MEMBERS of Sedgley Fairtrade Initiative will be inviting people to do their bit to help farmers and workers in the developing world as part of the annual Fairtrade Fortnight.

A host of activities will be taking place throughout the two-week campaign which this year runs from Monday February 26 to Sunday March 11.

This year's 'Come on In' theme aims to get more people interested in the Fairtrade initiative which aims to bring about better prices and working conditions, sustainability, and fair trade terms for farmers and workers in the developing world.

As part of the annual campaign – Sedgley, which is also a Fairtrade town, will be hosting a range of events.

The annual Fairtrade coffee morning will take place from 10am till noon on Saturday February 17 at the Community Centre, Ladies Walk, where there will be food and craft stalls selling Fairtrade refreshments and items.

Sedgley Co-operative Travel will be running a colouring competition throughout the week, showing their continuing support for Fairtrade.

A Fairtrade service will be held at St Andrews, Bilston Street, Sedgley, at 10.30am on Sunday February 25 - and will be followed by a craft stall in the porch.

All Saints will be hosting a Fairtrade Coffee Morning from 10am until noon on Friday March 2, with food and craft stalls; and there will be a pop-up stall offering Fairtrade samples outside Iceland from 10.30am until midday on Saturday March 3.

A further Fairtrade service will take place at All Saints at 10.30am on Sunday March 4.

And on Saturday March 10 there will be a presentation of prizes from the Co-Op colouring competition at 10am at Humbugs Coffee Shop in the Penny Farthing Arcade.

Meanwhile - Sainsbury’s Amblecote, active supporters of Fairtrade, will also be giving a presentation to pupils at Brierley Hill Primary School in the second week of Fairtrade Fortnight.

And Dudley Council, which is a Fairtrade Council - supporting Fairtrade within the authority, will also be hosting a pop-up exhibition in the council house during the fortnight.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said Fairtrade Fortnight "does a great job of raising awareness and hopefully changing people’s shopping habits" and he added: “The committed volunteers at Sedgley Fairtrade Initiative have helped to gain and maintain Fairtrade status for their town, and alongside our Fairtrade schools and supporters such as colleagues at Sainsbury’s Amblecote are working hard to make Dudley a Fairtrade borough.”