Help Save the (Small) World

The Small World is facing its biggest crisis in its 25 year history and urgently needs volunteers.

Need more encouragement?

• 47% of all volunteers say volunteering improves their physical fitness
• 25% who volunteer more than five times a year say it helps them lose weight
• 63% of people say volunteering helps them feel less stressed.

Can you save the Small World from closure?

Telephone: 01875 813992

Big Draw at the Small World!

We are delighted to be taking part in The Big Draw!

On Saturday 10^th October between 10 and 12, we are inviting visitors to pick up a pencil and draw either an item on display in the shop or, on the theme “A Day in the Life of...”.

All drawings will be put on display in the shop throughout October.

The Big Draw is the Campaign for Drawing’s flagship, with some 1300 drawing events across the UK each October. This month-long season celebrates creativity and encourages experiment and enjoyment uniting people of all ages, abilities and cultures.

The Big Draw extends the vocabulary of drawing and challenges conventions and preconceptions. It shows how pencil, pen, chalk or the computer mouse can inspire observation, imagination and invention. Drawing connects us with our environment and helps us to see, think and communicate.

The Big Draw is the UK’s biggest free visual art programme, annually involving over 300,000 participants aged 3-93.

Since 2000,The Big Draw has encouraged over two million people back to the drawing board and notched up two Guinness World records. Details of all Big Draw events can be seen at: www.campaignfordrawing.org.

New Autumn/Winter range now available

We have just taken delivery of new stock from Traidcraft's Autumn/Winter range are are very excited!

We are particularly fond of these quirky pots made from recycled magazines.

New jewellery items include the recycled glass and brass bangles and these beautiful dragonfly bracelets.

Remember, if we don't have an item in stock, we can order it for you.

With over 400 new fair trade products to choose from as well as old favourites, there is something for everyone in our latest range.

Pick up your catalogue today!

Fair Trade Father's Day

This year, Father's Day falls on Sunday 21st June.

For a 'foodie' father, how about making up a hamper of chocolate, Lime Pickles, Hot Mango Chutney or Curry Sauce?

'Desk Dads' might like a new mug, paperweight, desk tidy or a picture frame.


Gifts from our gardening range, wine glasses or bowls are always popular choices for male gifts.

For something a little different, we suggest a CD of world music, a backgammon set or coasters.

In the Small World shop, we have lots of pocket-money priced items such as wine bottle stoppers for £1 and of course a wide range of beautiful cards- some of which, like the keyring card, are a gift in themselves.

So, pop into 9A Orchard Crescent, Prestonpans - and don't forget the wrapping paper!

REDUCED - Organic Dark Chocolate & Peppermint Crisp

Hurry they are going fast!

Crunchy peppermint crystals made with natural flavours and Filipino cane sugar, encased in organic dark chocolate with a minimum 58% cocoa content.

Small World @ The Three Harbours Arts Festival

Small World is excited to be 'Venue 39' in this year’s 3 Harbours Arts Festival of 'Art in Unusual Places' and will be exhibiting a selection of hand-embroidered and sequinned cards in the shop.

The cards from the Swajan range have been made by Bangladeshi craftswomen earning a fair wage for their traditional skills such as patchwork, appliqué, and mirror work .

Volunteer Bernice Jones said “One of the things we hear most often about the Small World shop is ‘I keep meaning to go in there’ so hopefully, the exhibition will encourage people to venture in for the first time with no obligation to purchase”

“This is the first time we have taken part in the 3 Harbours and will also have items for sale at an ‘Arabian Nights’ themed event in Prestonpans Library from 2 p.m. on Friday 12th June."

The Fair Trade card exhibition is open during normal shop hours and runs for the length of the festival (5 to 14 June 2009).

Volunteers' Week

Volunteers' Week (1-7 June) is the UK's annual celebration of the work volunteers do. It plays a huge part in raising the the profile of volunteers across the UK and, just happens to coincide with our busiest time of year.

Many schools and churches are now holding their summer fayres and take our stock on a sale-or-return basis, so we need volunteers to pack orders, price goods and serve customers.

People are surprised to learn that these type of events account for the majority of our sales, rather than in the shop itself. We use paper-based record keeping (so there is no complicated till or computer to learn!).

The current pool of around a dozen volunteers, come, not just from Prestonpans, but Port Seton, Longniddry, Gullane, Musselburgh and Joppa and are a mixed bunch including retired professionals, career breakers and part-time workers.

We are lucky to have such great volunteers - some of whom turn their hand to other tasks such as painting or minor DIY when necessary. Others use the skills gained in their professional lives and give talks on Fair trade to community organisations.

However, we are currently stretched to the limit and desperately need more volunteers in the shop to ensure we can continue with our current opening hours (Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10-12 & 2-4 and Saturday 10-12).

If you could give just two hours please call into the shop.

Easter Holidays

By choosing Fairtrade this Easter, people can share and enjoy these sweet treats with family and friends while helping to ensure cocoa farmers and their families in developing nations are getting a fair deal.

Buying Fairtrade chocolate also helps tackle the issues of child trafficking and labour - both major problems resulting from cocoa production which are sure to leave a bitter taste in any chocolate lover’s mouth.

More and more local people are coming to the Small World to buy Fairtrade products, including chocolate, because they know it is a practical way to purchase great tasting, sustainably produced goods that provide a better deal and stable livelihoods for the world's poorest producers.

The last day of trading before the shop closes for Easter will be Thursday 12th April (10-12 & 2-4). The Small World Shop will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, reopening on Tuesday 17th at 10 a.m.

No frill refills

You can now refill your empty bottles of Ecover washing up liquid and laundry liquid.

This saves you money as well as plastic resources - your bottle can be re-filled up to 50 times before you need to replace it!

If you decide to refill your empty bottle just wash it out and bring it along to the shop.

Refill is available for:

* Washing Up Liquid £2 for 1 litre
* Laundry Liquid £5 for 1.5litres

Spotlight on...BANGLADESH

Today marks the anniversary of independence of Bangladesh.

Following the war for independence, it has endured famines, natural disasters and widespread poverty, as well as political turmoil and military coups.

Saidpur Enterprises was set up to create jobs for Bihari women who receive fair wages and have improved socio-economic conditions with better access to essentials such as food, education, housing, and healthcare.

Bangladesh is the world's largest grower of jute - a hardwearing, biodegradable and eco-friendly alternative to plastic.

The Small World shop carries a number of Saidpur Enterprise products include shopping bags, gardener's carry bag and twine.

Another Bangladesh organisation whose handicrafts we stock is Swajan. Traditional techniques such as applique, embroidery, patchwork and mirror work are used to produce the exquisite greetings cards and purses which are so popular with our customers.

Washing up gloves - definately not a wash out!

We have just started stocking the first ever fairly traded rubber gloves.

The natural rubber used to make these gloves is harvested by farmers who tap the trees in the early morning to get the best yields. They receive regular and fair payments as well as technical support and help with equipment.

At the time of writing they have flown off the shelves and we are awaiting new stock from Traidcraft (where they have also sold out).

Mother's Day gifts from the Mai Handicraft range

All mums are special and, at The Small World, all mums are catered for: the DIY-loving mum (cat tape measure); office working mums (dragonfly paperweights); eco-warrier mums (recycled shopping bag); gardening mums (plant pots) and glamour-loving mums (mirror inlaid trinket boxes) with gifts from the Mai Handicraft range – a project particularly aimed at promoting self-reliance among disadvantaged communities in Southern Vietnam.

Mai Handicrafts aims to find work for neglected families by selling Vietnamese fair trade Handicraft products to local and export markets, to customers that care about a fair wage & working conditions. Mai is an income generating and educational project for disadvantaged family and its members, particularly women and children.

Mai works not only to provide viable employment and/or effective training but also aims to promote self-reliance among disadvantaged families and ethnic minority communities in Southern Vietnam.

Other than the necessary re-investing cost, the profits from sales of these fair trade handicrafts are used to fund various social work activities. In the development context, Mai is exploring a model of social development in which social service should lead to economic self-reliance. The people involved: Single parent families and other disadvantaged families and their children. Individual young adults starting off in life.