This week will also witness binning of the last of my dubiously sourced Calvin Classic underwear. About the same time as I bought my last poor quality pants (and first of many fairtrade ones), I started hanging out with FAB, shortly after we had become a fairtrade city in 2005 and before behind the game, and other cotton and slavery related school projects I got involved in.

Team FAB united have outstanding qualities – captain John Boyle (see image), a great all-rounder and cooperative man, never without an anecdote or chocolate, sweeper Paul Birch from Revolver, always there to support, safe hands Lorraine Cookson from the council, never let’s a good promotion opportunity slip by.

Then there’s the likes of Gill, Jane and Sylvia, always there, distributing the goods, academics, international stars who check fairtrade out abroad, me and Sushan making occasional runs down the wing, feeding play to the real stars, the folk who just do fairtrade, and those who want everyone else to. Which reminds me, a quick plea on behalf of small local charity LUCIA (FAB members) – they are looking for school uniforms and a possible school partnership with a school in Ethiopia. It’s a great opportunity and anyone any ideas, contact LUCIA directly.

This year marks an increase in our support for young people campaigning for fairtrade in Birmingham. Co-op are working hard with children across the city and Kit on for fairtrade events are going on with adults and children. We are organising a network evening to launch our young people’s forum for Fairtrade, and throughout Fairtrade Fortnight the whole of year 8 (around 100 12-13 yr olds) at Holy Trinity Catholic Media College explore ‘Should all trade be fair?’

For Holy Trinity, most of ‘FAB united’ are playing a part on a project of scope and depth I’ve not heard of before. We will run a Fair Dragon’s Den at end of Fairtrade Fortnight, hearing the ideas and concepts of young people which I hope FAB can support and develop.  Holy Trinity are looking to be our first Fairtrade school in Birmingham, and together with our other projects with young people, we will be looking to our future to make fair and ethical trade the norm across our great trading city!

At FAB, we like to think we’re all in it together.  Why not join us?

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By Marcus Belben

For all things Fairtrade please contact FAB, contact me, Marcus Belben, or visit my blog.