THE Lakes School at Troutbeck Bridge played host to Cumbria Fairtrade Network on Saturday.

Delegates converged to work on the county’s plans for a future of commitment to supporting the welfare of small independent producers from around the globe.

Students at the school are doing all they can to promote ethical trade and are working with the head teacher, Andy Cunningham, to develop school polices that reflect their desire to ensure their commitment is shared within the whole community.

Guest of honour at the event was Alvaro Pop, a cocoa farmer from Belize in Central America. As well as having a chance to taste some of the chocolate produced from Alvaro’s crops, guests were treated to a personal insight into how his community has benefitted from being linked to the Fairtrade Foundation.

Robin Sharp, global learning co-ordinator said: “We were all really inspired to understand that not only does buying Fairtrade guarantee a fair price for people like Alvaro but a percentage of all profits made is invested in their communities to provide things we take for granted here like sanitation and schools.”