Modern slavery statement 2018

Oak leaves on dewy grass | © National Trust Images/John Millar

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes the Trust’s modern slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 28 February 2018.

National Trust Modern Slavery Act Statement

The National Trust is committed to ensuring modern slavery is not present in its supply chains and has introduced, and will continue to develop, policy and procedures to manage the way it obtains goods and services to keep its supply chains robust.

Supply chain

Over the last year the Trust has undertaken a risk-based approach to working with high-risk suppliers, updated our supplier information pages and contacted all our suppliers directly to ensure they are aware of these pages.

Retail is recognised as a high-risk sector and considerable work has been undertaken within the Retail team. All our central retail suppliers have been issued with new contracts incorporating our requirements on Modern Slavery and the buying teams have been trained in the importance of these requirements.

Attention will now be focussed on our remaining high risk spend areas and on continuing to raise staff awareness to ensure all goods and services are sourced responsibly.

Staff and volunteer wellbeing

The Trust has a clear framework of rules and behaviours 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 offer an independent and confidential Whistleblowing hotline where staff and volunteers can raise concerns confidentially and anonymously if they wish.

Our Employee Assistance Programme also provides staff with a secure way of seeking advice about any 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. In addition, the Trust uses a preferred supplier list to source temporary workers and requires all contractors and agency staff to undergo an eligibility check before commencing work with the Trust.

Approved by the Board of Trustees of the National Trust on 25 July 2018 and signed on its behalf by Tim Parker, Chairman and approved by the Board of Directors of the National Trust (Enterprises) Limited on 27 June 2018 and signed on its behalf by Jill Little, Chairman.