St Andrews Fairtrade Town Campaign

St Andrews Fairtrade Town Campaign Group AGM

31^st August 2026

Present  PR, AC, MP, MR

Apologies AM, PM, Amy

AGM business, MR in the chair

·       Election of office bearers. PR proposed that all office bearers continue in their roles.  Seconded by MR.  Chair PR, vice chair MP, secretary AC.  In the absence of AM, her role as treasurer to be confirmed.

·       Financial statement.  Balance £1,439.35 (see Treasurer’s report attached)

Matters arising from minutes 08.06.26

·       Community Council July meeting, attended by MP and PR.  There was a positive response to MP’s talk.  Martin Passmore to contact Nigel Hampton, Fife Council, to request a Fairtrade Town sign be put up on the A91 entrance to St Andrews.  PR to follow up with Martin about the ‘town/community’ wording issue, agreeing to ‘Town’.                     ACTION PR

·       British Open Golf 2027.  MP is to meet Owen James, R&A sustainability officer.  PR has had no response from the Fairtrade Foundation on creating a Fairtrade Event category.                                                                                                                      ACTION MP

·       Fairtrade Fortnight.  MP will be speaking at two Edinburgh churches.  Arrangements for the banners and flag are in hand.  We will send a £100 donation to the Catherine Newman bursary in lieu of holding a coffee morning.  No speakers are available for a producer talk. MP would provide Fairtrade items for Amy’s proposed supply chain discussion with tasting.

ACTION MP, AM

University update, with thanks to Amy for supplying this information for the minutes.

·       Spoken with representatives on the student Environment Network (Student Union) about taking lead on integrating Fairtrade into student events/campaigns this year, as result of changes to my role and an ongoing review of Fairtrade at the University. Contact for collaborations: eande@st-andrews.ac.uk 

·       Have heard back from Louise Davies and Hannah Raymond (Scottish Fairtrade) - neither can attend an event in-person in St Andrews but Hannah is happy to call students for guidance on running a workshop for SF's 'Swap the System' zine campaign, or to attend virtually the coffee morning fundraiser for the Catherine Newman bursary. All plans still TBC but would suggest liaising with her directly (hannah@scottishfairtrade.org) about the coffee morning. 

·       Spoken with the Student Union about having their Community Relations Officer join FT Towns Group meetings. Will keep you posted about this, but would be fantastic to have a student link within this group.

·       Review of Fairtrade at the University ongoing with paper due for response from Senior Leadership Team in November, in time for a renewal of Fairtrade University Award scheme.

True Origin update

·       If transport is available we will arrange and pay for another consignment of spectacles over the winter.  MP to explore options.                                                   ACTION MP

R&A Masters student

·       MP had met the student for his research into the Legacy Fund.

AOB

·       MP will be talking to Ailsa Beebee’s class on fair trade and ethics.

·       We will discuss the future of the group at our next meeting following the University review in November.

Date and venue of next meeting

·       23^rd November at 52 Hepburn Gardens., 7.30pm