Tag: Local Community

Fairtrade in Kensington and Chelsea

Take A Step for Fairtrade

As part of the national Fairtrade Fortnight 2012 (27th February to 11th March), the Kensington & Chelsea Fairtrade Campaign is to host two stalls at Whole Foods on Kensington High Street in early March to help raise awareness of and promote Fairtrade in the Borough.

The two stalls will be held on Saturday 3rd and Saturday 10th March from 11am to 4pm and will feature samples of Fairtrade products and information about Fairtrade; you will also have the opportunity to sign up to the campaign.

This year’s Fairtrade theme is “Take A Step” which has the aim of getting 1.5 million steps in support of Fairtrade by the end of the year. More information about the national campaign can be found at step.fairtrade.org.uk. Despite the current tough economic climate, sales of Fairtrade products are ever increasing – in 2011, sales rose by 12% to reach around £1.32 billion, according to the Fairtrade Foundation.

The Kensington & Chelsea Fairtrade Campaign aims to encourage local businesses, community groups and shoppers to support ethical and fairly traded products. Although 22 of London’s 33 boroughs have been awarded Fairtrade status, our borough is unfortunately not one of them. In order to be awarded Fairtrade status, Kensington and Chelsea needs to undertake a number of steps, including establishing a campaign steering group with representatives of a range of community and business interests, winning Council support, and meeting five goals for awareness raising and availability of Fairtrade products and information

There are, however, a number of of businesses in Kensington & Chelsea that already offer Fairtrade products, including Whole Foods and Luscious Organic on Kensington High Street, Tea & Coffee Plant and Portobello Wholefoods on Portobello Road and the Oxfam shops in the area. The Cooperative, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Pret a Manger, Starbucks, EAT and Crusssh also all support the campaign.

Support your the local Kensington & Chelsea campaign by coming down to Whole Foods on the 3rd or 10th March, and do also check out the campaign online at www.Facebook.com/fairtradekc and rbkcfairtrade.blogspot.com.

Take A Step in 2012 for Fairtrade
11am to 4pm, Saturday 3rd and Saturday 10th March
Whole Foods
63-97 Kensington High Street
W8 5SE

Local businesses in Kensington & Chelsea

I recently received a few emails from readers and visitors to this site suggesting that I feature more small businesses in the area, thereby helping their trade.

That’s something I completely agree with, and I am of course very happy to feature or list any independent shops and businesses (and tradesmen and women) on this site – if there’s anything you readers would like me to include, please email me on webmaster@kensington-chelsea.com.

To kick things off, my father recommended a local barbers which he discovered only a few months ago. They are Cut & Go (13a Kenway Road, SW5 0RP, opposite of Nandos on Earls Court Road). Dad is full of praise for their friendly service and great value – a haircut is only £9. Checking out a few other review sites (and similar), it seems he’s not the only one that’s very happy with them! As the reviewer (Matthew B.) on Yelp says:

“THE most minimalist barber shop in West London. Why? Because you want a haircut, not a fashion show.  I have been there three times now and every time I’m out in five minutes with a great haircut, by someone who wants to be a barber.”

Any comments or suggestions, please do get in touch via email (as above) or in the comments section below.

Take part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning

Macmillan Cancer Support are inviting Kensington and Chelsea residents to take part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on 30th September 2011 to help raise money during the flagship fundraising event, which raises over £8 million for people living with cancer.

Five friends round the kitchen table or 500 in the community centre. Every coffee morning counts if we’re going to reach the growing number of people who need our support. It could be coffee and cakes in the morning, or a pub quiz after work. It can be on the big day, or on a date that suits you better. It doesn’t matter where or when, it just matters that we all join in. See how easy it is to hold your own coffee morning and show support for everyone affected by cancer.

To sign up to hold your own coffee morning – or to research coffee mornings being held in Kensington and Chelsea (or indeed, any other area!), please go to coffee.macmillan.org.uk.

Be sure to also check out the Fundraising Ideas Generator for some more unusual activities that you could hold on your coffee morning!