Very sadly, Traidcraft announced at the beginning of October that it is in financial difficulties and will probably have to cease trading at the end of this year 2018.  It made a loss of £500,000 last year. The reasons it gives are: declining church attendance, eight years of austerity and Brexit which has led to a fall in the value of the pound and put up the cost of buying the products it sells.  Closing down the business will be devastating to the income of many of the thousands of impoverished workers principally in Africa, Asia and Latin America, some of whom have only got access to markets through Traidcraft.

Traidcraft is on the brink, but their Chief Executive Officer says that closure is not a foregone conclusion.  A lot depends on sales this autumn and in the run-up to Christmas. Strong sales and an upturn in trade could make possible the restructuring of the business.  The company is also consulting on its future which may bring some fresh ideas to help save it.

So, what part can we play to make a difference?

1. Buy Traidcraft fair trade foodstuffs and household products from our very own DBC Community Greengrocers shop: such as tea, coffee, sugar, cocoa, chocolate, toilet paper, handgel, biscuits, Geobars etc.
2. Place an order from the Traidcraft winter catalogue.  You can order through the shop, from Maria Nwanwene, or online at https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk

DBC were pleased to be part of the Autumn Craft Fair on Saturday 27th October. In excess of £85 was raised by selling good as new items. All of the proceeds will go to supporting the work of the Cleaford Christian Trust in Romania.  As a church we have been supporting their endeavours at the Brasov Children’s Hospital and at the Hargita Christian Camp for many years.

Thank you to all who came and supported us.

We had a super time at our all age service as we celebrated harvest and the goodness of God.

Our harvest donations of non-perishable foods and toiletries will be given to the Brighton and Hove City Mission’s Basics Bank.

We watched a very powerful video and learnt about the Baptist Missionary Society’s work in Afghanistan training women and men in remote villages to end unhealthy traditional practices so that Mums and babies do not die. One such practice is to cut the umbilical cord on the sole of an old man’s shoe and then smear the cut with dung – this is considered good luck!

BMS is able to teach the people how to recognise when a pregnant Mum is in trouble and needs a doctor and how to care for someone after giving birth. This training has had an amazing impact on communities.

To see this very powerful video and to hear the stories of Mums and Dads who have been helped head to :-

https://www.bmsworldmission.org/product/subtitled-feature-video-lifes-first-cry/

After the service we shared in a simple lunch of bread, cheese, fruit and water and donated what we would have spent  on a normal Sunday lunch to the BMS to support this important work in Afghanistan. The total raised was £183.  Thank you for your support.

If you would like to hear Malcolm’s short message entitled “Life’s First Cry” – check out the sermons page under the Resources tab.