Slavery & human trafficking statement

Royal Voluntary Service (“the Charity”) believes that exploitation is wrong. It is committed to ensuring that acts of slavery and human trafficking do not occur in the Charity’s activities and its supply chains.

This Statement sets out:

Royal Voluntary Service’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for the financial year ending 31 March 2024 in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (“the Act”)
The ways in which the Charity seeks to ensure that its activities and supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.
The actions the Charity plans to take in the financial year 2024/25 to continue its support of the Act.

The Charity, its activities and suppliers

Royal Voluntary Service is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities. It exists to inspire and enable people to give the gift of voluntary service to meet the needs of the day in their communities. With around 50,000 volunteers, the Charity provides needed support in NHS hospitals, at home and in the community.

Royal Voluntary Service is a registered charitable company (registered charity number 1015988 (England and Wales) and SCO38924 (Scotland) with three wholly owned subsidiary companies, Royal Voluntary Service (Trading Company) Limited, WRVS Services Welfare Limited and Royal Voluntary Service Meals on Wheels Limited (now dormant). It is governed by its Board of Trustees and operated by its CEO and Leadership Team.

In 2023/24, the Charity’s turnover was in the region of £42m, supported by relationships with a variety of suppliers and the work of approximately 690 nationwide staff and 50,000 volunteers. The Charity’s supply chains for goods and services encompasses suppliers operating mainly within the UK and Europe, the majority of whom provide goods and services, including those not for resale, to support the Charity’s activities in NHS hospitals.

The Charity’s policies

The Charity requires high standards of responsible behaviour within the Charity and from its suppliers. Its Code of Conduct explains the Charity’s core values and the expected behaviours within the Charity.

The following policies ensure that the Charity acts properly in its business relationships, implements and enforces effective systems and controls and conducts its activities in an ethical and transparent manner:

Ethical Policy: This sets out the basis on which the Charity is prepared to engage with its suppliers. All new suppliers are required to sign a copy before they can contract with the Charity.
Procurement Policy: This sets out required due process when entering a relationship with a potential supplier.
HR Policies: Our HR Policies include “right to work in the UK checks” and payment for all employees of at least the National Living Wage to safeguard against human trafficking and being forced to work against their will.
Safeguarding Policy: This helps everyone to be alert for, to identify and report any potential safeguarding issues including those relating to slavery and human trafficking.
Whistleblowing Policy: This emphasises that all employees and volunteers know that they can, without fear of reprisal, raise concerns about the treatment of individuals connected with the Charity or practices within the Charity’s activities and/or supply chains.
Anti-Bribery & Corruption Policy: This emphasises the Charity’s commitment to lawful and ethical behaviour in all areas of activity.

The Charity’s due diligence processes

Royal Voluntary Service has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships. We also ensure there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains which is consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The Charity’s approach to managing modern slavery and human trafficking risk within its supply chain is embedded in its supplier tendering and selection processes. These include consideration of certain factors before a supplier is awarded a contract, for example consideration of a potential supplier’s reputation, integrity, financial strength, compliance with legislation and best practice and its ethical stance. We expect the same high standards from all our contractors, suppliers and other business partners. All suppliers must comply with national and other applicable law and, where the provisions of law and this policy address the same subject, to apply that provision which affords the greater protection.

As part of Royal Voluntary Service due diligence, the approval process for new suppliers will incorporate a review of the controls undertaken by the supplier. The Charity will not support or deal with any business knowingly involved in slavery or human trafficking. This extends to any subcontractors used by a supplier.

Training

To actively maintain awareness and ensure a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with modern slavery and human trafficking, we mandate relevant departments to receive essential training. This is facilitated through a Compliance Training Matrix ensuring that all necessary personnel undergo the required training.

The Charity’s performance indicators

The Charity monitors the effectiveness of the steps that it takes to ensure that slavery and/or human trafficking is not taking place within its activities or supply chain by following up on any reports that it receives, which might indicate that modern slavery practices have been identified in an organisation the Charity is associated with.

Progress over last 12 months

Charity has continued to build on the significant work already undertaken to maintain oversight of its supply chains and enhance due diligence processes. These efforts are aimed at ensuring a comprehensive understanding of its suppliers and any associated risks. By establishing clear guidelines and expectations, the Charity is committed to maintaining high standards of transparency and accountability. During this period, all new suppliers onboarded were required to adhere to these rigorous standards, demonstrating their commitment to the Charity's values and ethical principles.

Planned actions

We will continue to require all new suppliers to commit to and sign the Charity’s code of conduct, ensuring alignment with our values and standards. Additionally, the principles of the Modern Slavery Act will serve as a cornerstone in all our tender processes, reinforcing our dedication to ethical practices and the prevention of exploitation within our supply chains. By embedding these principles into our procurement procedures, we aim to uphold the highest standards of integrity and responsibility.

In addition, we will be reviewing our main key suppliers which, at the date of this statement, make up just over 62% of supplier spend. This will include reviewing supplier Modern Slavery Statements, if they meet the criteria to produce one. We will also contact any key suppliers that are not required to produce a Statement and will reach out and seek assurance that they are acting in line with the law and best practice.

This Statement was approved by the Charity’s Audit & Risk Committee on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees and Directors on 25 July 2024 and is signed on their behalf by Richard Williams, Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee.

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