Introduction

This Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement is a response to Section 54(1), Part 6 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and relates to actions and activities for the financial year ending 30 April 2024. 

 Happier Every Chapter ('the Company', 'we', 'us' or 'our') is committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking violations in its own operations, its supply chain, and its products. We have zero-tolerance towards slavery and require our supply chain to comply with our values. 

Organisational Structure

Happier Every Chapter and has business operations in the United Kingdom.

We operate in the Education, Publishing sector. The nature of our supply chains is as follows: We work with a number of key publishers, who provide us with curated literature for adults and children. These books are for both reading for pleasure and information and as such are fiction and non-fiction. We also work with shipping providers where our customers are outside the UK

 For more information about the Company, please visit our website: www.happiereverychapter.com.

Policies

We operate a number of internal policies to ensure that we are conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner. 

 These include the following:

• Recruitment and selection policy - Our recruitment and selection policy is designed to prevent modern slavery by ensuring fair, transparent, and ethical hiring practices. We conduct thorough background checks on all candidates and require all recruitment agencies and partners to adhere to our strict anti-slavery standards. We prioritize direct employment relationships, ensuring that all workers are fully informed of their rights, terms of employment, and working conditions. Our policy also includes training for hiring managers on identifying potential risks of exploitation, ensuring that all recruitment processes are free from coercion, deception, or exploitation at any stage.
• Supplier code of conduct - Our Supplier Code of Conduct explicitly prohibits all forms of modern slavery, including forced labour, child labour, and human trafficking. We require publishers/suppliers to adhere to stringent ethical standards, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and voluntary employment. The Code mandates regular audits and due diligence checks to monitor compliance. Suppliers must also provide transparency in their operations, allowing us to trace their supply chains and identify potential risks. Non-compliance results in immediate corrective actions or termination of the partnership, reinforcing our commitment to a supply chain free from exploitation.
• Whistleblowing policy - Our whistleblowing policy empowers employees, suppliers, and stakeholders to report any concerns about modern slavery or unethical practices confidentially and without fear of retaliation. By providing clear channels for reporting, we ensure that any suspicions of forced labor, human trafficking, or other forms of exploitation are promptly investigated. The policy mandates thorough follow-up on all reports, with corrective actions taken as necessary. This proactive approach encourages vigilance across our company, helping to identify and prevent instances of modern slavery and reinforcing our commitment to ethical operations and supply chains.
• Staff code of conduct - Our Staff Code of Conduct at Happier Every Chapter explicitly prohibits any involvement in modern slavery, including forced labour, human trafficking, and child labour. Staff are required to uphold ethical practices in all interactions, ensuring suppliers and partners adhere to the same standards. Employees receive training to recognize and report any signs of modern slavery, fostering a vigilant and responsible workforce. The code mandates strict compliance with all laws and promotes a culture of integrity, where the welfare of individuals in our supply chain is paramount. Non-compliance is met with serious consequences, including termination of employment.
• Procurement policy - Our procurement policy prioritizes ethical sourcing to prevent modern slavery. We carefully select suppliers who align with our values, requiring them to adhere to strict standards that prohibit forced labour, child labour, and human trafficking. We conduct regular due diligence, including risk assessments and audits, to ensure compliance. By prioritizing ethical partnerships and continuous monitoring, our procurement policy actively works to eliminate the risks of modern slavery.

We make sure our suppliers are aware of our policies and adhere to the same standards.

Due Diligence

As part of our efforts to monitor and reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our supply chains, we have adopted the following due diligence procedures: 

• Internal supplier audits.
• External supplier audits.

Our due diligence procedures aim to:

• Identify and action potential risks in our business and supply chains.
• Monitor potential risks in our business and supply chains
• Reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our business and supply chains.
• Provide protection for whistle-blowers.

Risk and Compliance

The Company has evaluated the nature and extent of its exposure to the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in its UK supply chain through:

• Evaluating the slavery and human trafficking risks of each new supplier.
• Creating an annual risk profile for key suppliers.
• Reviewing on a regular basis all aspects of the supply chain based on supply chain mapping.

We do not consider that we operate in a high-risk environment because The business operates in a low risk level environment because the majority of our supply chain is based in the UK and in the low-risk industry of publishing. 

We do not tolerate slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains. Where there is evidence of failure to comply with our policies and procedures by any of our suppliers, we will require that supplier to remedy the non-compliance.

Effectiveness

The Company uses Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure its effectiveness and ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in its business and supply chains. These KPIs are as follows:

• We will contact suppliers to enquire about their modern slavery practices every 12 months.
• We will train our staff about modern slavery issues and increase awareness within the Company.
• We will carry out a regular audit of suppliers - 50% of suppliers each year.

Training Staff

Happier Every Chapter requires its staff to complete training and ongoing refresher courses on slavery and human trafficking. Our training covers: 

• How to identify the signs of slavery and human trafficking.
• What initial steps should be taken if slavery or human trafficking is suspected.
• How to escalate potential slavery or human trafficking issues to the relevant parties within the Company.
• What external help is available.
• What steps the Company should take if suppliers in its supply chain do not implement anti-slavery policies in high-risk scenarios, including their removal from the Company's supply chain.

 Ndah Mbawa, Director
Happier Every Chapter