Fair for All shop opens in Rochdale town centre

Fair for All, a shop selling only Fairtrade products, has opened in Rochdale town centre on The Walk.

The shop was officially opened on Friday (8 June) by Councillor Janet Emsley, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Community and Culture, and is the only dedicated Fairtrade outlet within the Rochdale borough.

Monica Fowler, Jan Hicks and Jenny Buckley started their volunteer work with Fair for All in 2006, when Rochdale was named a Fairtrade Borough by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Monica Fowler said: “We have hosted Fairtrade stalls at various fairs and markets temporarily for the past five years.

“We have been at both indoor and outdoor markets in Rochdale, which both closed, before we settled at Rochdale Pioneers Museum. Unfortunately, we had to relocate as the museum needed the space, so we moved to Baillie Street at the Haberdashery.

“This later had to close due to the Riverside development and we panicked thinking ‘where can we go now?’

“After a social enterprise and co-operative forum meeting, we got in contact with Rochdale Development Agency who helped us get this shop.”

Fair for All sell fair trade foods, beverages and household cleaning products, as well as clothing, bracelets, candles, children’s toys and puzzles, keyrings, cards and planters and compost.

Each of these items are handmade in places such as Africa and India and aim to ‘fight poverty through Fairtrade’.

Jan Hicks added: “Justice really is at the heart of this shop. It simply is about fairly trading and helping others to find their way out of poverty.

“Some people comment on how the products are expensive but they all have their own story to tell.

“The premium from the products goes back to the community that produced them and they then decide what the money is used for. This could be for street lighting, schools or even clinics for better healthcare.

“We look at the bigger picture globally when we volunteer.”

Councillor Emsley said: “Our heritage as a co-operative borough means we should be supporting Fairtrade businesses like this and what people don’t realise, is the vast number of items you sell.

“This has been a long time coming and I’m glad you finally have a permanent place.”

Fair for All is open 9.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and are always looking for new volunteers to help them.