A charity linked to a North East fair trade pioneer has raised £1.3m in a climate appeal that will support work both here and abroad.
Traidcraft Exchange, the development charity of Newcastle fair trade company Traidcraft, raised £656,292 in donations from the public and fellow companies, which was then matched by the Government.
The money raised for the charity’s Regenerators scheme will help people in the developing world plant trees that protect against flooding and soil erosion. The scheme also helps people reduce plastic use, switch to alternative energies and save collectively to be better placed to cope with natural disasters.
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A project to plant trees at parks and allotments in Newcastle - through a partnership with Urban Green Newcastle, the body that has taken on control of the city’s parks - will also take place.
Sarah McQuaid, fundraising lead at Traidcraft Exchange, said: “We’ve been blown away by the generosity of the public, especially during a global pandemic.
“People understand how urgent it is that we support those on the frontline of the climate crisis. Their generosity will ensure thousands of people get the skills to set up climate-smart businesses and invest in green technology to help them cope with increasing droughts and floods.”
The charity’s appeal, which ran for three months earlier this year, was backed by a number of companies in the region including Traidcraft plc, Ethical Superstore, and Northumbria University.
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Traidcraft PLC spokesperson Jude Allen said: “We’re delighted to get involved with the initiative, which gives our business the opportunity to add to our commitment to fight back against climate change while supporting producers. It’s also a great way to support our sister charity and get staff involved in something so positive coming out of lockdown.”
One of the people who will benefit from the scheme is Issa Mkandu Issa, who lives in Tanzania. His community has been given training in climate-resilient agriculture and forest protection, and helped to invest in green technology such as solar panels.