‘Fair Share’ Success Story

Many of you may not know about this place because it is so well hidden (despite being in the centre of everything London)…I’m talking about a Fairtrade shop called ‘Fair Share’ which is on Berwick Street in the West End.
You know Berwick Street, it has that fruit n’ veg market and a Somerfields down the end?!

Well it’s run completely by volunteers and sells a range of stuff from chocolate and coffee, to jewellery, ornaments and wrapping paper.

I went in this afternoon and had a chat with Barbara who was working at the till and is a volunteer herself. She seemed so proud of how far the shop had come, considering the space was a gift from the council! Here’s an excerpt from their website:

“The offer of the shop came out of the blue in a phone call from a local council officer. It was due to be demolished in a year or so if Westminster Council got approval of plans for a major redevelopment of the area. Meanwhile, the Council wanted the shop to be actively occupied rather than vacant as it had been for several months and was willing to make it available rent-free ‘for the sale of fair trade goods and other associated activities of the church”

And as you can guess, that redevelopment never went ahead and the shop is still there and going strong - rent free …

They get their regulars in, particularly the market stall sellers who come in for a hot cup of tea (which is sold at 50p) … but a development of shops and apartments opposite has dented the in-flow of customers slightly, because it is quite noisy and seemingly messy.

Go and check it out next time you’re in central London, it’s number 102 Berwick Street.