Oxfam shops in Scotland will be rewarding donors for their generosity with 40 free cups of tea each during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Anyone bringing in a bag of quality donations to an Oxfam shop from today, 22 February, to Sunday, 7 March, will get a box of 40 Cafédirect teabags in return.

The charity hopes to bring in mountains of donations from the tea swap initiative, at the same time as encouraging consumers to switch over to Fairtrade products permanently.

This means consumers can help to change lives in two important ways - by supporting Fairtrade producers in the developing world, and by helping Oxfam raise money to fight poverty around the world.

The offer comes as part of Fairtrade Fortnight's theme of 'The Big Swap', which is aiming for shoppers across Britain to make one million and one swaps from non-Fairtrade goods to their Fairtrade equivalent during that two-week period. Around 250 Oxfam shops will be taking part in the donations-for-tea swap.

Malcolm Fleming, Oxfam Scotland's Campaigns Manager and a board member of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, said:

"Supporting Fairtrade is a really simple and effective way for people to use their power as high street shoppers to help change lives around the world. By donating to an Oxfam shop, you can help us to raise millions of pounds to fight poverty.

"And during Fairtrade Fortnight, you can do both at the same time by swapping your unwanted goods for some refreshing Cafédirect tea."

Anne MacCaig, CEO at Cafédirect said:

"We're delighted to be supporting this drive for donations by rewarding people with an excellent cuppa. Once they've tasted our brew, we're confident that people will be inspired to turn over a new leaf and swap to Cafédirect for good."

Betsy Reed, Director of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, said:

"We are looking forward to people swapping as many things as they can find during Fairtrade Fortnight and hopefully many people will start buying Fairtrade products permanently as a result.

"Scotland is working hard to achieve Fair Trade Nation status and this will go a long way towards helping us reach that goal too.

"When you buy a Fairtrade product you are ensuring that producers in developing countries get a fair deal for their goods."

Oxfam food shops also sell Cafédirect Fairtrade tea in boxes of 80 for £2.49 and boxes of 440 for £9.99.

To find your nearest participating shop, search for 'food' at
www.oxfam.org.uk/shopfinder or call 0300 2001 333.