Kath Lawson-West has been one of Just Fair Trade’s staunchest supporters since the very beginning! Back in November 1996 she was a Traidcraft rep, selling fair trade products in her church, St Mary and All Saints, Stoughton; her decision to get involved in our very first short let shop that Christmas led to an almost twenty year relationship with Just Fair Trade!
When Just opened its first premises in Bishops Street in 2000 Kath became one of our first shop volunteers, coming along two afternoons a week whilst juggling being a wife, mother and dog walker! Over the years she’s shouldered responsibility for various aspects of shop life, including co-ordinating our sale-or-return service and supporting our now-retired office manager; the paid members of the team are eternally grateful for her willingness to grapple with the vagaries of salaries and holiday entitlement!
Kath has been a director of Just for several years, contributing a huge amount to conversations regarding the direction and priorities of the organisation.
But now Kath has decided to retire! We’re incredibly grateful for all she’s brought to Just Fair Trade over the last twenty years and while we have no doubt that she’ll still be in to shop on a regular basis, we’ll miss all the other things she’s brought to Just!