Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

Introduction

Age UK considers modern slavery and human trafficking extremely serious crimes, grave violations of human rights and contrary to the ethical standards and values we hold dear. As a charity that, as part of its wider objectives, fights for the protection and advancement of human rights in the UK, and around the world through our subsidiary charity, Age International, we have a zero-tolerance approach to such abuses.

We are committed to preventing modern slavery in our organisation and ensuring that our supply chain is as equally free of both modern slavery and human trafficking (within the reasonable bounds of our influence and control to ensure compliance with the Act by our supply chain and / or assure ourselves of their compliance).

Our organisation

Age UK is a charity registered in England which exists to promote the wellbeing of older people. Age UK comprises of Age UK and its subsidiary charities and companies.

• Age UK’s subsidiary charity, Age International, funds programmes in over 40 developing countries.
• Age UK’s trading subsidiaries, Age UK Trading CIC (Community Interest Company), and Age Co, generate income to fund the charity’s work. Age UK Trading CIC also provided central support services and infrastructure.

Age UK and its subsidiaries employ around 1,600 staff, and benefits from the support of 3,250 volunteers in our c250 charity shops, in England and Wale and a further 5,700 volunteers across our phone lines and other charitable activities.

The vast majority of our staff are employed directly by Age UK and our subsidiaries and are not of an employment status generally considered to be vulnerable to modern slavery in this country. We are not complacent and have robust policies and procedures in place. Our focus, however, is on ensuring that our supply chain complies with the Act, relevant Age UK policies and procedures, and our ethical standards.

Our supply chain

Age UK is committed to improving our practices to identify and eliminate modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains, and to act ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships. Our supply chains comprise of over 2,000 suppliers and contractors. Age UK and our subsidiaries use the products and services we purchase from these suppliers to:

• Support our charitable activity and operations
• Provide products for resale in our charity shops
• Offer financial, insurance and legal services for sale to the public by third parties

Age UK works with the Age UK network of over 130 independent charities to deliver charitable services in the UK. Age International works internationally through a network of partners and agencies, largely as the UK member the of HelpAge International global network.

Policies

Age UK endeavours to raise awareness among all employees of the identification, prevention and eradication of modern slavery and human trafficking, and has policies and procedures in place to ensure that they can do so. The Age UK Procurement function operates across Age UK’s subsidiaries and has oversight of our supply chain. The relevant policies are:

1. Age UK’s Procurement Policy and Procedure requires that suppliers are formally approved by Age UK’s Procurement team such that they can only provide goods and services after confirming compliance with all applicable regulations and legislation, including the Act.
2. Age UK’s Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure asks staff to confidentially report concerns including modern slavery or human trafficking.
3. Age UK’s Safeguarding Procedures acknowledge modern slavery as a form of abuse and, where there is a concern about a child (under 18 years) or an adult (18 or over) who needs care and support, this Policy takes effect.

Supply Chain Due Diligence

Age UK aims to work with only those suppliers that demonstrate high levels of commitment to monitoring and reducing the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking taking place within their organisations or supply chains. As a pre-condition to supplying Age UK, suppliers must confirm their compliance with the Act.

If a supplier fails to provide the information requested or meet Age UK’s expectations, Age UK will take appropriate action, which may include not entering into a relationship or terminating the relationship.

Progress in 2023/2024

In the 2023/24 financial year Age UK has taken steps to provide additional assurance of our supply chain’s compliance with the Act:

• Age UK continued to monitor all new suppliers prior to engaging with them to confirm compliance with the Act.
• Age UK have been working with an outsourced procurement partner to improve its control over its supplier base and compliance with the Act.

Plans for 2024/2025

In the 2024/25 financial year Age UK plans to take further steps to improve staff knowledge of modern slavery and human trafficking, and requirements under the Act by developing a training plan to increase awareness and understanding amongst staff who have purchasing responsibilities.

We will look to work with our procurement function to develop our plans and controls in this area, including reviewing relevant clauses in existing supplier agreements, undertaking a risk assessment of the supply chains of our key suppliers and analysing the supplier due diligence process to increase our ability to identify potential risks. 

This statement is made pursuant to Part 6, section 54 of the Act and constitutes Age UK’s anti-slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 March 2024 and has been approved by the Age UK Board of Trustees on behalf of Age UK and its charitable and trading subsidiaries.

Paul Farmer

Chief Executive, Age UK

3 June 2024