Modern Slavery Statement — Gardening Newham Commitment

Gardening Newham confirms its unwavering commitment to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking within our operations and supply chains. This modern slavery statement sets out the policies and actions we take to protect workers involved in garden maintenance, landscaping and community horticulture across Newham and surrounding areas. We recognise that responsible procurement and ethical employment practices are essential to the integrity of our services, whether described as gardening in Newham, Newham gardening projects or broader community green-space work.

Zero-Tolerance Policy and Principles

Our organisation operates a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of forced labour, child labour, debt bondage and exploitation. This policy is embedded in our supplier contracts and staff codes of conduct. Key principles include:

• Immediate action where potential breaches are identified;
• Protection for workers who report concerns;
• Proactive prevention through training and risk assessment.

To reinforce our duties, Gardening Newham (also referred to in this document as Garden Newham) undertakes rigorous due diligence across its procurement channels. Our supply chain covers plant suppliers, tool and equipment providers, subcontractors for landscaping projects, and labour-supply partners. We conduct supplier audits and risk-based assessments to identify areas where modern slavery risks are higher—seasonal labour, subcontracted manual teams and third-party logistics.

Supplier Audits and Due Diligence

Supplier audits form a central part of our approach. Audits include documentation checks, site visits, verification of right-to-work and interview processes where appropriate. Our audit protocol involves:

• Risk scoring of suppliers based on sector, geography and role;
• Regular on-site inspections and remote reviews;
• Corrective action plans with time-bound milestones for remediation.

We ensure that audit findings are acted upon; persistent non-compliance may result in contract suspension or termination. These measures are applied consistently across all Garden Newham partners to preserve the rights and dignity of all workers.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing — Gardening Newham provides multiple, confidential reporting channels for staff, contractors and community members to raise concerns about slavery or exploitation. Reports can be made anonymously and are treated with strict confidentiality. We maintain an internal incident response team that investigates allegations impartially and ensures protection against retaliation. All reports trigger a documented investigation and remedial actions where necessary.

Training, Communication and Continuous Improvement — We deliver regular training to staff and procurement teams on recognising the signs of modern slavery and the steps to take. Training covers ethical recruitment, safe working practices, and supplier engagement. We also communicate expectations to suppliers and require contractual commitments to uphold labour rights. Gardening Newham collaborates with local community organisations to raise awareness about worker exploitation and to support vulnerable individuals.

Annual Review and Governance — This statement is reviewed at least annually by senior management and the governing board. The review assesses the effectiveness of supplier audits, reporting channels, training programs and remedial measures. Improvements identified in each review are incorporated into action plans for the following year. Governance includes periodic reporting to leadership, allocation of resources for compliance activities, and a commitment to public transparency about our progress.

In summary, Gardening Newham is resolute in preventing modern slavery throughout our operations and supply chain. Through a zero-tolerance policy, robust supplier audits, clear reporting channels and an annual review process, we seek to ensure that our gardening services in Newham and adjacent areas uphold the highest ethical standards and protect the rights of every worker involved in our projects.