The Big Brew

Once again, we're encouraging everyone to join in "The Big Brew" during Fairtrade Fortnight. To join "The Big Brew" all you need to do is register and hold an event (called a "Big Brew") at which Fairtrade refreshments are served. Your event can be as simple as a special coffee after services or as elaborate as a village party! 

The Big Brew is a great way both to promote Fair Trade and to further the mission of your church. You can use it for outreach, to raise funds for a project or cause, to bring together groups that don't normally get to meet . . . . whatever best fits your interest. When you register, you get a free publicity pack with attractive materials to publicise your event. CCOW can also send you further materials about Fair Trade so that people learn more about its importance while they're having fun. Just let us know what you're doing and what you would like to be able to share with people.

To register, simply email CCOW to indicate your interest. We'll send you a registration form, and you're on your way. Register soon -- if you could let us know of your interest by 15 January, that would help to speed the processing of the materials.

If you'd like some ideas for your Big Brew, below is a list of some of the interesting things churches and schools have done in the past. Send us yours, too!

• Fair Trade/local meals -- great for showingcasing a wide range of Fair Trade and local foodstuffs . . . and for proving that it's possible for food to be both sustainable and delicious!

• A Fair Trade and local foods baking competition (people bring in cakes made with fairly traded and local ingredients)

• Offering "Fairtrade cuppas" to local shoppers either in your church or on a stall in a shopping precinct . . . always appreciated on a chilly morning! And you can offer information about Fairtrade and your church on the stall, as well

• A "Fairtrade tea dance" -- perhaps with a variety of different teas?

• A "Mad Hatter's [Fairtrade] Tea Party" -- with some of the organisers dressed as Alice in Wonderland and her friends

• A "Fairtrade Puppet Show" (there is a Punch and Judy show that does Fairtrade themes . . . or you can make up your own!) Great for combining education and fun.

• A Fairtrade tasting party with different stalls for different kinds of products -- go beyond coffee, tea and chocolate with different fruits, jams and biscuits. Does your church have a link with a particular area? Why not focus on that area's Fairtrade products!

• A favourite film . . . . with Fairtrade refreshments -- you could try showing a film with a Fairtrade theme, such as "Black Gold" . . . or one with an environmental theme, perhaps, to help link Fairtrade and sustainability? One Mothers' Union group even did a sing-alonga to a favourite film, with organisers dressed as old-fashioned cinema refreshment sellers bearing Fairtrade goodies.

• A Fairtrade children's tea party (Fairtrade biscuits, juices, fruits)

• Fairtrade refreshments at a concert

• A book club reading of the "No. 1  Ladies Detective Agency"  with Mma Ramotswe's favourite "redbush (rooibos) tea" (fairly traded, of course).