Modern Slavery Statement

We continue to deliver ethical procurement training to internal stakeholders who are responsible for appointing and working with external suppliers. This training covers the relevant legislation and best practice relating to anti-trafficking and is regularly reviewed to ensure that the highest standards of ethical supply chain management are maintained. To date, around 100 people have attended these sessions. We intend to adapt our “Buy Better” training during 2025 to provide further guidance on identifying modern slavery within labour-based contracts 

All members of our Procurement Department complete, on an annual basis, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s on-line assessment relating to ethical procurement. This includes specific reference to anti-trafficking, modern slavery and human rights legislation. A key outcome is virtually all of the goods and services procured from “tier one” suppliers are sourced from UK-based suppliers. Personnel are guided to apply our standard terms and conditions where smaller property repair works, and other low value goods and services are sourced at the local level or without direct support from the Procurement Department.

Our Ethical Procurement Policy sets out our standards relating to human rights, child labour, discrimination, corruption, bribery or other financial impropriety, legal compliance and ethical conduct. We actively seek to ensure direct suppliers comply with this policy under our standard terms and conditions. 

Our Procurement Department undertakes regular reviews of its supply base, examining suppliers in those areas that represent the highest risk of modern slavery, particularly in spend areas relating to temporary labour, cleaning, catering, linen, branded goods and building services. Where practicable, we use trade and industry best practice standards as the benchmark. 

The commitment to ensuring ethical supply chain standards is also embedded in The Salvation Army Fiscal Stewardship Principles and the Procurement Department assesses new contracts against these principles.

We deliver training to help eliminate modern slavery. Training on modern slavery is mandatory for all staff, ministers of religion and volunteers who work with our Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Unit and forms part of their induction. We review this training annually to include changes and emerging international trends. 115 people completed this training in 2023/24. 

All our staff can choose to complete the training to obtain a Global Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Response Training Certificate, to strengthen their understanding of how to address modern slavery and human trafficking from a global perspective. 

We also develop training resources focusing on contextualised awareness and education, which we deliver to staff, members of the public and external stakeholders. Topics range from general awareness of trafficking and modern slavery to key legislation, types of exploitation, how to spot the signs and report cases and the National Referral Mechanism.

As an employer, we strive to avoid inadvertently engaging individuals who may be controlled by third parties. We adhere to rigorous recruitment practices to ensure that all candidates, whether for permanent, temporary, agency, or contractor roles, undergo thorough pre-employment checks. These checks include appropriate references, right to work verification, and disclosure assessments where necessary. 

Our recruitment process is managed internally, allowing us to maintain stringent safe recruitment standards. When it is essential to engage an agency, we select from our preferred supplier list, which comprises agencies vetted according to our strict terms and conditions. These agencies are required to execute a robust recruitment process aimed at minimizing safeguarding risks. 

We are committed to treating all staff with dignity and respect, providing safe working conditions, and acting ethically within the law. We have a number of policies which provide our employees with access to further channels for raising concerns. As experts in modern slavery support for England and Wales, we train our staff to identify signs of slavery and human trafficking. We have established clear protocols for addressing and escalating potential slavery or human trafficking concerns within The Salvation Army.

In addition to the Procurement Ethical Policy mentioned above in the context of our supply chains, a number of our Safeguarding Policies and Procedures refer to Modern Slavery as a type of abuse. Specifically, it is referred to throughout our Safeguarding Procedure and also in our “Safeguarding & Protecting Adults Procedure Corps & Community” and our “Safeguarding Young People and Adults Procedure” for our Homelessness Services Department. Our Safeguarding Children Procedure refers to child trafficking as a form of abuse.

We explained above how our Recruitment Policy enables us to use safe recruitment practices.  Other relevant human resources policies are those which deal with employing people, with the right to work in the UK and with treating people with dignity.

Our Whistleblowing Policy explains to our staff how they can raise concerns. 

The Salvation Army is a worldwide Christian church, which has been fighting against social inequality and transforming lives for over 150 years. Combating human trafficking and modern slavery is a key priority for The Salvation Army both in the UK and internationally. 

The Salvation Army has worked in partnership with the Home Office and our supply chain partners since 2011. Together, we deliver accommodation, outreach and specialist support to victims of modern slavery and trafficking across England and Wales.  

The Salvation Army is the prime contractor and delivers frontline services, through our safehouses and volunteer-led community programmes, drivers and chaperones.