Fairtrade advocate Bruce Crowther was today announced the winner of the Creative Giving category for this year's Beacon Prize. He was chosen by an independent panel of judges after the public nominated him for his outstanding contribution to charity.
Bruce was chosen for his extraordinary contribution to the sustainable development of farming in the developing world. The award highlights his groundbreaking initiatives and tireless efforts to promote awareness of Fairtrade.
In 1992, Bruce founded the Garstang Oxfam Group which campaigns on many issues affecting global poverty such as fair trade. He also organised for Garstang to become the groundbreaking first Fairtrade Town and this was such a success that it led to the National Fairtrade Town initiative. The national scheme has expanded so that by Fairtrade fortnight 2005 Manchester and Salford were jointly declared the 100th Fairtrade 'town' and London is in line to become a Fairtrade capital by the end of 2005. The initiative has spread to the Republic of Ireland and Belgium and it's hoped that other countries will follow.
Thanks to Bruce, the Fairtrade Town initiative is changing the way we shop and how we view Fairtrade. Buying more Fairtrade labelled products guarantees a price to farmers and contributes to the sustainable development of the developing world.
Emily Stonor, Chief Executive of Beacon, said "The difference Bruce has made is not just measured in pounds sterling but is far more profound - Bruce has changed the way that people view the products they buy. Through changing the way people shop, the positive effects of his work will be evident for many years to come."
Bruce added, "It is very rewarding to be recognised by Beacon for working on a cause that I believe in. Awareness of Fairtrade issues is growing all the time, and it is hugely gratifying to see the tangible difference that a person's simple choice in the supermarket can make."
The Beacon Prize celebrates and raises the profile of charitable giving in the UK by giving recognition to those who have made a significant contribution to charity, whether through giving resources, time or specialist skills. Bruce is one of the 2004 Beacon Prize winners, who also include Sir Bob Geldof and Jamie Oliver.
ENDS For further information please contact Jennifer Morgan on 020 7861 8609 or email jmorgan@bell-pottinger.co.uk. or Emily Stonor at Beacon on 020 7849 6550 or email emily.stonor@beaconfellowship.org.uk
Editors Notes: BEACON PRIZE 2004
BRUCE CROWTHER for his contribution in developing and generating awareness of the Fairtrade movement
Prize Category: Creative Giving
Bruce Crowther has made an extraordinary contribution to the sustainable development of farming in the developing world by creating a nationwide movement of Fairtrade Towns. Bruce is the founder of the Garstang Oxfam Group, which campaigns on many issues affecting global poverty such as fair trade, and has fashioned the concept of Fairtrade Towns.
In 1992 Bruce founded the Garstang Oxfam Group, which he chaired until 2002. Whilst the group campaigned on many issues affecting global poverty, it was the issue of fair trade that caught Bruce's attention. He devised the Café Direct challenge to dispel myths that Fairtrade products were too expensive and of poor quality - he invited Garstang's most prominent folk to a meal made entirely of Fairtrade products and locally produced food. He didn't expect the guests to contribute financially but to start using the products in their schools, churches, shops and businesses. The event was hugely successful so Bruce devised a plan to enable Garstang to become a Fairtrade Town.
As a result of Bruce's work, Garstang was declared a Fairtrade Town and twinned with the cocoa farming community of New Koforidua in Ghana. This increased the public's recognition of the Fairtrade mark in Garstang to over 70%, compared to a national average at that time of just 12%.
The National Fairtrade Town initiative resulted from the success of Garstang. 100 towns, cities, villages, boroughs and counties have now received Fairtrade status, and an estimated further 230 places are working to achieve the Fairtrade title. Bruce's initiative has led to the first Fairtrade Capital Cities, Cardiff and Edinburgh, with London and Belfast waiting in the aisles. The scheme has been adopted in the Republic of Ireland and Belgium, and it's hoped that other countries will follow.
The Fairtrade Town initiative, thanks to Bruce, is changing the way people shop and how they view Fairtrade. Buying more Fairtrade labelled products guarantees a price to farmers and contributes to the sustainable development of the developing world.
"Bruce has invested incredible energy and enthusiasm in this project." Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of Fairtrade
"It is a great initiative by Garstang. Not just on behalf of myself, nor just on behalf of the Department for International Development, but on behalf of the government, I would really like to welcome what is a great initiative by Bruce, by Oxfam and the town. I want to try to ensure that the initiative is followed in many other towns and cities throughout the whole of England." George Foulkes, MP
Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust
The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust (Beacon) seeks to promote an improved culture of giving, in which it is natural for those who are best able to contribute to charitable and social causes, to use their time, energy, ability and resources for the public good.
The Beacon Prize is an annual awards scheme designed to recognise and showcase individuals who have made exceptional contributions to charitable or social causes. The winners are likely to have helped create or transform a charity, project or cause through providing leadership, skill, time or money.
www.beaconfellowship.org.uk for press releases and biographies of the winners
Beacon Prize Winners 2004:
- Sir Bob Geldof - Leadership
- Dr Mohammad Amran - Community Builder
- Rosalind Portman - New Initiatives
- Professor Peter Guthrie - Creative Giving
- Bruce Crowther - Creative Giving
- Brigadier Peter Stewart-Richardson - Risk Taking
- Jake Bonsall - Young Philanthropist
- Jamie Oliver - Most Generous Celebrity
- John Studzinsky - Most Generous Business Leader
- Francesca D'Arcy - Most Generous Young Person
- Major Richard Carr-Gomm - Lifetime Achievement
- Sigrid Rausing - Judges' Special Prize
- Dr Frederick Mulder - Judges' Special Prize Ann Cotton - Judges' Special Prize
- Dr Mora Scott - Scotland
- Sir David Rowe-Beddoe - Wales
- Dennis Humble - England
- Niall Fitzduff - Northern Ireland
