Teabags for donations at Oxfam shops during Fairtrade Fortnight

This Fairtrade Fortnight, Oxfam charity shops will be giving away 40 free cups of tea to anyone who brings in a bag of good quality donations.

Oxfam hopes to attract 85,000 donations during the fortnight, from 22 February to 7 March.

In addition to swapping donations for Cafédirect tea bags, it wants more consumers to switch to Fairtrade products, which help farmers and other producers in the developing world receive a fair price for their produce.

The teabag initiative reflects this year's theme for Fairtrade Fortnight, ‘The Big Swap’, encouraging people across Britain to make one million and one swaps from non-Fairtrade goods to their Fairtrade equivalent during that two-week period.

Sally Hogg, New Products Manager at Oxfam, 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.”

Veronica Pasteur, Head of Campaigns at the Fairtrade Foundation said: “We are looking forward to people swapping as many things as they can find during Fairtrade Fortnight to help us meet our one million and one goal.

"This is a great initiative and I’m really excited to take part. I can’t wait to go into my local Oxfam store and swap as many things as possible for my free tea. I’d encourage everyone to go out and take part.”

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

The charity recently reported that donations to its shops had decreased by 15 per cent over the last 12 months. It attributed the steep decline to the recession.