WeST Modern Slavery Statement
As a large organisation WeST is required by the Modern Slavery Act to produce an annual statement; the 2020 statement is now available. The statement sets out our commitment and strategy to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in education arms, business units, and supply chains. However, this requirement goes beyond a statutory requirement and is aligned to the ethical core values of the Trust.
What is Modern Slavery?
Modern Slavery is the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. Modern Slavery can take many forms including the trafficking of people, forced labour, servitude and slavery. Children (those aged under 18) are considered victims of trafficking, whether or not they have been coerced, deceived or paid to secure their compliance. They need only have been recruited, transported, received or harboured for the purpose of exploitation.
Modern slavery is an international crime, affecting millions of people around the world. Police Recorded Crime (PRC) includes all offences in law that are indictable and in the year to March 2019, the police recorded 5,059 offences of modern slavery in England and Wales. Slavery’s hidden nature means actual numbers are likely to be much higher.
Are there different forms of Modern Slavery?
The term Modern Slavery captures a whole range of types of exploitation, many of which occur together. These include but are not limited to; sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced labour, criminal exploitation, and other forms of exploitation.
What is WeST doing?
Last year saw the first WeST Modern Slavery Statement and in 2020 this has been reviewed and published on the website to promote the Trust’s continued commitment and steps towards this issue. The statement sets out:-
- Steps towards due diligence in our supply chains
- Steps towards our due diligence as an employer
- Training and policies which will raise awareness
- Further steps and objectives for the coming year
Please take moment to review the statement by clicking here and consider the impact in daily operations you are involved in. If you would like to discuss further please liaise with the HR Team directly on email: HR@westst.org.uk.