairtrade products are sourced from poorer and Third World suppliers who are paid a premium for their product. This premium price enables the suppliers to develop improved water supplies, education, and other aspects of life, which most people take for granted, in their communities.

There are information stalls in the Somerfield Co-op store at Stembrook and further information is available at the town council offices in Maison Dieu House.