Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement

Deep Rooted Community Gardens CIC (DRCG) is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all that we do. We have zero tolerance for modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and any form of exploitation — whether within our own organisation or through those we work with.

This statement is made in the spirit of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and reflects our commitment to transparency. While DRCG, as a small Community Interest Company, may not meet the statutory turnover threshold that requires a mandatory statement, we publish this voluntarily because we believe it is the right thing to do and reflects our values as a community-focused organisation.

Deep Rooted Community Gardens CIC is a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales. We work to create and sustain shared community garden spaces that are accessible to all, with a particular focus on supporting those who could benefit most from access to green spaces, growing activities, and community connection.

Our work is carried out by a small team which may, at any given time, include:

• Paid employees and/or contracted workers.
• Volunteers who freely give their time to support our activities.
• Work experience students placed with us from schools, colleges, or universities.

We do not operate a complex supply chain. Our primary activities are community-based and our procurement is limited to everyday goods and services needed to maintain and develop our community gardens.

DRCG is committed to ensuring that no person involved with our organisation — in any capacity — is subject to exploitation, forced labour, or any practice that constitutes modern slavery or human trafficking.

We recognise that modern slavery can take many forms, including forced and compulsory labour, debt bondage, human trafficking, and child labour. We are committed to identifying and responding to any risk of these practices within our activities.

Volunteers are an important part of how DRCG operates. We are committed to ensuring that all volunteering with DRCG is genuinely voluntary, freely chosen, and free from coercion or exploitation of any kind.

Our approach to volunteers includes the following safeguards:

• All volunteers are provided with a clear role description and understand the nature of the activities they will be involved in before they begin.
• Volunteering arrangements are flexible and volunteers are free to stop at any time without obligation or penalty.
• We do not use volunteers as a substitute for paid workers in a way that could constitute exploitation.
• Volunteers are not placed under undue pressure, financial or otherwise, to participate.
• We check the identity of volunteers and, where a role involves working with vulnerable adults or children, carry out appropriate safeguarding checks.
• We ensure volunteers are aware of their rights and how to raise a concern if they feel uncomfortable with any aspect of their role.

From time to time, DRCG may offer work experience placements to students from schools, colleges, or universities. We are committed to ensuring these placements are positive, educational, and fully compliant with all relevant legislation.

Our approach to work experience includes:

• Working only with accredited educational institutions that arrange placements through formal channels.
• Ensuring students and their institutions receive a clear description of the placement, its activities, and its duration before it begins.
• Complying fully with restrictions on working hours and the types of tasks that can be assigned to young people under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and associated regulations.
• Never using work experience students to carry out unsupervised, hazardous, or inappropriate tasks.
• Ensuring students know who to speak to if they have any concerns during their placement.
• Not requiring students to perform unpaid work beyond the agreed educational placement scope.

Where DRCG does not currently have an active work experience programme, these standards remain in place as the basis on which any future placements would be arranged.

Given the scale of DRCG's operations, our supply chain is small and primarily consists of local suppliers of garden materials, tools, seeds, and everyday consumables. We take reasonable steps to satisfy ourselves that the suppliers and service providers we use operate ethically and lawfully.

Where possible, we prefer to source from local and independent suppliers, which reduces supply chain complexity and supports our community values. We do not knowingly engage with any supplier or partner who we believe to be involved in practices that constitute modern slavery or labour exploitation.

We encourage anyone — whether a volunteer, work experience student, employee, partner, or member of the public — to speak up if they have concerns about potential modern slavery, exploitation, or unethical treatment connected to DRCG or our activities.

Concerns can be raised directly with us using the contact details below. All concerns will be taken seriously, handled confidentially, and investigated promptly. No one will be penalised for raising a genuine concern in good faith.

Concerns can also be reported to the national Modern Slavery Helpline: 0800 0121 700 (free, 24/7) or at modernslaveryhelpline.org.

We are committed to raising awareness of modern slavery among everyone who works with or for DRCG. This includes:

• Ensuring all staff and regular volunteers understand what modern slavery is and how to recognise warning signs.
• Including modern slavery awareness as part of any induction process for new team members, volunteers, and work experience students.
• Reviewing and updating our approach as guidance and best practice evolves.

This statement will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in our activities, workforce, or legal obligations. It is approved by the leadership of Deep Rooted Community Gardens CIC.

For questions about this statement or to raise a concern, please contact: