Oxfam Fair Trade enthusiasts in Scotland are being given the chance to get funding to turn their Fair Trade ideas into reality. The Scottish Fair Trade Forum is launching a small grants scheme aimed at boosting Fair Trade activity, education and understanding throughout the country. The scheme is open to any not-for-profit organisation for projects to promote Fair Trade, and grants of up to £500 will be awarded. Application forms can be found at: www.scottishfairtradeforum.org.uk from October 6.

The Scottish Fair Trade Forum has been working since 2007 to support Fair Trade activity in Scotland and help lead Scotland's work to become one of the world's first Fair Trade Nations.

Betsy Reed, of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum said, " With these grants, we aim to support the ongoing work of Fair Trade groups working around Scotland to help it achieve Fair Trade Nation status. Grant applications can be for anything from schools wanting to start a Fair Trade tuck shop or groups running Fair Trade Christmas bazaars or wanting to put up Fairtrade Town signs in their area. I am looking forward to seeing the projects that can be boosted through this bit of extra support the Scottish Fair Trade Forum can offer.. "

Eilidh Whiteford, Oxfam Scotland Campaign Manager and Vice Chair of the Scottish Fair Trade forum added, " People in Scotland have long been strong supporters of Fair Trade; what the small grant scheme does is allow people to get their good ideas off the ground.

" The principles of Fair Trade are even more important now as global food prices are on the rise and the world's poorest people are suffering. Fair Trade is about producers getting a fair price for their goods and we want people across Scotland to help us promote these ideas so that people in poor countries can have the chance to work their way out of poverty."