1. ORGANISATION
This statement applies to The Crystal Palace Park Trust (referred to in this statement as ‘the Organisation’). The information included in the statement refers to the financial year .
2. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Crystal Palace Park Trust is a charitable organisation responsible for managing and preserving Crystal Palace Park in the London Borough of Bromley, England. The park is historically significant and known for its iconic Crystal Palace, initially constructed in the mid-19th century to house the Great Exhibition. The Crystal Palace Park Trust plays a crucial role in the ongoing stewardship of this historic landmark, making it accessible and enjoyable for current and future generations while preserving its historical significance and natural beauty.
The trust's primary mission is to oversee the maintenance and development of Crystal Palace Park for the benefit of the local community and the public.
We are governed by our articles of association and a board of trustees who volunteer their time to help direct our work. They oversee our chief executive and directors who manage our small team. We have one wholly owned trading subsidiary undertaking – Crystal Palace Park Events LTD.
The Trust conducts employment checks, including ensuring that our people have the right to work for us and that we pay at least the London Living Wage.
3. DEFINITIONS
The Crystal Palace Park Trust considers that modern slavery encompasses:
- Human trafficking;
- Forced work, through mental or physical threat;
- Being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse of the threat of abuse;
- Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or being bought or sold as property;
- Being physically constrained or to have restrictions placed on freedom of movement.
4. COMMITMENT
The Trust acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Trust understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains.
The Trust does not enter into business with any other organisation, in the United Kingdom or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to involve itself in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
No labour provided to the Trust in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. The Trust strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in the United Kingdom.
5. SUPPLY CHAINS
In order to fulfil its activities, the Trust’s main supply chains include those related to:
- The maintenance and regeneration of the park
- Festivals and events
- Community programmes
6. POTENTIAL EXPOSURE
The Trust considers its main exposure to the risk of slavery and human trafficking to exist in its park maintenance and events and festivals supply chains because they involve third party contractors and large amounts of labour.
In general, the Trust considers its exposure to slavery/human trafficking to be relatively limited. However, it has taken steps to ensure that such practices do not take place in its business nor the business of any organisation that supplies goods and/or services to it.
7. IMPACT OF COVID-19
During the reporting period covered by this statement, the COVID-19 pandemic had taken hold. For several months, the UK was placed into lockdown to stem the spread of COVID-19. This created several challenges for the Trust , as it did for others across the nation.
The Trust welcomes the UK Government’s decision, as confirmed in April 2020, to allow for a delay of up to 6 months in the publication of modern slavery statements without the risk of facing penalty.
The Trust concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic did not adjust the risk of modern slavery to a level above that which existed before the pandemic, which is as set out under ‘POTENTIAL EXPOSURE’ above.
During the pandemic, the Trust’s employees still had access to the grievance procedure to raise any concerns that they may have had.
In line with emergency legislation passed by the Government, Trust employees have been paid Statutory Sick Pay during periods of self-isolation where it has not been possible to agree a temporary period of homeworking.
The Trust’s modern slavery risks were subject to the same monitoring procedures during the pandemic as at all other times.
8. STEPS
The Trust carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its organisation or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.
The Trust has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.
In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Trust has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:
- Put measures in place to identify and assess the potential risks in its supply chains;
- undertaking impact assessments of its services upon potential instances of slavery;
- creating action plans to address risk to modern slavery;
- any actions taken to embed a zero tolerance policy towards modern slavery;
9. POLICIES
The Trust has the following policies which further define its stance on modern slavery:
- Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Policy
- Whistle-Blowing Policy
10. SLAVERY COMPLIANCE OFFICER
The Trust has a Slavery Compliance Officer who is currently the Chief Executive Officer , to whom all concerns regarding modern slavery should be addressed, and who will then undertake relevant action with regard to the Trust obligations in this regard.
This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and will be reviewed for each financial year.
