Modern Slavery Statement
Last updated: March 2026
This statement is made by Ubuntu Harmony CIC in accordance with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It sets out the steps we have taken to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not taking place within our organisation or our supply chains.
1. Our Organisation
Ubuntu Harmony CIC is a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales. We provide housing and tenancy support services, working to ensure that individuals and families across our community have access to safe, affordable, and well-managed accommodation.
We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all of our business relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.
2. Our Commitment
Ubuntu Harmony CIC has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in all its forms. We are committed to:
- Acting with integrity and transparency in everything we do
- Ensuring that our staff, volunteers, and partners understand the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking
- Taking prompt and decisive action if any form of modern slavery is identified or suspected
- Continuously reviewing and improving our policies and practices in this area
3. Our Policies
We maintain a number of internal policies that support our commitment to combating modern slavery, including:
- Recruitment and HR policy — we carry out appropriate checks on all staff and volunteers, including right to work verification, to ensure that no one is employed against their will or under coercive circumstances
- Safeguarding policy — we have robust safeguarding procedures in place to protect the people we house and support from exploitation and abuse
- Whistleblowing policy — we encourage staff and partners to report any concerns about modern slavery or exploitation without fear of reprisal
- Code of conduct — all staff and volunteers are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical behaviour in their work
4. Our Supply Chains
As a community housing organisation, our supply chains are relatively limited. We work primarily with local contractors, maintenance providers, and service suppliers. We take steps to ensure that the organisations we work with share our values and commitment to ethical practice.
Where we engage suppliers and contractors, we:
- Conduct basic due diligence to assess any potential risks of modern slavery
- Include expectations around ethical conduct in our supplier agreements
- Encourage suppliers to maintain their own anti-slavery policies and procedures
5. Due Diligence and Risk Assessment
We recognise that certain sectors and supply chains carry a higher risk of modern slavery, including construction, cleaning, and social care. We assess our supply chains and operational activities on an ongoing basis and take steps to mitigate identified risks.
Our due diligence measures include:
- Verifying the right to work of all employees and volunteers before engagement
- Ensuring that tenants and individuals we support are not subject to exploitation or coercive control as a condition of their housing
- Remaining vigilant for signs of labour exploitation among workers engaged by our contractors
6. Training and Awareness
We are committed to raising awareness of modern slavery among our staff and volunteers. We ensure that those working within our organisation understand:
- What modern slavery and human trafficking are and how to recognise the signs
- How to report concerns safely and confidentially
- Their responsibilities under this statement and relevant legislation
Training and awareness are embedded into our induction process and form part of our ongoing staff development programme.
7. Reporting Concerns
If you suspect that modern slavery or human trafficking is taking place — whether within our organisation, our supply chains, or in connection with someone we house or support — we encourage you to report it immediately.
Internally, concerns can be raised with a senior member of staff or via our whistleblowing procedure. Externally, concerns can be reported to:
- The Modern Slavery Helpline — 0800 0121 700 (free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- The National Crime Agency — nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk
- The police — call 101, or 999 in an emergency
8. Review and Approval
This statement is reviewed annually and approved by the directors of Ubuntu Harmony CIC. We are committed to continuously improving our approach to tackling modern slavery and will update this statement to reflect any significant developments in our policies or practices.
This statement covers the financial year ending March 2026.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this statement or our approach to modern slavery, please contact us:
Ubuntu Harmony CIC
Email: info@ubuntuharmony.co.uk
Website: ubuntuharmony.co.uk
Address: 120 Grove Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 4LX, United Kingdom