CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after Portsmouth’s Anglican diocese was officially declared a ‘Fairtrade diocese’.

The status means that the 142 Anglican parishes in south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the cathedral and diocesan bodies gain an international reputation for giving a fair deal to producers in developing countries.

The Fairtrade Foundation has decided that enough parishes and diocesan bodies use and sell Fairtrade products for the diocese as a whole to gain Fairtrade diocese status. Fairtrade goods are those that carry the Fairtrade Mark, which guarantees that suppliers in Third World countries receive a fair price for their products.

The certificate was officially presented on February 18 at an event that celebrates the links between the three Anglican dioceses of Portsmouth, Chichester and Guildford and Anglican dioceses in West Africa. The Bishop of Kumasi (in Ghana), the Rt Rev Daniel Sarfo, presented the award to the Archdeacon of the Meon, the Ven Peter Hancock at the IDWAL (Inter-Diocesan West Africa Link) Festival in Portsmouth’s Anglican cathedral.

It’s appropriate that it should be a Ghanaian bishop that presents the certificate, as Ghana is one of the developing countries that produces many Fairtrade goods.

The Ven Peter Hancock said: “We are delighted to receive this, and it marks an important step in our partnership with our brothers and sisters around the world, But this is only the first step. There is much more we can do to help to eradicate poverty in places like West Africa.”

To gain Fairtrade diocese status, campaigners had to show that at least one-third of Anglican parishes in the diocese used or sold Fairtrade products; the diocesan synod (the elected decision-making body) had to support the principle; and Fairtrade products had to be available in diocesan offices and in meetings of diocesan boards and committees.

There are now 1,300 Fairtrade products available, including tea, coffee, chocolate, fruit and – more recently – cotton, footballs and fresh flowers. Without the Fairtrade guarantee, farmers can go out of business as world prices for such products fluctuate hugely.

Around 200 worshippers from all three dioceses saw the presentation at the IDWAL Festival. The event was due to focus on the issues of Fairtrade and trade justice in any case.

The day-long conference included speakers, displays, workshops and worship. The talks were given by His Excellency Mr Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, and the Rt Rev Michael Doe, general secretary of the mission agency USPG – a former director of social responsibility in Portsmouth’s Anglican diocese. The African group Osagyefo led worship at the festival, and also led a music workshop during the day.

Fairtrade status was awarded to the city of Portsmouth in 2004, and more recently to the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth’s Roman Catholic diocese and the University of Portsmouth. Campaigners are striving for similar status for Fareham, Havant and East Hampshire.

Campaigners aim to celebrate these recent awards and promote the issue of Fairtrade with displays, tasting sessions and talks during Fairtrade Fortnight from March 6-19. For details, see www.portsmouthfairtrade.org.uk and www.iowff.org.uk