Anti-slavery and human trafficking statement

Sue Ryder is a national charity providing health and social care in our hospices and in the community. Sue Ryder raises money to fund its services from various sources including its charity shops. Our shops sell donated stock as well as new goods which are sourced by our trading subsidiary, Sue Ryder Direct Ltd.

We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. This statement reflects our commitment to act ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains.

Sue Ryder purchases new goods, such as children’s toys, furniture and other homeware products, through its trading subsidiary Sue Ryder Direct Ltd for its retail chain and its online shop. We have previously used suppliers (agents) to source and provide these goods made in other countries, i.e. China, Vietnam, etc, but over the past 2 years we have been moving away from working directly with overseas suppliers (agents) and have instead been sourcing goods through our UK based suppliers.

At Sue Ryder we are committed to be a responsible business. We continually strive to work with suppliers who share the same values.

Policies that concern business relationships:

• Recruitment policy
• Procurement policy
• Whistle-blowing procedures
• Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy
• Anti-fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy
• Workplace Relationships – policy and procedure
• Values and Behaviours (expected of our staff)

In keeping with our commitment to act with integrity in all our business dealings, we recognise that we purchase products that may be manufactured in countries where human rights are an issue of particular concern.

Our terms and conditions with all our UK and European suppliers include a section on Modern Slavery and reference to our Anti-Slavery Policy. These agreements ask the supplier to provide us with an annual statement confirming that they have complied with our policy and to implement due diligence procedures for its own suppliers, contractors and other participants in the supply chain, and to provide copies of their audit reports. They also need to provide details of the factories that they use, and to not change a factory without giving Sue Ryder prior notification and supplying evidence that the new factory meets Sue Ryder’s requirements. We also expect our UK and European suppliers to complete an Online Risk Assessment (ORA) as detailed below.

We also actively encourage employee engagement, representation, dialogue and the ability of an employee to raise potential concerns or grievances.

All personnel as part of their induction have to read the Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy.

As part of our e-Learning training and development within Sue Ryder, we have a module on Anti-Fraud and Corruption, which does include a section on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. This will be completed by all relevant staff members.

Due diligence forms are completed in respect of major suppliers. We have identified that the purchasing of new goods for sale in our charity shops, which are sourced from countries which are identified as using child labour and forced labour in their manufacturing industries, are areas of particular concern.

We have recently become a member of SEDEX (www.sedex.com), who specialise in helping their members to manage their supply chains and detect, prevent and remedy issues. The SEDEX Platform enables businesses to conduct risk assessment and self assessment within their supply chains, supporting in creating supply chain transparency but whilst still ensuring that all compliance and legislative requirements, e.g. The Modern Slavery Act are met. Suppliers are requested to complete a self-assessment questionnaire consisting of over 100 questions relating to policies and practices on site linked to the four SMETA pillars (labour, health and safety, environment and business ethics).

All new suppliers are subject to being SEDEX approved before being appointed.

Our due diligence and reviews include:

• Requesting information relating to the supplier’s management of their supply chain, policies and due diligence
• Understanding and mapping the supply chain to assess particular products or geographical risks of modern slavery and human trafficking.
• Evaluating the modern slavery and human trafficking risks of each new supplier. This is to be achieved through supplier self-assessment processes and auditing, with a preference of using SMETA or an equivalent auditing body.
• Removing suppliers and factories that are not compliant.

All suppliers have been reissued with our updated Sue Ryder Code of Conduct with suppliers acknowledging their commitment to the Code of Conduct.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act and constitutes our Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for the financial year ending 31st March 2024.

Dr Rima Makarem

Chair of Trustees

(Approved by the Board on 25th September 2024)