Modern Slavery Act

Local Space’s modern slavery statement for the year ended 31 March 2024

Introduction
This statement is made pursuant to s.54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Local Space is committed to acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all professional dealings, and to having effective systems, processes and controls in place to safeguard against any form of modern slavery taking place within Local Space or our supply chain.

Modern slavery is the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain.

Our structure
Local Space is an exempt charity and registered provider of social housing. Our charitable objects are:

To carry on for the benefit of the community:

• The business of providing and managing housing, including Social Housing, and providing assistance to help house people and associated facilities, amenities and services for poor people or for the relief of aged, disabled (whether physically or mentally) or chronically sick
• Any other charitable object that can be carried out from time to time by a registered society registered as a provider of Social Housing with the Regulator.

Local Space’s income comes from the renting or leasing of properties including housing and commercial properties.

Our policies and procedures are designed to ensure that ethical behaviour forms the basis of our ways of working. We ensure all staff that have contact with residents are appropriately trained in Safeguarding and Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection which includes being aware of what modern slavery is and how it can happen.

We will continue our programme to update all relevant policies to include appropriate references to the risk of modern slavery. We also operate numerous risk controls to protect staff and clients’ personal information, and to ensure that our systems and services are not used to perpetrate or facilitate crime, including modern slavery.

All of our staff are employed directly by Local Space and are not of an employment status generally considered to be vulnerable to modern slavery. The organisation carries out appropriate pre-employment checks prior to commencement and staff complete mandatory training to ensure they understand and comply with our values and policies. Appropriate references to modern slavery are incorporated into relevant aspects of our recruitment processes and training. Our staff earn at least the Living Wage Foundation Rate.

Local Space supply chain
The charity uses a number of key suppliers for our operations across east London and Essex who supply goods and services that support the operations of the charity. The charity recognises the importance of its role in implementing the guidance of the Modern Slavery Act and its implications.

Those involved in procurement are aware of the risk of modern slavery specifically, and our Procurement Policy will set out requirements for buying goods and services and due diligence required on suppliers. Our Whistleblowing Policy and procedure encourages staff to report any concerns.

Policies
Local Space staff have access via our Office 365 facility to the following policies:

• Recruitment
• Safeguarding
• Whistleblowing
• Procurement

Through these policies and the measures below we prevent modern slavery occurring at Local Space or in our supply chains:

• All staff having direct contact with residents have undertaken mandatory training in Safeguarding which covers modern slavery
• Staff are aware of how to report incidents of concern and are encouraged to do so. Safeguarding incidents are reported to Social Services and these include any incidents of modern slavery
• An appropriate procurement process is in place to satisfy ourselves all suppliers meet our expectations in respect of modern slavery
• Pre-employment checking

Future activities
Local Space is reviewing its internal policies and procedures, and in the next financial year intends to introduce the following initiatives:

• We will share this statement with staff to raise awareness of the Modern Slavery Act and what action to take if they have concerns
• Continue to expand our due diligence of suppliers and ongoing review of supplier terms and conditions to ensure these are consistent with the Modern Slavery Act
• Ensure all relevant suppliers are signed up to and meet our Procurement Policy Code of Conduct

Approval
This statement will be reviewed annually and approved by the Local Space Board for any substantial changes and otherwise by our Senior Management Team, which has responsibility for ensuring its implementation.