Campaigner’s Fairtrade birthday bash

A FAIRTRADE campaigner from Barwell celebrated his birthday by hosting a tasting event during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Mathew Hulbert, who chairs Hinckley and Bosworth Fairtrade Forum and represents the East Midlands on the Fairtrade Foundation’s National Campaigner Committee, hosted the event at Barwell’s George Ward Centre where he works as a centre co-ordinator.

Treats, including biscuits and chocolate, were donated by the Heart of England Co-Op store in the village.

They were offered to centre staff, volunteers and regulars attending activities at the Church Lane centre, along with cups of Fairtrade tea and coffee.

It was the closest Mr Hulbert would get to a birthday party this year as he was born on February 29, which only comes round once every four years.

He said: “As a passionate campaigner for Fairtrade, there’s no other way I’d rather spend my big day than sharing Fairtrade treats with friends and colleagues.

“I’d really like to thank centre manager Lesley Pratt, everyone at the Centre and Jo Dyke at the Co-Op for helping to make my birthday so special, by facilitating such an enjoyable tasting session.”

He added: “As consumers, when we buy products with the Fairtrade mark on them we ensure that developing world producers, growers, farmers and miners get paid a fair wage for their hard work and, thanks to the Fairtrade premium, get help to see improvements to the infrastructure of their local communities.”