Modern Slavery Statement

 

1. Introduction & Organisational Context

Imara is a registered UK charity dedicated to supporting child survivors of sexual and domestic abuse since 2010. As an inclusive, values-led, and trauma-informed organisation, our work is driven by the vision of a world where children receive the support they need, abuse is eradicated, and young people are free from harm.

Our specialist frontline services include Creative Arts Therapy and Children & Young People’s Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (CHISVA) advocacy, supporting children and safe family members through trauma recovery and the criminal justice process.

Although Imara does not meet the statutory turnover threshold required under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, we voluntarily publish this annual statement. As a trauma-informed organisation committed to fighting exploitation and abuse, we believe in complete transparency regarding our operations, procurement, and ongoing efforts to mitigate modern slavery and human trafficking risks.

2. Governance & Operational Structure

The safety of children, young people, and families is the foundational core of our charity. Safeguarding - including the identification and mitigation of modern slavery and human trafficking risks - is embedded into every operational decision.

• Board of Trustees: Imara is governed by a Board of Trustees who bring specialist expertise across safeguarding, finance, technology, legal compliance, and human resources. The Board holds overall responsibility for charity governance, strategy, and policy approval.

• Senior Leadership Team (SLT): Led by the CEO, the SLT manages day-to-day operations, ensures service delivery meets client needs, and oversees risk management.

• Safeguarding Leadership: We maintain designated Safeguarding Leads who are accessible during all operating hours to address, escalate, and manage safety concerns immediately.

3. Frontline Practice & Safeguarding Framework

Our frontline practice is designed to actively identify and respond to indicators of modern slavery, child sexual exploitation (CSE), criminal exploitation, and human trafficking.

• Continuous Risk Assessment & Safety Planning: Trained frontline staff and clinical trainees conduct ongoing risk assessments and safety planning with all clients using our established assessment frameworks.

• Reporting & Resolution: We respond to all safety concerns through sensitive, timely, and robust reporting mechanisms aligned with local Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) protocols and statutory legislation.

• Continuous Improvement: We regularly review our clinical practice and safeguarding responses following critical incidents, reflective learning, or updates to legislative and statutory guidance.

4. Internal Policies & Governance Controls

Our range of policies ensures an ethical, fair, and safe environment for all staff, volunteers, trainees, and service users. Policies are reviewed regularly by HR, the SLT, and the Board of Trustees:

• Safeguarding Policy: Mandates that every individual working on behalf of Imara shares responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, establishing clear protocols for reporting suspected abuse or exploitation.

• Whistleblowing Policy: Provides a safe, confidential mechanism for staff, volunteers, and stakeholders to report suspected illegal, unethical, or exploitative practices. All disclosures are investigated thoroughly and promptly.

• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Policy: Fosters an equitable and inclusive workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and exploitation, with clear escalation routes for unfair treatment.

• Zero Tolerance Policy: Sets clear boundaries against abusive, aggressive, or unacceptable behaviour directed towards staff, volunteers, interns, or trainees.

5. Procurement & Supply Chain Due Diligence

Imara maintains a low-risk supply chain, primarily procuring professional services and standard office goods. However, we remain vigilant regarding third-party supplier ethics:

• Supplier Screening: All potential suppliers undergo thorough vetting to ensure suitability and alignment with our organisational values.

• Policy Compliance: We request a copy of a supplier’s Modern Slavery Policy during procurement. Where a supplier does not have a formal statement (e.g., due to size), we require them to sign and agree to abide by Imara’s ethical standards and modern slavery stipulations.

• Ethical Partnerships: We proactively seek partnerships with suppliers who demonstrate equitable treatment of workers and zero tolerance for human trafficking, forced labour, or exploitation.

6. Training & Capacity Building

To ensure our workforce remains equipped to identify subtle indicators of exploitation:

• Mandatory Safeguarding Training: All workforce members receive regular safeguarding training that explicitly covers recognising signs of abuse, grooming, trafficking, and modern slavery.

• Procurement Guidance: Staff involved in purchasing or contract management receive individual guidance on supply chain due diligence and ethical procurement.

Approval & Review

This statement reflects Imara’s ongoing commitment to ethical practice and human rights. It will be reviewed annually by the Senior Leadership Team and approved by the Board of Trustees.

Last Updated: July 2026

Approved by: Senior Leadership Team