Modern Slavery and human trafficking statement

Issued: June 2023
Review date: June 2024

This statement is provided on behalf of the Age UK Sunderland and its subsidiary companies and is made in pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 ('the Act'). It constitutes Age UK Sunderland's statement for the financial year ended 31 March 2023.

Age UK Sunderland considers modern slavery and human trafficking extremely serious crimes, grave violations of human rights and contrary to the ethical standards and values, we hold dear and has a zero tolerance approach to such abuses.

We are committed to preventing modern slavery in our organisation and ensuring that our supply chain is as equally free of both modern slavery and human trafficking (within the reasonable bounds of our influence and control to ensure compliance with the Act by our supply chain and / or assure ourselves of their compliance).

The Charity

Age UK Sunderland is a charity registered in England, which exists to help older people make more of life.

Age UK Sunderland and its subsidiaries employ around 81 staff, and benefit from the support of 150 plus volunteers all based in Sunderland.

Our staff are employed directly by Age UK Sunderland, and are not of an employment status generally considered to be vulnerable to modern slavery in this country.

We are not complacent, and have robust policies and procedures in place. Our focus, however, is on ensuring that our supply chain complies with the Act, relevant Age UK Sunderland policies and procedures, and our ethical standards.

Our supply chain

Age UK Sunderland is committed to improving our practices to identify and eliminate modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains, and to act ethically and with integrity in all of our business relationships. Our supply chains comprise over 100 suppliers and contractors. Age UK Sunderland use the products and services we purchase from these suppliers to support our activities, services and operations.

Policies

Age UK Sunderland endeavours to raise awareness among all employees of the identification, prevention and eradication of modern slavery and human trafficking, and has policies and procedures in place to ensure that they can do so.

The Age UK Sunderland Finance team, a central service that operates across Age UK Sunderland, has oversight of our supply chain. The relevant policies are:

1. Age UK Sunderland's Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure, which asks staff to confidentially, report concerns including modern slavery or human trafficking.
2. Age UK Sunderland's Safeguarding Policy and Procedures acknowledges modern slavery as a form of abuse and, where there is a concern about a child (under 18 years) or an adult (18 or over) who needs care and support, this Policy takes effect.

Supply chain due diligence

Age UK Sunderland aims to work with only those suppliers that demonstrate high levels of commitment to monitoring and reducing the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking taking place within their organisations or supply chains.

As a pre-condition to supplying, Age UK Sunderland’s suppliers must confirm their compliance with the Act. If a supplier fails to provide the information requested or meet Age UK Sunderland’s expectations, Age UK Sunderland will take appropriate action, which may include not entering into a relationship or terminating the relationship.

Action plan for 2023-2024

In the 2023-2024 financial year, Age UK Sunderland plans to take further steps to enhance our supply chain due diligence, including:

1. Maintaining our Modern Slavery Policy and Procedure.
2. Formally asking new contractors or suppliers that trade on Age UK Sunderland's terms and conditions to provide specific confirmation of their compliance with the Act.
3. Asking new contractors or suppliers who trade with Age UK Sunderland to provide written assurances of their compliance with the Act, as well as with all applicable laws and regulations.
4. Improving staff awareness and understanding of modern slavery and human trafficking by the introduction of the Modern Slavery Policy & Procedure and by reinforcing other relevant Policies.
5. Introducing a modern slavery risk register and, where high-risk situations are
   identified, responding to those risks.

This statement is pursuant to Part 6, section 54 of the Act and constitutes Age UK Sunderland's anti-slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 March 2023.

Authorised by:

Tracy Collins

Chief Executive Officer

Age UK Sunderland strives to ensure equality of opportunity for all, both as an employer and a provider of services. This statement has therefore been equality impact assessed by the Chief Executive Officer to ensure fairness and consistency for all those covered by it regardless of their individual differences