Modern Slavery
statement 2025-2026

Our commitments for 2025-26

1. Structure and Supply Chains

We operate a diverse supply chain and expect our housing providers, suppliers, contractors, and business partners to uphold high standards and be committed to tackling modern slavery and human trafficking. We will ensure that our partners share this commitment and will communicate our expectations to our housing providers so they understand what we require for our residents.

2. Policies relevant to Modern Slavery

• Code of Conduct – upholding high standards of probity and ethical behaviour
• Probity Policy (Whistleblowing) – implementing confidential communication and reporting channels to encourage staff to report concerns and misconduct.
• Recruitment & Selection Policy – maintaining transparent procedures and checks to ensure compliance with legislation and guidance for both permanent and temporary staff.
• Safeguarding Policy – providing guidance on identifying and reporting safeguarding incidents within our accommodation and local communities.
• Domestic Abuse – supporting those experiencing domestic abuse and directing them to appropriate services.

3. Due diligence relevant to modern slavery

Concept has established due diligence processes across employment and procurement. Our employment practices include requiring new employees to produce original documents evidencing their right to work in the UK prior to starting employment. We will terminate contracts if a provider or supplier is found to have committed an offence of slavery or human trafficking.

4. Risk Assessment

We believe our processes and actions—including our procurement framework, risk and assurance protocols, policies, due diligence, and trained staff—can minimise the opportunities for slavery to occur.

5. Measuring effectiveness

Through engagement with residents and providers, we can identify and address instances of slavery, especially within our properties and the communities we serve.

6. Training

A comprehensive and mandatory training programme for all staff and board members, delivered by West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network and West Yorkshire Anti-Slavery Partnership, involving those with lived experience.

Future Plans – during 2025-26, we will:

• Participate actively in local events organised by the West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network and West Yorkshire Anti-Slavery Partnership to deepen our understanding of local issues and foster strong network connections.
• Ensure our providers and managing agents receive a copy of this statement and adhere to it as a condition of their engagement. Additionally, we will offer training to raise awareness and support compliance, helping to embed these values throughout our supply chain and operational partnerships.
• Review policies to ensure alignment with our commitment to the Modern Slavery Act (Probity Policy, Procurement Policy, development of Concept’s own Code of Conduct).
• Continue ensuring the Board and Executive take responsibility and allocate resources to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within Concept, our managing agents, and supply chains.
• Maintain collaboration with staff, suppliers, providers, and partners to uphold effective risk management mitigation.
• Complete the mandatory training programme for all staff and board members, hosted by the West Midlands and West Yorkshire Anti-Slavery Partnerships, with input from those with lived experience.
• Complete Domestic Abuse training and awareness with a national organisation (Safe Lives) commencing October 2025 for whole staff group.

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Concept Housing Association’s Modern Slavery Act Statement for the financial year ending March 2025.
Approved by the Concept Housing Association Board on 30th September 2025.

Akhlaq Ahmed
INTERIM CHAIR