UK Fairtrade organisation Traidcraft is urging towns and cities across the UK to get creative and help make a difference to the lives of smallholder farmers in the developing world.

It wants people to host a Traidcraft Big Brew coffee morning and knit small holder “mug hugs” for Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from February 25 until March 10.

Traidcraft, which was a founder member of the Fairtrade Foundation, is encouraging schools, churches, and other groups to organise a Traidcraft coffee morning and knit the mug hugs to decorate cups of fairly traded tea and coffee and raise funds to support projects with smallholder farmers in the developing world.

There are around half a billion smallholder farmers across the world and some two billion people are dependent on smallholdings for their livelihoods. Smallholder farmers are said to be important in reducing poverty and ensuring food security in developing countries.

With training and investment from Traidcraft, poverty-stricken smallholder farmers are now equipped with the skills, training and resources they need to grow enough to feed themselves and their communities.

Funds raised from the Traidcraft Big Brew are described as “essential” in helping to transform the lives of farmers.

A Traidcraft Big Brew resource pack, which contains posters, invitattions, stickers and refreshments for 50 people, is available to buy from traidcraftshop.co.uk.

Alternatively, a resource pack without refreshments can be downloaded for free at traidcraft.co.uk/bigbrew