THIS month sees the return of Fairtrade Fortnight at the University of Winchester.

The event, which starts on February 25, and will run to March 10, aims to bring attention to the FAIRTRADE mark and ethical shopping.

Event management students from Winchester will be organising a variety evening on Thursday, March 7, at St John's House in Winchester, attended by the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress.

The evening will include dance and musical acts, accompanied by a range of Fairtrade refreshments.

A second group of event management students will be running a Fairtrade Day for local schoolchildren, explaining the benefits Fairtrade provides to both farmers and growers in developing countries.

During Fairtrade Fortnight from 25 February to 10 March, Winchester Student Union and the University's Catering Department will also be holding a number of events at the University Centre including product tastings and special menus with Fairtrade recipes and dishes of the day.

This year's Fairtrade Lecture, Ethical and Sustainable Fashion: Beyond Fairtrade, on Wednesday February 27 will be given by Jack Elton-Walters, from award-winning sustainable fashion brand Rapanui Clothing, based on the Isle of Wight.

A previous winner of the RSPCA Good Business Award for Innovation in Fashion, Rapanui was also named Hampshire Sustainable Business of the Year 2012 and Isle of Wight Business of the Year 2012.

Tickets for the Fairtrade Variety Evening on Thursday, March 7, can be obtained online at http://fairtrade-even8.wix.com/fairtrade-winchester#