Modern Slavery Act Statement 2023
Modern Slavery Act Statement for the year ending 31 March 2023
Introduction
This is the modern slavery and human trafficking statement for Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association, for the financial year ending 31 March 2023. It is the eighth statement Sense has made in compliance with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Our business and our structure
Sense is a national disability charity that supports people with complex disabilities including those who are deafblind. Sense helps people to communicate and experience the world.
We provide expert support that’s tailored to the individual needs of each person who has complex disabilities or is deafblind. That might be through our centres, holidays and short breaks, or through our creative and physical activities, online buddies, or in people’s own homes. In addition to practical support, we also offer information to families, and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life. We enable people to live more active lives and to be less lonely.
Our supply chains and due diligence processes
Sense is committed to ensuring that the organisation and its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking, and that the necessary due diligence is undertaken to provide assurance of this. The Group Director of Finance & Resources, Catherine Still, has overall responsibility for this area of compliance.
Our risk analysis for modern slavery and human trafficking affecting our organisation has concluded that this remains a low risk. The areas most likely to be affected by modern slavery are new goods purchased for our trading arm (i.e. charity shops which raise funds for Sense).
We set out below the due diligence processes Sense has put in place to prevent the organisation from being involved with modern slavery in any way.
Sense Trading
We seek to establish long-term relationships with suppliers who understand Sense and our values. Our Trading Team secures statements from all suppliers of new goods, guaranteeing their compliance with the Act through our Code of Conduct and they cannot be engaged without it. This is renewed annually to ensure continued compliance. We also visit our suppliers from time to time and have undertaken several visits during this year. Our Trading Department only purchases goods from UK based suppliers.
Procurement
Sense’s procurement practices incorporate processes to ensure that our major suppliers of goods comply with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Invitations to tender, require suppliers to confirm their compliance with the Act and to provide a formal statement to this effect. If it is considered necessary, they will be asked to provide further assurances.
Depending on the type of goods being provided and the origin of the supply chains involved, further due diligence may be undertaken if necessary.
Effectiveness and Assurance
Sense would not tolerate slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and will terminate our relationship with any suppliers where there is evidence of their failure to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Sense is satisfied that, over the year to April 2023, there has been no evidence of any connection with modern slavery or human trafficking, either within the organisation or through any of our suppliers or sub-contractors.
Although it is important to undertake due diligence with our suppliers, we do not consider that it is necessary to set any performance indicators for this area. We have not so far needed to take any action against a supplier. We will however continue to keep this under review.
Our policies in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking
We are a values–led organisation and we have a number of policies which relate to modern slavery and human trafficking. Our policies on recruitment, whistleblowing, anti-bribery, equality & diversity and disciplinary and procurement procedures should ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking in any form, will not directly impinge on our organisation.
During 2021/22 we updated relevant HR policies (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Bullying and Harassment, Whistleblowing and the Disciplinary Policy) to include our approach to Modern Slavery and exploitation.
Our Safeguarding Policy refers to the fact that people with learning disabilities are at risk of being coerced into modern slavery.
Training our staff about slavery and human trafficking
Staff who work in the areas likely to be affected by modern slavery (in particular Trading) are trained in our procedures for ensuring that the organisation and its supply chains remain free of slavery and human trafficking.
We have now also incorporated awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking into our online safeguarding awareness training course for all staff, with an additional module for staff who work in our Operations Dept, which looks at the issues in more detail.
This statement has been approved by the Board of Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association for the year ending 31 March 2023.
Andrew Pearson, Treasurer
21 September 2023