YORK will mark Fairtrade Fortnight later this month with live music, films and and a chocolate tasting workshop.

York Fairtrade Forum has organised a series of events, including a bumper night of music, quizzes and films, as part of Fairtrade Fortnight which runs from Sunday, February 23 - Sunday, March 8.

Event organiser Richard Lane said: “When we think of Fairtrade we think of bananas, tea, coffee and chocolate. But it's really about people, and how a few extra pence to us can make the difference between wage slavery and dignity.”

A one-off gig will be held at York’s City Screen Basement on Tuesday, February 24 at 8pm, with bands from the city including Armonia from Access to Music and sister act Penny and the Poppet.

As well as live music, the evening will include a short film called "Fairtrade Matters" which offers a glimpse into the lives of two farmers and workers at the heart of Fairtrade.

There will also be a pub quiz, with a chance to win a hamper of Fairtrade goodies. Tickets are £5 or £4 for concessions from www.picturehouses.com/cinema/York_Picturehouse/film/films-facts-and-fairtrade-fortnight-frivolities.

Fairtrade Fortnight takes places annually, to highlight the work of Fairtrade to help farmers and producers around the world. Although the initiative has been running since 1995, today just 1.2% of cocoa and less than 10% of tea globally is traded on Fairtrade terms.

To mark this year's occasion the York forum will also be launching a newly designed window sticker to be displayed in venues across the city where Fairtrade products are served or sold.

And on Thursday, March 5 there will be a chocolate tasting evening with the Divine Fairtrade chocolate brand, at Aroma Cafe in Haxby. There will be a chocolate fountain, tasting of Divine’s extensive range and information on how Divine has helped Ghanaian cocoa farmers. Contact helen@fairtradeyork.com to reserve a place.

Other events include a Fairtrade service at York Methodist Church on the Sunday, February 22 and a "Traidcraft Big Brew" on the Saturday, February 28.

Visit www.fairtradeyork.com for more information.