On Thursday October 30th 2008, Leeds held their first Network Night.

“The idea was first to just have a gathering of people linked to Shared Earth and Fair Trade in general to come along and celebrate the Leeds` branch successful opening of our newly located shop,” explains Debbie Fletcher the branch manager. “But as time went on, I thought it would be nice to turn it into an opportunity for representatives from local campaign groups to come and not only see the shop, but also meet with old acquaintances and make some new ones.

     Debbie giving opening welcome speech

“I had a meeting with Andy Brown of TIDAL (Trade Injustice and Debt Action Leeds) to get invites out to campaigners in the area and so the idea of a Network Night was formed!”

People from groups such as the Leeds Fairtrade Steering Group, Amnesty International, Christian Aid, Stop Climate Chaos and TIDAL http://www.leedstidal.org/frontpage.php were there to meet up and swap emails and ideas with each other. There was also support from ex-employees and well-known customers who have been shopping at the Leeds branch for many years.

    Debbie Fletcher (Leeds branch manager), Ann Callarman (Amnesty International), Andy Brown (Leeds TIDAL), Chris Johnson (Leeds TIDAL and Stop Climate Chaos, Leeds)

The entertainment was provided by local drumming group Fair Play, headed by Marion Small, not only a locally celebrated and accomplished drummer but also a long-standing customer of Shared Earth.

    Drumming band “Fair Play” entertain the guests

As a result of the success of Network Night, Debbie is now looking towards organising another one during Fairtrade Fortnight. “My plan will be to have many more people next time, I want it to become a regular meeting event where people can come along in a more social environment but still be able to talk shop as it were!”, she explained. “I’m also hoping that Jeremy Piercy the founder of Shared Earth will be able to come along this time as well, and hopefully read out extracts from his up and coming book ‘Cats Coffins and Fair Trade Sex Toys’. There was a lot of interest generated about his book during the evening, and it would be great if he would indulge us!”

    Guests read through extracts of Jeremy’s up and coming book

    Guests and staff mingling

    Local fair trade supporter from Transition City Leeds signs up on the networking form

If you would like to be involved in attending the next Network Night, in whatever capacity then please send an email to Debbie Fletcher at leeds@sharedearth.co.uk.

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