Blackpool earns Fairtrade approval

Councillor Maria Kirkland, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member responsible for the Fairness Commission, said: “Achieving Fairtrade status is excellent news for Blackpool and it’s thanks to all the hard work and commitment of everyone involved who have helped to make it happen.

Layton ward councillor Martin Mitchell proposed the original motion for Blackpool to become a Fairtrade town and was the Council’s representative on the Steering Committee throughout.

Some of the work carried out by the Commission included launching the 100 Acts of Kindness campaign which encouraged people to carry out a good deed for a neighbour, friend or someone they didn’t even know. They also held activities with local schools across the resort and held the town’s first ever Kindness Convention, attended by hundreds of people, including third-sector organisations. Blackpool Fairness Commission have also been instrumental in making the town dementia friendly through their work with various health organisations who work with the condition.