2022 modern slavery statement

National Trust Modern Slavery Act Statement

The National Trust and National Trust Enterprises (hereafter 'The Trust') are committed to ensuring modern slavery does not exist in its organisation or supply chains. To date we have had no reports of modern slavery within our organisation nor our supply chains.

Supply chain

The Trust recognises the challenges around modern slavery in complex global supply chains, and we are fully committed to understanding and minimising the risks of modern slavery associated with all types of goods and services we purchase.

To date, we have implemented new systems for purchasing, clarified accountabilities and responsibilities, and provided training to staff who request and order goods and services. This will enable us to continually develop closer relationships with key suppliers and to influence standards throughout our supply chain.

More recently, we have established a Sustainable Procurement Group to collaborate and to share best practice across different business functions, and this will enhance our ability to apply modern slavery standards consistently across our supply chain.

We will continue to evaluate the risk of modern slavery within our supply chain to identify products and supply chains that are at higher risk of modern slavery to inform our ongoing strategy and plan to manage this risk. We will do this by engaging with our key suppliers, stakeholders and experts, developing our staff, and fully integrating modern slavery risk management into our purchasing practices.

Staff and volunteer wellbeing

The Trust has a clear framework of values and rules and encourages the reporting of any concerns or breaches so that they can be dealt with appropriately in accordance with our policies and procedures.

We are committed to keeping all our people safe from harm and abuse. This includes children, adults at risk and anyone who comes into contact with the Trust. We employ a Safeguarding and Wellbeing Lead and have also established a network of Local Designated Safeguarding Leads. Our safeguarding training for staff and volunteers as well as our instruction, procedures and framework ensure we recognise, report, and respond to all concerns or incidents of safeguarding.

We offer an independent and confidential Speak Out hotline where staff and volunteers can raise any concerns confidentially and anonymously if they wish. Our Employee Assistance Programme also provides staff and volunteers with a secure way of seeking advice about a range of topics including modern slavery or human trafficking issues personally affecting them or their families.

The Trust checks that staff and volunteers can demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK and requires all contractors and agency staff to undergo an eligibility check before commencing work with the Trust. We use a preferred supplier list to source temporary workers.