A Self-Assessment Scorecard for Local Authorities

Anti-slavery organisations Shiva Foundation, Mekong Club and STOP THE TRAFFIK have collaborated to launch a self-assessment scorecard for local authorities.

Access the Self-Assessment Scorecard and Supporting Guidance here.

Background

Anti-slavery organisations Shiva Foundation, Mekong Club and STOP THE TRAFFIK have collaborated to launch a self-assessment scorecard and accompanying guide to help local authorities mitigate the risks of modern slavery and exploitation in their operations and supply chains. This has been made possible thanks to funding from the Home Office.

Further information

Modern slavery happens everywhere, including here in the UK. It operates in plain sight and could affect organisations without them even knowing. It is therefore crucial that all organisations, including local authorities, understand how they might be affected so that they can take steps to reduce the risk.

The context

The number of victims of modern slavery rises each year. In 2021, 12,727 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the National Referral Mechanism, a 20% increase compared to the preceding year. Due to the hidden nature of the crime, the real number is suspected to be far greater.

In 2020, the Government announced an ambitious package of measures to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act’s transparency legislation, including extending the reporting requirement to public bodies with a budget of £36 million or more. As the U.K. public sector amounts to approximately £250 billion in annual spend, this could present a powerful opportunity to directly impact modern slavery through this sector.

“Local authorities are in a unique position to prevent modern slavery at scale. We are thrilled to have collaborated with Shiva Foundation and The Mekong Club to produce a free Self-Assessment Scorecard, a tool that will support local authorities in their efforts and commitments to address risk and be leaders of change.”

Jason Nunn, Director of Business Engagement at STOP THE TRAFFIK.

The outcome

The resource will empower local authorities to confidentially self-assess their modern slavery risk across a number of key thematic areas, and provides advice on how they can improve. An accompanying guide has also been created, providing tiered signposting to further resources, templates and frameworks allowing users to embed best practice across their work.

The aim of the self-assessment scorecard and guidance is to act as a supporting framework for local authorities to begin their journey tackling modern slavery or build upon what they are already doing. We hope this resource will equip local authorities to tackle these changes head on and address modern slavery in their operations and supply chains.

“With recent statistics indicating as many as 100,00 victims of modern slavery in the UK, we cannot neglect the issue and must recognise that we all have a part to play. From co-creating and coordinating the Hertfordshire Modern Slavery Partnership for several years, we have seen first-hand the difference that can be made at the local level. We hope this robust guide and accompanying self-assessment scorecard builds on the good work that is already being done and provides further guidance for Local Authorities looking to address modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. We hope to see many Local Authorities using it to help protect vulnerable people from exploitation.”

Cllr Meenal Sachdev, Founder and Director of Shiva Foundatio

Next steps

The scorecard is available via Shiva Foundation’s website.

If you would like to learn more about how STOP THE TRAFFIK can support your local authority in eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking across your operations and supply chains, please contact: [email protected]

Launch event

We held a launch event for the scorecard on 18/11/22 at Middle Eight Hotel in Holborn. The event was livestreamed, and can be watched via this link.

The livestream includes:

  • A live demonstration of how to use the scorecard
  • A range of interesting speakers on topics such as the impact of the extension of section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act to local authorities and how to effectively risk-map your supply chain
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