DONATIONS amounting to almost £2,000 from the Co-operative are supporting preparations to mark Fairtrade Fortnight in Okehampton.

A grant of £1,300 was given to Global Devon to help fund a visit to the region from two Fairtrade producers from Pakistan. 

Sher and Roshan Gazi are Fairtrade dried fruit producers and will be appearing at Okehampton Primary School on Friday March 9 at 7pm to share their experiences of what working within a Fairtrade co-operative is really like.

They will visit Okehampton College that afternoon, and students will make a range of biscuits from Fairtrade ingredients for the audience at the evening event to sample.

The Okehampton Fairtrade group was given an additional £625 from the Co-operative's Community Fund to buy lamp-post banners to promote Fairtrade in the town centre.

Cynthia Higbee, the group secretary, said: 'The Co-operative is well known for its commitment to Fairtrade, and it is fantastic that we have been awarded this boost from its community fund to help raise the profile of the importance of the movement and how it benefits suppliers in third world countries.'

Okehampton was awarded Fairtrade town status in 2010, and the group has recently renewed that status.

Okehampton Primary School has Fairtrade status too, and the college is working towards gaining its own status.

The small group is looking for one or two new members to help raise the profile of Fairtrade products in the town. If you would like to join, call chairperson Kate Thompson on 01837 82537.

Community Fund application forms are available online at http://www.co-operative.coop/communityfund">www.co-operative.coop/communityfund or by phoning 0844 262 4001.

Awards are allocated by local Co-operative members' committees, based on a set of values and principles such as social responsibility and caring for others.