YOUNGSTERS at Swindon Academy have spent a day learning about ethical trading as they took part in Fairtrade Fortnight.

The event, which runs until March 8, aims to raise awareness of the importance of fair trade around the world and the work carried out by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Last week the foundation asked schools to celebrate the humble cocoa bean – one of the most important ingredients in many favourite treats and central to the charity’s work.

Jacqueline Joyce, strategic leadership and marketing manager at Swindon Academy, said: “Beech Avenue and Alton Close took part in Fairtrade Fortnight to learn about how goods are gathered, produced and sold.

“Community volunteers from the Midcounties Co-op joined us to explain the ways consumer choices affect people around the world.

“The students used analytical maths skills to look at the miles our food travels and to investigate how their pocket money stacks up against the wages of people who pick cocoa, coffee and bananas when traded fairly and when not traded fairly.

“The school canteen, which sells a range of fairly traded products year round, showcased the brilliant Fairtrade banana for the whole school to enjoy in a banana custard dessert.”

Visit www.fairtrade.org.uk