Modern Slavery Statement — Gardeners Chingford

Gardeners Chingford is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all parts of our operations and supply chains. This Modern Slavery Statement outlines the policies, processes and responsibilities we have in place to ensure that exploitation has no place with Gardeners in Chingford, our contractors or suppliers. We have a zero-tolerance policy on forced labour, debt bondage, child labour and other forms of modern slavery across every project and service we deliver.

We expect all employees, subcontractors and third-party partners to meet our standards. Our approach is informed by the belief that Chingford gardeners and all those who work with us should be treated with dignity and fairness. Every worker must have freely agreed terms, the ability to leave employment, and access to their own identity documents. We publish clear expectations and make compliance part of contractual commitments.

To operationalise our values we maintain policies that require due diligence before engaging suppliers and periodically thereafter. These requirements include pre-engagement checks, risk assessments based on geography and industry, and specific contractual clauses requiring suppliers to confirm they do not engage in modern slavery practices. Gardeners of Chingford integrates modern slavery considerations into procurement and commissioning decisions.

Supplier Audits and Ongoing Monitoring

We conduct regular supplier audits and risk-based assessments to identify and address potential issues. Audit activities include document review, on-site inspections where feasible, and interviews with management and workers. Audit findings result in corrective action plans, escalations for persistent non-compliance, and, where necessary, termination of contracts. Our supplier audit program focuses on:

• Verification of worker records and employment terms to detect irregularities;
• Assessment of recruitment practices to ensure freedom from recruitment fees and debt bondage;
• Evaluation of working conditions such as hours, pay and health and safety standards.

We prioritise suppliers in higher-risk sectors and regions and work collaboratively to build capacity. When issues are found, we require time-bound remediation and follow-up audits. For complex cases we may provide support and training to help suppliers meet expectations rather than immediate disengagement, always guided by our zero-tolerance stance on severe violations.

Reporting Channels and Protection for Whistleblowers

Gardeners Chingford provides multiple reporting channels for employees, workers in our supply chain and third parties to raise concerns. These include confidential and anonymous reporting mechanisms, internal escalation paths and secure incident logging. Reports are treated seriously and investigated promptly and sensitively. We explicitly protect whistleblowers from retaliation and ensure investigations preserve confidentiality to the fullest extent possible.

All reports are reviewed by a designated compliance team which has clear procedures for triage, investigation and resolution. Outcomes may lead to remediation, disciplinary measures, contract termination or referral to relevant authorities where criminal activity is suspected. Our reporting framework is designed to be accessible and responsive so that both Chingford gardeners and external stakeholders can speak up without fear.

Accountability is reinforced through governance: senior leaders and the board receive regular updates on modern slavery risks and incidents, and responsible managers are assigned to oversee corrective actions. Training on modern slavery awareness and reporting obligations is mandatory for staff involved in procurement and supplier management.

We will continue to review and strengthen our approach through an annual review of our policies, due diligence processes and audit outcomes. The annual review analyses trends, measures effectiveness of mitigation actions and recommends improvements. Progress is measured against clear key performance indicators and integrated into broader environmental, social and governance monitoring.

Gardeners in Chingford remain committed to continuous improvement: we will update our risk assessments, refresh supplier contractual terms, expand audit coverage where necessary and enhance training resources. Our aim is to reduce the risk of modern slavery to as close to zero as possible while helping suppliers comply with labour and human rights standards.

By maintaining transparent oversight, robust supplier audits, multiple reporting channels and an annual review cycle, Gardeners Chingford strives to ensure that every aspect of our work is free from modern slavery and exploitation.