Fairtrade Fortnight fun at University

People will be encouraged to take part in the Big Swap to see if they can spot the difference between a regular cuppa and Fairtrade tea from Monday, 22 February 2010.

The University has had official Fairtrade status since 2008 and will be running a number of activities during the fortnight.

Alexandra Chilvers, from Cadbury, will give a presentation about the chocolate firm’s Fairtrade journey on Thursday, 4 March 2010. The lecture at 1pm in MC001 will focus on what inspired Cadbury to work with Fairtrade and the consumer response to Dairy Milk gaining Fairtrade certification.

This will be followed by a talk by Dan Morey, Commercial Development Officer at the Fairtrade Foundation. No booking is required for these presentations, but there is limited space available.

Other events include a five-a-side football festival, with staff pitting themselves against students on the pitch at the Walsall Campus on Monday, 22 February and at City Campus on Thursday, 4 March.

Visitors to the University’s Postgraduate Open Day on Wednesday, 24 February will be able to sample Fairtrade tea while discussing their study options from 11am until 2pm in the Students’ Union lounge. There will also be Fairtrade products on offer at the University’s Open Day on Saturday, 6 March at City Campus.

Dean of Students Jon Elsmore, who is Joint Chair of the University’s Fairtrade Steering Group, said: “The University was recently re-recognised as a Fairtrade University and received a glowing report from the Fairtrade Foundation for our work in the last year. This year we want to go further and do more."

There will also be Traidcraft stalls selling Fairtrade food and gifts at the Walsall and Wolverhampton Campuses.

The University of Wolverhampton was granted Fairtrade status in June 2008 and Fairtrade products are sold in all University outlets across its campuses. The University is also a member of the Wolverhampton City Fairtrade Partnership.

For more information about Fairtrade Fortnight events, visit www.wlv.ac.uk/fairtrade

Further information

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736