Bognor students to promote drive for Fair Trade status

A total of 26 children from St Philip Howard in Barnham, St Richard's in Chichester, St Mary's in Bognor and Arundel's St Philip's Fair Trade joined together to show how the goods they buy can change lives.

The children, aged between eight and 13, looked at the concept of Fair Trade and used various workshops to show how best to implement this in their schools.

St Mary's pupil Romy Welch (10) said: "Fair Trade is a good thing because communities in smaller countries can get more health care, education and food with the extra money they receive."

Farmers who grew Fair Trade bananas, which her school discussed at the special day, received 2.5p for each banana compared to 1p for other growers, she claimed.

The day at Our Lady of Sorrows Church Hall in Bognor was organised by Pat Ventham, the deputy headteacher of St Philip's.

She said: "The children are going back to their schools and talking to the other children about Fair Trade and how the schools can achieve it.

"It's important because they are the citizens of the future. As Catholic schools, we have a big sense of justice and fairness."

The schools already promoted Fair Trade goods, she added. But work continued on meeting the four criteria needed to gain the official status.