19 April 2016

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

Students from all years at Imberhorne School last month celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight and participated in helping raise awareness for Fairtrade in the school. The Mayor attended their ‘Big Fairtrade Day’ at the Windmill Lane site.

The Imberhorne Fairtrade Group sold Fairtrade chocolate bars and cookies which were bought in from fairly-trading organisation Traidcraft. Students sold the bars to their peers at lunchtimes.

The Group also gave assemblies to all seven year groups. In these, they spoke about this year’s theme – Big Fairtrade Breakfasts – and the concept of food security. All the people who wrote and delivered the assemblies were student members of the Group, who then visited local primary schools in Lingfield and Dormansland to run workshops.

In these, the students investigated a mystery, and had to figure out how Fairtrade had helped a Kenyan tea farmer with environmental changes. They were then served a Big Fairtrade Breakfast including jam sandwiches, juice, snack bars and muesli. Then then visited the 6^th EG Beavers, where they also served Fairtrade breakfasts!

During their ‘Big Fairtrade Day’, year 8s had been tasked to come up two or three ‘unfair’ game stalls per form, to set-up and play – form 8Y won the prize for most money raised (£50.50). The year 9s played an “Unfair Dodgeball Match” against the teachers. Town Mayor, Cllr Dick Sweatman, attended the event for the second year running, and commented on how well it was ran and how it was good to see students so enthusiastic.

The Fairtrade Group’s Chairman, year 13 student Henry Grub, said: “Fairtrade Fortnight 2016 was bigger and better than last year, and raised much more money! The students work so hard and really get stuck into the celebrations and we are so proud to be able to put on an event like this. Last year we won an award and £350 for our Fortnight activities and I definitely hope we can do it again!”

In total, the Fortnight raised £476.68, which will all be going to the school’s investment scheme with “Lend with Care”, an organisation providing microloans to producers and entrepreneurs in the developing world, who will be chosen by the students.