Fair Trade Town

Tammy Stewart-Jones spearheaded the campaign to make Thanet, in Kent, a Fairtrade town. She became a campaigner after visiting impoverished communities in west Africa. "When I saw children drinking murky water from dirty vessels I wanted to make a difference," she says. "Campaigning has been incredibly enriching. It feels like singing." Photograph: Simon Rawles Photograph: guardian.co.uk Emily Murrell, 23, helped Farnborough sixth-form college win Fairtrade status in 2008, says: "What drives me is realising that I can do something to change some of the injustices in the world. It keeps me positive about life." Photograph: Simon Rawles Photograph: guardian.co.uk Jake Mairs, 15, Fairtrade campaigner, Stockport School. Mairs achieved Fairtrade status for his school Photograph: Simon Rawles Fairtrade campaigner Jim Hollyman, 73, Bolton Fairtrade Group Photograph: Simon Rawles "It seems Fairtrade has caught the imagination of everybody," says Jasmin Gupta, a hairdresser and chair of the Stevenage Fairtrade Group. "People from all backgrounds realise they can make a difference by changing their shopping habits." Photograph: Simon Rawles Photograph: guardian.co.uk Terry Abbott, owner of Hair, a Fairtrade salon, Leigh-on-Sea. Abbott started stocking Fairtrade six years ago. Since then he has been promoting it to his customers. Photograph: Simon Rawles Fairtrade campaigner Rita Verity. Rita is chair of Haworth Fairtrade in West Yorkshire. She says she is the perfect person to be a campaigner because she is 'a bit like a terrier' and when she gets hold of something she won't let go. Photograph: Simon Rawles Photograph: guardian.co.uk Les Murrell, Fairtrade campaigner, Borough of Rushmoor said: "Simply by getting people to buy products immediately you are transforming the lives of some of the poorest people, giving them hope, giving them a future. Just get out there and do it." Photograph: Simon Rawles Photograph: guardian.co.uk Robert Egglestone, Fairtrade campaigner Burgess Hill Town Fairtrade Group, says that 'a bedrock of hope' is necessary to be a good campaigner. Photograph: Simon Rawles Photograph: guardian.co.uk Lauren Harrison of the Hadrian's Wall Fairtrade Steering Group, Cumbria Photograph: Simon Rawles