Back in February we were invited to the Mayor's Parlour in Wolverhampton to meet with Secretary Of State For International Development, Andrew Mitchell, Director Of The Fairtrade Foundation Harriet Lamb, Mayor Of Wolverhampton Councillor Bert Turner, Paul Uppal MP, Pat McFadden MP,  and Lord Bilston Chair Of Wolverhampton Fairtrade Partnership.

Harriet Lamb of the Fairtrade Foundation wrote the following on her Blog;

This dreary February has been brightened up for me by my new-found joy and addiction to 'Borgen', the Danish political thriller with a wonderful, powerful woman Prime Minister. It's even better than my other, and laugh-out-loud, favourite, 'In the Loop'. But neither captures the sheer physical hard work that comes with being at the top of the political game.

Last Friday I went to a meeting with the Fairtrade group in Wolverhampton, attended by the Secretary of State for International Development, the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP. He admitted that his day had started 23 hours before when he boarded a plane in Indonesia. He was remarkably chipper for such long hours – although he did look very relieved to be given a cup of Fairtrade coffee from Revolver World, a  local pioneering ethical company.

When the Secretary of State wanted to visit a Fairtrade group in his constituency in the build-up to Fairtrade Fortnight, we knew just where to go – the Wolverhampton Fairtrade group is famed for its great organisation. And their reputation is justly deserved. Packed into the Mayor's Parlour was the woman who works with schools (the little ones "just get it", she says); people from all the many faith communities, from the local authority, the university,  and local businesses including the Co-op; three MPs and a Lord; and even members of the Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club. Excitingly enough, the Club is hosting boxers during the Olympics. Given that all the tea and coffee, sugar and bananas at the Olympics venues will be Fairtrade, it's great to know that the standard will be maintained for the boxers going up North too!

Wolverhampton is part of the growing Fairtrade grassroots movement that has 535 Fairtrade Towns (there are 1,080 internationally), 720 Fairtrade Schools (with a further 5340 working towards the goals), 155 Fairtrade Universities and Colleges, and  7000 Fairtrade Faith groups. In Wolverhampton, as in so many groups I visit,  it was a pure pleasure to see the whole community pulling together behind the goal of Fairtrade with such a positive spirit.

It's certainly the big society in action - and it is equally surely people with very big hearts who are emphatic in their desire for greater fairness. People want businesses to behave responsibly and fairly - including in the way they buy from farmers and workers overseas. Which is why Fairtrade is growing despite people feeling the pinch.

You can read more about the Fairtrade Foundation and what their plans/aims for Fairtrade Fortnight 2012 were over on Harriet's Blog