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United we stand
Wilberforce bicentenary commemorations unite organisations across Hull
In no particular order there's Hull College, Hull Fairtrade City Project, Wilberforce Lecture Trust, The Freetown Society, Hull Daily Mail, University of Hull, Bishop of Hull Richard Frith, the BBC, Humberside Police, Princes Quay shopping centre, Hull Truck theatre and the KC Stadium.
There are also businesses including Arco, Comet and Kingston Communications (KC).
And there's the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, and members of the voluntary and community sector including local rotary clubs, and The Warren youth centre.
These are just some of the key names which are standing with Hull City Council in creating the Wilberforce 2007 partnership to commemorate the achievements of Wilberforce.
"It's an excellent example of partnership working which has helped raise awareness about freedom matters both at home and internationally," says Mitch Upfold, the council's lead officer for the commemorations.
Taking action
Activities by some of the partners include:
- Comet placing a Wilberforce 2007 link on its website which receives 35 million hits a year. Visit www.comet.co.uk *
- Hull College and Princes Quay displaying banners outside their buildings
- Arco flying Wilberforce flags as well as beaming the Wilberforce 2007 logo on the wall of its head office on Waverley Street
- KC displaying banners and putting adverts on its website (www.kcom.com *) as well as including information in its monthly e-newsletter to customers
- The KC Stadium publishing promotional notes in match day programmes, as well as a link on its website (www.kcstadium.co.uk *)
Fly the flag
Local organisations across Hull are being asked to lend their support by flying a Wilberforce 2007 flag or banner, or by adding a link to their website.
If you would like to join the 67 organisations which have already pledged support in these ways, ring 300300 or visit www.wilberforce2007.com *
Ethical trading
More Hull businesses are also turning to ethical trade as a means of helping end the exploitation of workers in the Third World.
Through ethical trade firms can trace the supply chain of goods they buy from overseas to make sure workers are treated fairly throughout the entire labour process.
Arco is one Hull business which has been committed to ethical trading for the last five years.
It also has an office in China staffed by Mandarin speakers – and from there its suppliers in the Far East can be audited every six months to ensure they do not exploit their staff.
"We could probably buy some of our products from cheaper sources, but we will not compromise on our ethics," says Megan Davis, Arco's divisional director for procurement.
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