In accordance with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act, Plan International UK makes the following public disclosure of the steps we are taking to prevent modern slavery in our organisation and in our supply chains.
This statement covers Plan International UK and its subsidiary entities Social Development Direct Limited and Foster Parents Plan International UK Limited. While some policies referenced are owned and maintained by Plan International UK, the subsidiaries operate under aligned governance arrangements and implement equivalent controls to manage modern slavery risks. Any differences in policy application are proportionate to the size and operational complexity of the subsidiary and do not materially impact the effectiveness of the Group's modern slavery control framework.
Plan International works with children and girls in more than 80 countries to help create a world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Every day we see poverty, violence and inequality holding millions of children back from reaching their full potential, and we see how girls are disproportionately affected. Modern slavery is one of the most extreme denials of fundamental human rights.
We see the fight against modern slavery as key to the global struggle for human rights that is fundamental to our purpose: to advance children’s rights and equality for girls. As with other forms of violence and exploitation, girls are often the most affected by certain forms of modern slavery. We therefore welcome this chance to affirm our commitment to doing all we can to prevent modern slavery.
Plan International UK is a leading international organisation with expertise in education, child protection, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), livelihoods and gender-transformative policy and programming. We draw on this experience to support evidence-based advocacy on modern slavery through engaging with the global Child Labour Task Force under the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, of which our affiliate Plan International, Inc. (PII), is a core member.
The safety and welfare of children, young people, and those facing discrimination and violence is at the heart of our work and many of our projects fight against modern slavery. We have humanitarian and long-term development programming that seeks to prevent and respond to exploitative child labour, as well as child trafficking, recruitment of children into armed groups and forced marriage.
We recognise that modern slavery is both a grave human rights violation and a truly global problem and that some of the countries in which we work face particular challenges in the context of modern slavery. We are committed to making sure that our activities and our decisions do not in any way contribute to modern slavery in any of its forms – human trafficking, slavery, servitude, forced and bonded labour.
This statement is published on our website, and we are registered on the Government’s Modern slavery statement register.
Organisational Structure & Supply Chains
Plan International UK is a UK registered charitable company limited by guarantee. The Plan International membership organisation is organised into separate legal entities and in our last financial year, which ended on 30 June 2026, these included 22 National Organisations (including Plan International UK), Plan International Inc (PII), its subsidiaries and branches.
Our international programmes are delivered through the PII country offices across the world. Plan International UK and the other National Organisations manage and fund these programmes through a range of donors including Gants and Commercial Contact arrangements. We sign contracts with these donors as applicable and provide grant or Commercial Contract management support to the country offices which directly implement the programmes.
Plan International UK is governed by our Board of Trustees, which is responsible for setting Plan International UK’s strategic direction, as well as for our overall governance.
Risk Assessment & Management - Supply Chains
Plan International UK seeks to ensure that there is a clause mandating compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 in all our supplier contracts.
Plan International UK uses suppliers across all of our activities to enable us to carry out our charitable purposes. These range from fundraising and retail suppliers to those providing office facilities and recruitment services. We are not involved in manufacturing, agriculture or direct retail activities and so we are not at high risk of modern slavery occurring directly in our supply chains.
Risk Assessment & Management – Partnerships
Plan International UK seeks to ensure that there is a clause mandating compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 in all our partner contracts.
Plan International UK’s partnerships need to reflect our purpose and our values. This means that we should not engage with companies whose operations, products, or activities, have the potential, both directly and indirectly, to prevent children – and particularly girls – from accessing their rights.
Plan International UK complies with the PII Global Corporate Ethical Engagement Policy, which requires assessment of child labour, exploitative labour practices, human rights concerns and other high-risk business activities, ensuring partnerships are compatible with Plan's values and do not contribute to modern slavery or exploitation risks.
Our Donor Acceptance Policy includes ethical screening and due diligence to identify potential links to modern slavery, child labour, human rights abuses, corruption, environmental harm and other practices that may conflict with Plan UK's values, policies and charitable objectives.
Due Diligence Processes
As part of our commitment to identifying and mitigating risk we undertake partner/supplier due diligence before we engage another organisation to help carry out our work. Due diligence reviews are appropriate for the goods and services being procured or provided to mitigate the risk of modern slavery in our supply chains.
We have sought assurance from PII that it has policies and procedures in place to oversee its procurement of goods and services, and that it is committed to ongoing risk assessment of its supply chains regarding modern slavery and has measures in place to address any concerns that may arise.
When a Plan International country office forms a local partnership with an organisation based solely within that country, the country office is also required to carry out due diligence on the local partner.
Policies in relation to Slavery & Human Trafficking
Our policies in areas potentially impacted by modern slavery – including our recruitment and procurement policies – also address concerns that may arise regarding modern slavery. These include Right to Work Checks, Identity Verification, Employment History and References and sanctions checks.
The Whistleblowing Policy supports the prevention of modern slavery by providing a safe and confidential mechanism for employees and other stakeholders to report concerns about illegal, unethical or harmful practices, including exploitation, child labour, human rights abuses and safeguarding concerns, enabling timely investigation and corrective action.
Plan International UK is an accredited London Living Wage employer. Living Wage accreditation supports modern slavery prevention by promoting fair pay and reducing economic vulnerabilities that can contribute to worker exploitation. Whilst the subsidiary entities are not accredited, they seek to support the accreditation requirements.
At Plan International safeguarding is not just what we do, but who we are. Our Safeguarding framework contributes to modern slavery prevention by promoting safe recruitment, protecting vulnerable individuals, enabling identification and reporting of exploitation risks, and ensuring appropriate action is taken where concerns arise.
Plan International engages people and partners to:
- Empower children, young people and communities to make vital changes that tackle the root causes of discrimination against girls, exclusion and vulnerability
- Drive change in practice and policy at local, national and global levels through
- our reach, experience and knowledge of the realities children face
- Work with children and communities to prepare for and respond to crises and to overcome adversity
- Support the safe and successful progression of children from birth to adulthood
Key Performance Indicators to measure effectiveness of steps being taken
We continue to monitor the effectiveness of our modern slavery controls through oversight of recruitment screening, safeguarding and whistleblowing concerns, due diligence and ethical screening activities, staff training and governance review processes. These measures help us assess whether our policies and procedures are operating as intended and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Training on Modern Slavery & Trafficking
All staff, volunteers and associates, at the start of engagement, are provided with induction training appropriate to their engagement with Plan International. At a minimum, the training covers our Safeguarding Policy, PSHEA Policy, Anti-Fraud, Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy, Code of Conduct, and reporting requirements. It includes some of the ways in which children and adult programme participants can be at risk, including from modern slavery.
Incidents in FY26
We have had no reports of modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains in our financial year 2026.
Our Commitment
In summary, Plan International UK and its subsidiaries are committed to continuing our work to review and monitor our policies, procedures, agreements and training, and to doing all that we can to make sure that contributing to modern slavery has no place in Plan International UK.
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 30 June 2026.
Baroness Liz Sugg
Chair of Plan International UK
Statement Approved: 7 October 2026
Page last updated: 5 November 2026