It was a evening  of celebration last night as Wolverhampton City Fairtrade Partnership  held its AGM at Wolverhampton College Paget Road campus.    

They were looked after by the fantastic young people from catering and hospitality and the students served up a wonderful food encorporating  fairtrade products. It was their first time serving the public and they were very well recieved by everyone in attendance.   Wolverhampton city has held Fairtrade City Status for 17 years  and as a certified fairtade city   they welcomed Mr Mayor Greg Brakenridge to speak and present the Lord Bilston Dennis Turner awards to Dr Barbara Gwinnett outgoing chair and outgoing treasurer  Ganesh De for their services to Fairtrade in the city  going back many years .    Stepping into the role of Chair will be Julia Farrell or Jools as she is known to her friends. Julia lives in Bilston and for her day job works for Midcounties Co-operative as their Community Team Administrator .  

Julia took to the floor to thank everyone and  committed to carrying on the great work her predecessors have already done to get the city in the great place that it is.    Did you know that Wolverhampton was the first city in tje country to achieve Fairtrade City Status which I awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation Julia said  .I'm very  proud to be stepping into some very 'big shoes' but with the ongoing  support of local city councillors,  MPs, Schools, faith groups and business across our great city I will commit 110 percent  to build on  the wonderful legacies that previous chairs of the Partnership; Sehdev Bismal MBE, Lord Bilston Dennis Turner and Dr Barbara Gwinnett have left behind.

Their commitment to get the partnership in the great place it is today will never be forgotten''    

The principle behind Fairtrade is campaigning for farmers to get a fair days wage for a fair days work for the things that we consume.  

Items that we we cant grow here due to our climate. Items  such as tea, coffee, sugar and cocoa beans for our chocolate.     

If you'd like to find out more about Fairtrade or would like to get involved you can visit the city councils website fir contact details or you can follow them and send them a message through their social media platforms  twitter  @fairtrade wolverhampton   and also on their  Facebook page @Fairtrade in Wolverhampton.