Modern slavery and human trafficking statement

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 31 December 2019.

The Woodland Trust and its subsidiaries Woodland Trust (Enterprises) Limited and Woodland Trust Farming Limited are committed to ensuring modern slavery and human trafficking does not exist anywhere in its corporate activities and supply chain. We have developed policies and procedures to manage the way we obtain our goods and services and review them regularly to keep our supply chains robust. We have had no reports of modern slavery within our organisation or our supply chains to date.

Supply chain

Suppliers are issued with contracts or terms that reference the Trust’s sourcing standards and the requirements we expect them to meet on modern slavery. We also expect all new suppliers to complete a questionnaire to better understand their environmental and ethical credentials of both their supply chain and manufacturing facilities. The responses to these questions enable us to identify any supplier who falls short of meeting our requirements and where possible work with them so they can achieve our benchmark. If we feel a supplier is not able to reach our standards we will refrain from working with them.

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 email where staff and volunteers can raise concerns anonymously if they wish.

We have in place a safeguarding policy and employee guidance on dealing with children and vulnerable adults.  This includes advice, support on and how to report concerns.

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.

Board Member Approval

This statement was approved by the organisation's Board Affairs Committee, who review it on behalf of the Board of Trustees on an annual basis.

Signed by Barbara, Baroness Young of Old Scone

Director and chair of trustees

Date: 7 September 2020