As a Fair Trade Church, St Andrew’s Leytonstone is committed to promoting trade justice and helping to alleviate poverty. Fairtrade at St Andrew’s is a small group of volunteers who are passionate about fairtrade because we believe it truly makes a difference to the lives of thousands of farmers, producers and artisans and their families around the world every day. We run a great fairtrade food stall (featuring a wide range of over 100 products from the Traidcraft range http://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/) at St Andrew’s weekly Fairtrade Stall (every  Sundays after the 10am service (so, from about 11.00 – 3pm).

At Easter we promote ‘The Real Easter Egg’, the only fairtrade chocolate Easter egg with a Christian message on the market. We also do special events, often in collaboration with Waltham Forest Fair Trade Campaign Group and other local churches and community groups. If you are interested in finding out more or joining us, contact jonathanpbailey@hotmail.com and visit and like our Facebook page to find out more.

Fairtrade is a simple way to make a difference to the lives of more than 1.65 million farmers and workers in 74 developing countries who grow the things we love. It does this by changing the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fair deal for farmers and workers in developing countries. Fairtrade is unique. It works with businesses, consumers and campaigners. Farmers and workers have an equal say in everything. Empowerment is at the core of fairtrade. Its mission is to connect disadvantaged producers and consumers, promote fairer trading conditions and empower producers to combat poverty, strengthen their position and take more control over their lives. When you support Fairtrade you have the power to change the world every day.  (from http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/)

St Andrew’s has been supporting Christian Aid for many years, by doing street-collections during the annual Christian Aid Week and at special events such as our famous Afternoon Teas and the monthly Inspiration Sales.

Christian Aid is a UK charity fighting global poverty. It is a Christian organisation that insists the world can and must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. British churches founded Christian Aid in 1945 to support refugees who had lost their homes and possessions in the Second World War. We work globally for profound change that eradicates the causes of poverty, striving to achieve equality, dignity and freedom for all, regardless of faith or nationality. We are part of a wider movement for social justice. We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance where need is great, tackling the effects of poverty as well as its root causes.

Our vision
Poverty is an outrage against humanity. It robs people of dignity, freedom and hope, of power over their own lives. Christian Aid has a vision – an end to poverty – and we believe that vision can become a reality.