During Fairtrade Fortnight, Sharron Hardwick, Fair Trade Wales, visited Tavernspite CP School to promote Fairtrade and the 'Take A Step' campaign.

We learned how the Fairtrade Foundation is encouraging everyone to Take A Step for Fairtrade in 2012; they want to register 1.5 million steps, that is one for every farmer and worker in the Fairtrade system.We can all take steps to help ensure people are not pushed into poverty. You can buy Fairtrade produce such as bananas, tea or roses.

It is very important to support Fairtrade because it ensures people in poorer, developing, countries get fair wages and good working conditions; fair prices for their produce, as well as access to schools.

Fairtrade also helps to develop communities. The Fairtrade Community Premium provides for individual community needs, maintaining or building medical centres, improving sanitation, education, or simply buying a lawn mower to maintain the community football pitch.

Tavernspite School have already taken steps to help. The PTA held a Fairtrade coffee morning selling delicious homemade Fairtrade cakes. A number of teachers and pupils took part in a Fairtrade tag rugby match, using a Fairtrade rugby ball from Fair Corp, donated by Sharron Stokieshazer Hardwick's Fair Trade in Football Campaign.

Those taking part in the Fairtrade tag rugby really enjoyed the game and the rest of the school had fun cheering for their teachers and fellow pupils.

Class 2 have taken steps through the Fair Trade in Football Campaign too. They took part in the Fair Traders Co-operative, Keepy Uppy Challenge. School challenge winners, Jai and Carys, managed to keep the Fairtrade football ball up the longest.

The whole of Class 2 have written letters to local and Premiership football clubs, the FA and other organisations, asking them to consider using Fairtrade footballs. These, along with letters from other schools, will later be hand delivered by Sharron Hardwick to Stoke City FC and posted to the other clubs.

"I am so moved by Tavernspite's support of Fairtrade; especially with this report and Class 2's letters to the football clubs. It is great to see steps being taken by local schools; they are really making a difference by supporting Fairtrade," concluded Sharron.

Tavernspite School is proud to be a Fairtrade school and we hope that everyone gives the Take A Step challenge a go, and support Fairtrade.

For Fair Trade Wales visits: http://www.fairtradewales.com">www.fairtradewales.com - call 029 2080 3293.

Buy Fairtrade sports balls from: http://www.thefaircorp.com">www.thefaircorp.com

By Class 6,

Tavernspite School

(with Sharron Hardwick)