ILMINSTER NEWS: Record attempts, road signs and reaching out for Ilminster Fairtrade

THE new Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Val Keitch, was among those who attended the annual meeting and open evening of the Ilminster Fairtrade group.

Cllr Keitch accepted the Fairtrade Town Certificate on behalf of Ilminster Town Council during the meeting held on Monday, May 23, 2016. Also present at the meeting was Greenfylde First School headteacher Claire Oaten.

The award comes thanks to the continuing hard work of a small management committee, which was first successful in achieving Fairtrade status for the town in 2014.

The committee was recently told that their application to renew the town’s status as a Fairtrade Town had once again been successful, with the Fairtrade Foundation having highlighted specific achievements and ambitions as ‘impressive’.

Chairman Roger Gurner and fellow officers summarised some of the achievements of the management committee over the past year including a Guinness World Record attempt and successful Fairtrade Fortnight campaign held earlier in the year.

Plans to install five Fairtrade Town signs on the entrance roads to the town were unveiled, along with proposals to launch a ‘Fair Hair’ campaign with hairdressers across Ilminster, refresh and reprint the popular Fairtrade Ilminster leaflet, and lead an ambitious expansion of the local Fairtrade movement to surrounding towns, villages and across South Somerset.

PHOTO: Serving up some Fairtrade goodies at The Green House Interiors and Coffee Shop in Ilminster following the meeting.

Many of the original committee members were re-elected, with the addition of Greenfylde’s Ms Oaten, who was confirmed in her role as the new Fairtrade Schools Champion and outlined some early project proposals for engaging young people in local Fairtrade activities.

The meeting was followed by a selection of Fairtrade and Gluten Free drinks and cakes served at an advanced opening of The Green House Interiors and Coffee Shop, now operating from the premises formerly occupied by Lanes Garden Shop.

The next meeting of the management committee is due to be held on Thursday, June 16, 2016, at Ilminster Bowling and Tennis Club, from 7pm.  New supporters are always welcome.

For further information please visit the website www.ilminsterfairtrade.uk, Ilminster Fairtrade Facebook Page or contact the secretary, Natalie Wainwright, on 07746-727002.

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