The shop is now being managed by Charley Smith and Sarah Wise, both of whom are well known for their leadership of Wimborne War on Waste and for securing Wimborne’s status as a single use plastic free community. They have brought new energy and insights to the well-established fair trade presence, bringing additional diversity to the shop’s stock and to its customer base, as well as recruiting new, younger volunteers.

Charley and Sarah replace Margaret Pearce and Anne Solomon, who were directors for many years. Anne provided the business with financial expertise, while Margaret had more than 30 years’ experience in fair trade retail in Wimborne. Both will continue as volunteers in the shop as their commitment to fair trade remains undiminished, as does the ability of fair trade to give tens of thousands of small-scale primary producers worldwide – of tea, coffee, chocolate, clothing, gifts, crafts, household items – a route out of poverty. Fair trade also gives producers the luxury of choice as to how the fair trade premium, that little bit extra we normally pay for fairly traded items, is spent by communities in poorer parts of the world.

Although managed by volunteer directors and supported by volunteers, Fair Ground is run on normal commercial lines, paying local and central taxes and ploughing any profits back into improving the lives of primary producers. Anne, Charley, Margaret and Sarah are delighted to see fair trade and care for the planet coming together at Fair Ground, reminding us all of our dependence on both people and planet.