OUR AFCA EXPERIENCE
It was great to be part of AFCA, Africa’s largest coffee trade conference. We packed a lot into three days - including a bit of coffee tasting. Here's what we got up to...
Blog
OFF TO AFCA - AFRICA'S LARGEST COFFEE TRADE SHOW
From 15 – 17 February, Shared Interest will be join in Africa’s largest coffee trade event.
BACK AT BIOFACH
From 14 -17 February, Shared Interest will join in the largest international fair of organic food and agriculture in BioFach in Nuremberg, Germany.
Inspiring Action through SDGs
Colleagues and volunteers recently came together to learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during a ‘Coffee + Learn’ session led by Jenny Foster of the Global Goals Centre.
Wake Up – We are going to Greenbelt
Our application to return to Greenbelt Festival was successful. We will be setting up our stall in the Takeaway area from 26-29 August. We cannot wait to join in the beautifully welcoming atmosphere we experienced a few years ago.
Being Vocal about Volunteering
Volunteers’ Week (1st - 7th June) is a great opportunity for us to get vocal about volunteering at Shared Interest.
MAKING COFFEE CONNECTIONS AT SCAA
This April, North America’s largest gathering of specialty coffee professionals, the Specialty Coffee Expo (SCAA) took place in Boston, Massachusetts.
Reflecting on Climate Justice this World Fair Trade Day
World Fair Trade Day falls on Saturday 14th May 2022 and focuses on the theme of climate justice. An annual campaign founded by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), this year’s message is ‘let's do it fair'.
Invest in our Planet this Earth Day
Friday 22nd April is Earth Day and this year the theme is ‘Invest in our Planet’. We are being urged 'to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably).' One co-operative in the Amazonas region of Peru is fulfilling all three of these goals.
Help us 'Get to Greenbelt'
As we begin our return to outdoor events, we hope that Greenbelt Festival will be the first, following a successful visit in August 2019. Here, Volunteer Engagement Manager Sally Seddon explains how we can make this possible.
BUILD BACK FAIRER
This year, Good Money Week (2nd - 8th October) focuses on how we can ‘build back better’ as we continue to navigate the pandemic. Managing Director Patricia Alexander explains how we can make consumer choices to build back fairer.
Taking on a challenge for Shared Interest Foundation
One of our lovely supporters, Anne, is taking on the 874 mile John O’Groats to Land’s End cycle challenge with her daughter raising funds for Shared Interest Foundation and two other charities; Peer Talk and Carers Worldwide.
Connection through Shared Purpose
As a membership organisation, a feeling of shared purpose has always been at our heart. Head of Member Engagement Kerrey Baker explains how we have kept connected with our members when we have had varying degrees of contact with the outside world.
A VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERS’ WEEK
We celebrate the contribution of our fantastic volunteers this Volunteers' Week.
BRINGING HOME THE MESSAGE OF WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY
Saturday 8th May is World Fair Trade Day, with the theme ‘Build Back Fairer’. We are taking the opportunity to encourage families to pause - and consider the role that fair trade plays in building a better world.
Women of the world deserve an equal future
The theme for IWD 2021 is ‘achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world. MD Patricia Alexander shares with us the challenges facing communities, and how women across the world have been impacted.
MAKING CHANGE FOR GOOD IN A TIME OF DISRUPTION
This Fairtrade Fortnight takes place in a very different world. Managing Director, Patricia Alexander shares how the organisation is making positive change in a time of disruption as Shared Interest prepares for its very first online AGM.
Meet the People behind the Finance
Last year, we made payments totalling £48.5m to 230 organisations in 51 countries. The entire Shared Interest team helps make this possible, including our amazing investors and volunteers. But how do we reach customers with our finance?
WISE Ways to Lead a Social Enterprise
Our MD, Patricia Alexander, has been recognised for exceptional leadership. The NatWest WISE100 Awards were replaced this year with a search for women leaders in social enterprise and impact investing, ‘who have been showing Covid-19 who's boss.’
WHY CHOOSE FAIRTRADE HONEY?
By continuing to buy Fairtrade honey, ethically driven consumers can be sure that their product proves to be as sweet as it tastes.
CHOOSE FAIRTRADE
As co-operatives use our finance to pay their farmers as promised and the Fairtrade Premium helps them support their communities.
We want to be part of the people supporting those in need
In direct response to the pandemic, our charity, Shared Interest Foundation, has relaunched its Livelihood Security Fund. Here, Programme Manager, Kodzo Korkortsi, based in Ghana, shares with us his thoughts on announcing the first beneficiary.
UNDERSTANDING THE DEEPER IMPACT OF NESTLÉ’S DECISION
Shared Interest Managing Director, Patricia Alexander, shares her thoughts on Nestlé’s announcement that as of October, KitKat bars in the UK and Ireland will no longer be certified Fairtrade.
Why our Livelihood Security Fund is now more relevant than ever
As the global impact of Covid-19 continues to unfold, it remains unclear how developing world communities will cope with the health, economic, and social hardship caused. Our Livelihood Security Fund can help.
How do we help supply chains survive Covid-19?
Cristina Talens joined the Shared Interest Board of Directors earlier this year, and has provided the following insight into the challenges faced by producers and buyers in light of the current pandemic.
How much difference can be made by supporting communities
This Volunteers' Week gives us further opportunity to thank our volunteers for all that they do. Here, we hear from Gosia, who tells us about her motivations for getting involved.
Saying thank you to our Volunteers
Our Volunteer Engagement Manager, Sally Seddon, explains why we appreciate what our volunteers do every single day, and how we say an extra special thank you during Volunteer’s Week (1-7 June) each year.
What it means to be a NatWest Impact Management Champion
We have been discussing with the NatWest SE100 team about what it means to be chosen as a 2020 Impact Management Champion, especially in light of current circumstances.
MY DISPLAY OF SHARED INTEREST THROUGH THE YEARS
We were delighted with the responses received from our recent knolling project. Our UK-wide network of volunteers were invited to create a photographic display of items that have inspired them. Here, Kathryn explains her own personal selection.
A SHARING SPIRIT
As the world faces disruption due to Covid-19, we have been keeping in touch with our customers. We are hearing so many inspiring stories about how they are working through these times of hardship.
SPARKING SHARED INTEREST MEMORIES
This is the second in a series of blog posts about our volunteer knolling project. Knolling is a photographic method, sometimes referred to as a 'flat lay'. It is basically a birds-eye view of items grouped together to tell a story.
PIECING TOGETHER MY SHARED INTEREST MEMORIES
This year, we invited our volunteers to mark our 30th anniversary photographing items that represent what Shared Interest means to them. See some of the results here.
“AWARD SHOWS OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMERS”
Internationally, we have a team on the ground in Costa Rica, Kenya, Ghana, and Peru. With the first overseas office opened in Kenya in 2006 and the latest in Ghana in 2012. This means that our Africa offices have each experienced winning a Queen’s Award.
Award confirms the need to continue our solidarity efforts
Shared Interest’s Regional Manager for Latin America has been helping customers in his region for over a decade, and so has seen the organisation recognised in the Sustainable Development category twice before.
SHARED INTEREST CELEBRATES ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL
We are delighted to share the news that Shared Interest has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development.
WOMEN IN THE COFFEE INDUSTRY
Gender equality is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed by the United Nations in 2015 as ways of building a better world by 2030.
THE IMPORTANCE OF INCREASING INVESTMENT
As Shared Interest Society reaches 10,000 Share Accounts, our organisation’s growth can be a source of pride in work well done. It ensures that our reach is greater as we increase our assets and so our potential to influence events around the world.
FROM BANANA TO GEBANA
Before the term ‘fair trade’ even came into existence, there was a woman called Ursula Brunner who was a true pioneer for workers’ rights in the developing world. Read more about her story here.
PAYING THE PRICE FOR COCOA IN AFRICA
If you bite into a bar of chocolate today, it is highly likely that the cocoa beans used to make it were grown in West Africa. This is because two thirds of chocolate consumed worldwide include beans from this region.