Modern Slavery Statement
June 2026
Our Commitment
Citizens Advice Halton is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all aspects of our work. We recognise that modern slavery is a serious violation of human rights and are committed to acting ethically, with integrity and transparency in everything we do.
As a charity providing advice and support to people across Halton, we are dedicated to ensuring that our own activities, employment practices and relationships with partners, suppliers and funders minimise the risk of modern slavery.
Our Organisation
Citizens Advice Halton provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to people living and working in Halton. Our services are delivered by a combination of paid staff and volunteers and are supported through partnerships with local authorities, NHS organisations, community groups, housing providers and other voluntary sector organisations.
Policies and Procedures
We have a range of policies and procedures that help reduce the risk of modern slavery, including:
- Recruitment and Selection Policy ensures all staff and volunteers have the legal right to work and are recruited through fair and transparent processes.
- Safeguarding Policy that enables staff and volunteers to identify and respond appropriately where individuals may be at risk of exploitation.
- Whistleblowing Policy encourages staff, volunteers and stakeholders to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy promoting fair treatment and respect for everyone.
- Procurement and Financial Procedures designed to ensure appropriate due diligence when purchasing goods and services.
Working with Partners
We work with a wide range of statutory, voluntary and private sector partners. When developing partnerships or commissioning services we seek to work with organisations that share our commitment to ethical practice, safeguarding and compliance with relevant employment legislation.
Where appropriate we:
- undertake proportionate due diligence on new partners and suppliers;
- include safeguarding and ethical expectations within partnership agreements;
- encourage partners to maintain appropriate safeguarding and modern slavery procedures;
- work collaboratively to identify and respond to concerns relating to exploitation.
Staff and Volunteer Awareness
Our staff and volunteers receive safeguarding training as part of their induction and ongoing development. This includes recognising indicators of exploitation, understanding referral pathways and knowing how to report concerns.
Advice staff are also trained to recognise circumstances where clients may be experiencing forced labour, domestic servitude, human trafficking or other forms of exploitation, enabling appropriate safeguarding referrals to be made.
Supply Chains
As a local charity, our supply chains are relatively simple and consist primarily of office supplies, IT services, utilities and professional services. We consider the overall risk of modern slavery within our direct supply chain to be low; however, we remain committed to purchasing from reputable organisations that comply with UK employment law and ethical business standards.
Reporting Concerns
Any concerns relating to modern slavery or human trafficking are taken seriously. Staff, volunteers and trustees are expected to report concerns immediately through our safeguarding procedures or whistleblowing process. Where appropriate, concerns will be referred to the relevant statutory agencies.
Continuous Improvement
We are committed to reviewing our policies and procedures regularly to ensure they remain effective. We will continue to:
- raise awareness of modern slavery among staff and volunteers;
- review procurement and partnership arrangements;
- strengthen safeguarding practices;
- monitor emerging risks within our services and supply chains.
This statement reflects Citizens Advice Halton’s commitment to preventing modern slavery and promoting ethical and responsible working practices throughout our organisation and with those we work alongside.