Privacy Policy
Below is a list of the policies and procedures that define, regulate and inform you of how CWRT operates:
Below is a list of the policies and procedures that define, regulate and inform you of how CWRT operates:
Updated August 2026 – website, lead capture and CRM processing additions
1. Our Contact Details
Name: Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT)
Address: Enterprise Centre, Coventry University Technology Park, Puma Way, Coventry, CV1 2TT
Phone Number: 02476 551777
E-mail: compliance@cwrt.uk.com
CWRT is the Data Controller and is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Our data protection
registration number is Z9306273. All personal data is handled in accordance with applicable data protection
legislation as amended from time to time.
2. The Type of Personal Data We Collect
-Personal identifiers and contact details, for example name, email address, telephone number and business
contact details.
-Information about your business and funding requirements, including business name, location, trading history,
funding amount, funding purpose, product interest and information submitted through our website tools.
-Information entered into or generated by website features such as the loan calculator, eligibility checker, enquiry
forms and AI chatbot.
-Information needed for identity verification, credit assessment, application processing and account management
where you progress with an application.
-Communication and engagement information, such as enquiries, replies, appointment details and records of
contact with CWRT.
3. The Type of Special Category Data We Collect
Where relevant to the services or programmes we deliver, we may collect and process special category information,
including personal data revealing ethnic origin or personal data concerning health. Where this occurs, we will apply
the additional protections required by data protection law.
4. How We Get Personal Information And Why We Use It
Most personal information we process is provided directly by you. This may be when you use our website, contact
us, use our loan calculator or eligibility checker, submit an enquiry, interact with our AI chatbot, apply for funding,
provide documents or communicate with our team.
We use personal information where necessary to respond to enquiries, assess product eligibility, provide indicative
information, arrange follow-up contact, process applications, verify identity, undertake credit referencing, manage
accounts, comply with legal or regulatory requirements, meet funder obligations and improve our services.
-Product eligibility and initial enquiry handling.
-Providing loan calculator results or information requested by you.
-Creating and maintaining a contact or enquiry record within our CRM or customer management systems.
-Routing enquiries to the appropriate member of the CWRT team and creating follow-up tasks.
-Sending service or transactional communications, such as enquiry acknowledgements, application updates and
requested information.
-Sending marketing or nurture communications where we have an appropriate lawful basis and, where required,
your consent.
-Data verification, credit referencing, legal and regulatory requirements, accounting, reporting to funders, sharing
with authorised partners and suppliers, and ongoing review and improvement of our services.
Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) | compliance@cwrt.uk.com
5. Website Lead Capture, CRM And Automated Communications
When you provide contact details through our website, we may record those details together with relevant
information about your interaction. For example, if you use the loan calculator, we may record the product, amount,
term and indicative repayment you selected alongside the contact details you choose to provide.
Information captured through the loan calculator, eligibility checker, enquiry forms or AI chatbot may be transferred
into CWRT’s CRM or customer management systems. This allows us to acknowledge your enquiry, route it
appropriately, create follow-up tasks and maintain a consistent record of your interaction with CWRT.
Some communications may be triggered automatically based on an action you take or the status of your enquiry or
application. These may include confirmation emails, requested information, reminders, application status updates or
other service-related messages. Marketing or longer-term nurture communications will only be sent where permitted
by applicable law and our recorded communication preferences.
Our AI chatbot may use information you provide to help identify the nature of your enquiry and route it to the
appropriate team or follow-up journey. It is not used to make a final lending or credit decision.
6. Marketing Communications and Consent
Where we ask for consent to receive marketing by email or SMS, that choice is separate from your use of essential
website services and from any cookie preferences. You can withdraw marketing consent or opt out of marketing
communications at any time using the unsubscribe or opt-out mechanism provided, or by contacting us.
Providing an email address or telephone number so that we can respond to an enquiry, provide requested
information or administer an application does not by itself mean that you have agreed to receive unrelated marketing
communications.
7. Sharing Your Data With Suppliers And Service Providers
CWRT may use third-party technology, website, CRM, communications, hosting, banking, reporting and operational
service providers to deliver its services. These suppliers may process personal data on our behalf under appropriate
contractual and data protection arrangements. We only provide access to information that is necessary for the
relevant service.
All personal information provided to us using our systems will be dealt with in accordance with this statement and,
where applicable, the privacy terms of our suppliers. Current operational systems include SOAR Open Banking and
Loan Case Management System and Signable. Website and CRM providers may also process data on CWRT’s
behalf where they are used to host forms, capture enquiries, manage contacts or send communications.
8. Use, storage and retention of your data
Your information is securely stored. CWRT will make every effort to delete information that is no longer needed,
whether held in hard copy or digital form. We will define appropriate retention periods for each type of record and will
not keep personal data for longer than is required, subject to legal, regulatory, contractual and funder requirements.
Records created from website enquiries, calculators, eligibility checks, chatbot interactions or CRM activity will be
retained only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which they were collected and in accordance with CWRT’s
retention arrangements.
9. Who we may share your data with and why
We may share personal data internally with authorised CWRT personnel and externally where necessary to provide
our services, fulfil contractual or funder obligations, comply with the law, protect against fraud, or operate
government-backed programmes.
This may include credit reference agencies such as Experian Commercial CAIS; funders and programme partners;
the British Business Bank (BBB); the Department for Business and Trade (DBT); regulators including the Financial
Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO); accredited lenders and delivery partners;
and banking, reporting, operational, website and CRM service providers.
10. Government-backed initiatives and programme partners
Where CWRT participates in government-backed initiatives or shared programme systems, certain information may
be made available to the relevant funder, programme administrator, accredited lender or delivery partner where this
is necessary for monitoring, audit, reporting, risk management or compliance. CWRT only shares the minimum
information required for these purposes and applies contractual and regulatory safeguards.
11. Lawful bases for processing
Depending on the activity, CWRT may rely on one or more lawful bases under UK GDPR, including consent,
contractual necessity or steps taken at your request before entering into a contract, legal obligation, vital interests
and legitimate interests. The lawful basis used will depend on the purpose and context of the processing.
12. Your data protection rights
-Right of access – to ask for copies of your personal information.
-Right to rectification – to ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
-Right to erasure – to ask us to erase personal information in certain circumstances.
-Right to restriction – to ask us to restrict processing in certain circumstances.
-Right to object – to object to processing in certain circumstances.
-Right to data portability – to ask us to transfer information you provided to another organisation, or to you, in
certain circumstances.
You are not required to pay a charge for exercising your rights. We will respond within the timescales required by
data protection law.
13. How to complain
If you have concerns about our use of your personal information, please contact us at
You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Helpline: 0303 123 1113.
compliance@cwrt.uk.com.
Our customers are at the heart of our business and we’re committed to giving them the highest quality service we can. So, if you’re not happy with our service, please let us know so we can put things right.
HOW TO CONTACT US WITH A COMPLAINT
You may find it easiest to contact us by email. However you can also write to us with the details of your complaint, or telephone us.
INFORMAL COMPLAINT
If an informal complaint cannot be addressed on the day it is made, we will acknowledge the complaint in writing on the day of receipt. Our letter will include the date by which the Complainant will receive a response.
FORMAL COMPLAINT
Formal Complaints should be addressed to:
By email: customercomplaints@cwrt.uk.com
In writing to:
The Complaints Manager
Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust
Enterprise Centre| Coventry University Technology Park , Puma Way | Coventry | CV1 2TT
By telephone: 02476 551777. Lines are open from 9 am to 5pm. Calls are charged at standard rates for your phone provider.
Please remember to include these details –
· Your name
· Email address associated with your application with either your loan application, your existing loan or the CWRT business support service.
· A description of your complaint, including supporting documentation
· A formal complaint should be made within three months of the Complainant becoming aware of the breach. A letter of acknowledgement will be issued on day one stating when the complainant will receive a response.
Anonymous complaints will not normally be accepted, but may be investigated and acted upon at the discretion of CWRT.
HOW WE WILL HANDLE A COMPLAINT
We will acknowledge receipt of the complaint on the day it is received. If the details of the complaint are not clear or we need additional information from the complainant, we will ask for further details before the investigation can start.
The complaint will normally be investigated by the nominated officer within 7 working days of receipt and a written response will be given to the complainant following this investigation. However, if the complaint is complex, we may need further time to investigate it fully and if this is the case we will advise the Complainant of the timescale in writing.
When the complaint has been fully investigated, a formal response will be sent to the complainant. The complainant will be advised that they have the right to register their complaint with the Financial Ombudsman regardless of the outcome with CWRT. A FOS complaints leaflet will be emailed or posted to the customer.
Where the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint, or if financial loss or a serious breach of CWRT’s regulations has occurred, the complaint will be referred to the Chief Executive for review.
In the event that the complainant is not satisfied with the formal response from the Chief Executive, the Board of CWRT will be provided with all background and relevant information to undertake a review and a final response will be communicated within 8 weeks.
Wherever possible, CWRT will provide feedback on the specific issues or areas which have caused a loan application to be rejected.
WHERE TO GO IF YOU’RE STILL NOT HAPPY
If you’re unhappy with our final response, you may contact one of the following organisations:
RESPONSIBLE FINANCE
Unit 5, Angel Gate
320-326 City Road
London EC1V 2PT
Tel: 020 7430 0222
Email: info@cdfa.org.uk
http://www.cdfa.org.uk/membership/the-cdfa-code-of-practice/
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
If you want the FOS to consider your complaint, you must send your complaint to them within 6 months of the date of our final response. Their contact details are:
THE FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN SERVICE
Exchange Tower
Harbour Exchange Square
London
E14 9SR
Telephone: 0300 1239 123.
Email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Information regarding the service can be found on the Financial Ombudsman website:
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/consumer-leaflet.htm
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Please contact Warwickshire County Council:
Business Support Programme Manager
Telephone 01926 418 067
Warwickshire County Council
Shire Hall
PO Box 43
Warwick
CV34 4SX
OUR CONTACT DETAILS
Name: Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT)
Address: Enterprise Centre Coventry University Technology Park
Puma Way
Coventry
CV1 2TT
Phone Number: 02476 551777 E-mail: Enquiries@cwrt.uk.com
All the data CWRT collects and stores will be in accordance with Data Protection legislation as amended and updated from time to time. We are the Data Controller, and we are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Our data protection registration number is Z9306273.
THE TYPE OF PERSONAL DATA WE COLLECT
We will collect and process the following information:
Personal identifiers, contacts, and characteristics (for example, name and contact details)
Documentation for Identification Verification
THE TYPE OF SPECIAL CATEGORY DATA WE COLLECT
We will collect and process the following information:
Personal data revealing ethnic origin
Personal data concerning health
HOW WE GET THE PERSONAL INFORMATION AND WHY WE HAVE IT
Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for one of the following reasons:
Product eligibility
Data verification and credit referencing
Legal and policing reasons including intellectual property and FCA certification requirements
Accounting purposes
Providing data to funders as specified in contracts
Sharing with partners and suppliers
Assessing suitability to join initiatives
For ongoing review and improvement of our services
We may share personal data internally as necessary. We will always ensure that personal data is only shared with authorised persons and is shared in accordance with the purposes stated in any privacy notice or consents. Extra care and security will be taken when sharing special categories of data.
USE STORAGE, AND RETENTION OF YOUR DATA
General – CWRT will make every effort to discard information no longer needed whether it be held in hard copy or digital format. In pursuit of this aim the organisation will define the retention period for each type of record and ensure that this timing is notified to information providers.
Your information is securely stored, and we will not keep your data for longer that it is required, as directed by the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).
We may disclose your personal data to our funders and third parties working in partnership with CWRT (for example for to support project/research evaluation and audit purposes) or where we are required to do so by law to comply with our contractual obligations.
WHO WE WILL SHARE YOUR DATA WITH AND WHY
Experian Commercial CAIS In order to process your application, we will supply your personal information to credit reference agencies (CRAs) and they will give us information about you, such as about your financial history. We do this to assess creditworthiness and product suitability, check your identity, manage your account, trace and recover debts and prevent criminal activity. We will also continue to exchange information about you with CRAs on an ongoing basis, including about your settled accounts and any debts not fully repaid on time. CRAs will share your information with other organisations.
The identities of the CRAs, and the ways in which they use and share personal information, are explained in more detail at http://www.experian.co.uk/crain/index.html
Business Support Programme – all personal information that is provided to us as part of the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme will be dealt with in accordance with this policy and our funders policy. Our funders privacy policy may be obtained from https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/privacy and https://www.coventry.gov.uk/freedom-information-environmental-information-regulations/coventry-city-council-privacy-notice
European Regional Development Funded (ERDF) Project – Information collected as part of an ERDF funded project such as Creative Springboard will be kept for a period of 10 years after the end of the ERDF funded project. The details collected as part of our current projects will be stored securely and retained until 2033 in compliance with the ERDF requirements. We will only use your data for this programme and not for marketing or commercial purposes.
Government backed initiatives and guarantees: BEIS (The Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy) through The British Business Bank (BBB) offers accredited lenders like us with guarantees to partially cover the credit risk of CWRT which enables us to provide debt finance to SMEs. The cover does not remove borrower’s liability, each borrower remains 100% liable for the repayment of each facility.
Information collected as part of a government back initiative such as the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) or the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS) will be kept for 10 years after the loan is repaid. The information collected is shared with BEIS and BBB and used for data analytics, meeting reporting obligations to the UK government. Our patron’s data protection policy can be found on the BEIS Privacy Notice and BBB Privacy Notice.
System and software – all personal information that is provided to us using these systems will be dealt with in accordance with this policy and our suppliers policy.
SOAR Open Banking and Loan Case Management System – https://www.soar.tech/privacy-policy
Signable – https://www.signable.co.uk/privacy-policy
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful bases we rely on for processing this information are:
Your consent
We have a contractual obligation
We have a legal obligation
We have a vital interest
We have a legitimate interest
YOUR DATA PROTECTION RIGHTS
Under data protection law, you have rights including:
Your right of access – You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.
Your right to rectification – You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete.
Your right to erasure – You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to restriction of processing – You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to object to processing – You have the the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to data portability – You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.
You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you.
How to complain
If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to us at customercomplaints@cwrt.uk.com
You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data.
The ICO’s address:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Helpline number: 0303 123 1113 ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk
Contract: JumpStart Project Trainer
Procedure: Closed
Successful bidder: Michelle Fakes
Contract Period: April to December 2019 with a possible extension period up to 24 months
Value: up to £10,000*
* The extension and value of the contract for the additional 24 months is subject to funding, funding criteria and performance
For full Terms and Conditions please see here.
Contract: Creative Springboard Project – Creative Sector Specialist to Design and Deliver the Creative Springboard Workshops
Procedure: Open
Successful bidder: Minal Sodha
Contract Period: June 2019 to December 2021 with a possible extension period up to 24 months
Value: up to £22,500*
* The extension and value of the contract for the additional 24 months is subject to funding, funding criteria and performance
For full Terms and Conditions please see here.
We’re proud to be working with the UK Government as part of the Business Finance Council, and we’ve committed to the new SME Finance Charter to ensure small businesses continue to receive support and access the finance they need to grow.
The SME Finance Charter is a commitment by finance providers to support small businesses in the UK through Brexit, COVID and beyond. It consists of five principles which reflect priority areas that the government and finance providers have identified in ensuring that SME finance works effectively.
WE’RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND READY TO LEND
CWRT is an ethical lender supporting entrepreneurship and jobs in communities under-served by mainstream providers. We do this by channelling investment into traditionally overlooked businesses, helping them to rebuild, adapt, diversify, and add new employment in the months to come.
CWRT, as a Community Development Finance Institution, is devoted to tackling this local disparity in the market by offering dedicated loan and business support packages specifically designed to support these SMEs through volatile markets and tightening credit conditions. We have a range of loan term finance packages available to support you and your business, these start from £1,000 and go up to £150,000.
WE’LL HELP YOU BUILD BACK BETTER AFTER COVID-19
CWRT is proud to be a delivery partner for the Government-backed Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) – supporting businesses primarily based in Coventry and Warwickshire with loans ranging from £25,001 to £150,000. CWRT lending enables businesses to become sustainable, proposer and contribute to the local economy.
WE’LL SUPPORT YOUR APPLICATION AND SIGNPOST OTHER OPTIONS IF NEEDED
CWRT takes a transparent, fair and relationship-based approach in our decision-making process because we know that accessing the right support and finance can be transformational for local businesses.
We currently approve over 90% of lending applications. Where we are unable to, we will signpost you to alternatives including other CDFIs, our local Councils, the C&W Growth Hub, FSB or the C&W Chamber of Commerce for further support.
In addition, we also run our own enterprise support programmes, where eligible individuals and businesses can access free business support to maximise their potential and overcome personal and industry obstacles.
WE’LL TREAT YOU FAIRLY AT ALL TIMES
CWRT adheres to the Standards of Lending Practice for Business Customers voluntary code. This sets high standards for good lending practice and provides principles for treating customers in the right way.
If you find yourself in financial difficulty, we have specialist teams on-hand to support you and help you get back into good financial health.
We encourage you to let us know if you’re unhappy with any aspect of our service. If we can’t resolve a complaint to your satisfaction, you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
WE’LL WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED BRITISH BUSINESS BANK (BBB) TO SUPPORT SMES
The British Business Bank is dedicated to making finance markets work better for small and mid-sized businesses. We’ve worked with the British Business Bank since 2013 on a number of Finance Guarantee Schemes such as, Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFG), Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS) and the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). This helps us increase our lending to viable businesses that have inadequate security.
Here are some useful links to BBB’s Finance Hub and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Business Finance Guide, which offer information on finance options.
Read more about the SME Finance Charter and what it means for British business here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sme-finance-charter
Here are the steps CWRT has taken and continues to take to understand and minimise the potential risk of modern slavery in its business and supply chains.
This statement is published in line with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
ABOUT CWRT
The Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) is a not-for-profit, FCA accredited, specialist finance and business support provider committed to supporting businesses and individuals primarily based in Coventry and Warwickshire.
CWRT is an ethical lender supporting entrepreneurship and jobs in communities under-served by mainstream providers. We do this by channelling investment into traditionally overlooked businesses, helping them to rebuild, adapt, diversify, and add new employment in the months to come.
CWRT, as a Community Development Finance Institution, is devoted to tackling local disparity in the market by offering dedicated loan and business support packages specifically designed to support these SMEs through volatile markets and tightening credit conditions. Our aim is to enable businesses to become sustainable, to proposer and to contribute to the local economy.
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015
CWRT is committed to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the abolition of modern slavery and human trafficking.
As an equal opportunities’ employer, we’re committed to creating and ensuring a non-discriminatory and respectful working environment for our staff. We want all our staff to feel confident that they can expose wrongdoing without any risk to themselves.
Our recruitment and people management processes are designed to ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in the UK and to safeguard employees from any abuse or coercion.
We do not enter into business with any organisation, in the UK or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to be involved in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
OUR SUPPLY CHAIN
Due to the nature of our business, we assess ourselves to have a low risk of modern slavery in our business and supply chains.
Our supply chains are limited and we procure goods and services from a restricted range of UK and overseas suppliers, mainly through UK government frameworks.
OUR POLICIES IN RELATION TO THE MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015
The following policies are available to all staff through CWRT’s dedicated Compliance SharePoint site:
Code of conduct
Employee handbook
Bullying and harassment policy
Diversity and inclusion policy
EMBEDDING THE PRINCIPLES
We will continue to embed the principles through:
providing awareness training to staff on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and informing them of the appropriate action to take if they suspect a case of slavery or human trafficking.
ensuring staff involved in procurement activity are aware of and follow modern slavery procurement guidance on GOV.UK.
ensuring that consideration of the modern slavery risks and prevention are added to CWRT’s policy review process as an employer and procurer of goods and services.
making sure CWRT’s procurement strategies and contract terms and conditions include references to modern slavery and human trafficking.
continuing to take action to embed a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery.
ensuring that staff involved in buying or procurement and the recruitment and deployment of workers receive training on modern slavery and ethical employment practices.
This statement has been approved by Sheridan Sulskis, CEO and Director, for the financial year ending 31 March 2024.
This statement will be reviewed and updated every year.
Here are the steps CWRT has taken and continues to take to understand and minimise the potential risk of modern slavery in its business and supply chains.
This statement is published in line with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
ABOUT CWRT
The Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) is a not-for-profit, FCA accredited, specialist finance and business support provider committed to supporting businesses and individuals primarily based in Coventry and Warwickshire.
CWRT is an ethical lender supporting entrepreneurship and jobs in communities under-served by mainstream providers. We do this by channelling investment into traditionally overlooked businesses, helping them to rebuild, adapt, diversify, and add new employment in the months to come.
CWRT, as a Community Development Finance Institution, is devoted to tackling local disparity in the market by offering dedicated loan and business support packages specifically designed to support these SMEs through volatile markets and tightening credit conditions. Our aim is to enable businesses to become sustainable, to proposer and to contribute to the local economy.
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015
CWRT is committed to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the abolition of modern slavery and human trafficking.
As an equal opportunities’ employer, we’re committed to creating and ensuring a non-discriminatory and respectful working environment for our staff. We want all our staff to feel confident that they can expose wrongdoing without any risk to themselves.
Our recruitment and people management processes are designed to ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in the UK and to safeguard employees from any abuse or coercion.
We do not enter into business with any organisation, in the UK or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to be involved in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
OUR SUPPLY CHAIN
Due to the nature of our business, we assess ourselves to have a low risk of modern slavery in our business and supply chains.
Our supply chains are limited and we procure goods and services from a restricted range of UK and overseas suppliers, mainly through UK government frameworks.
OUR POLICIES IN RELATION TO THE MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015
The following policies are available to all staff through CWRT’s dedicated Compliance SharePoint site:
Code of conduct
Employee handbook
Bullying and harassment policy
Diversity and inclusion policy
EMBEDDING THE PRINCIPLES
We will continue to embed the principles through:
providing awareness training to staff on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and informing them of the appropriate action to take if they suspect a case of slavery or human trafficking.
ensuring staff involved in procurement activity are aware of and follow modern slavery procurement guidance on GOV.UK.
ensuring that consideration of the modern slavery risks and prevention are added to CWRT’s policy review process as an employer and procurer of goods and services.
making sure CWRT’s procurement strategies and contract terms and conditions include references to modern slavery and human trafficking.
continuing to take action to embed a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery.
ensuring that staff involved in buying or procurement and the recruitment and deployment of workers receive training on modern slavery and ethical employment practices.
This statement has been approved by Sheridan Sulskis, CEO and Director, for the financial year ending 31 March 2024.
This statement will be reviewed and updated every year.
MANIFESTO
1. Take ownership of our commitment to equity, equality, diversity and inclusion
In today’s interconnected world, the strength of our community and the success of our endeavours depend on our ability to embrace diversity and foster inclusion. We recognise that inclusion is not merely a goal, but a continuous journey of growth, learning, and intentional action. We acknowledge the historical and systemic barriers that have excluded marginalised voices and understand the importance of actively working to dismantle these barriers.
Our commitment to inclusion is unwavering. We are ready to listen, learn, and take meaningful action as we strive to create a more inclusive and equitable world for all.
2. Build accountability through meaningful collaborations and co-production with networks and marginalised communities
We are dedicated to being allies and advocates for change within our communities. We commit to using our platform and resources to uplift underrepresented voices and to collaborate with organisations and individuals who share our vision for a more inclusive society.
3. Move beyond representation to work towards an inclusive culture
We commit to cultivating an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and heard. We will prioritise diverse perspectives in our decision-making processes, ensuring that all voices contribute to the direction and success of our organisation. We pledge to provide opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and leadership that reflect our commitment to equity and inclusion.
4. Accept the longevity and risk involved in meaningful pursuit of diversity and inclusion through open and transparent sharing
We are committed to transparency throughout this process, openly sharing our progress, setbacks, and learnings along the way. By maintaining open lines of communication, we aim to build trust and accountability within our organisation and with the communities we serve.
We pledge to remain steadfast in this journey, fully aware of the longevity and complexity it entails, and we invite others to join us in this important work. Together, through open and transparent sharing, we can create the lasting change we all seek.
5. Act with integrity through the investment of time, energy and resources in equitable representation
Acting with integrity means aligning our values with our actions, and we understand that achieving equitable representation requires a genuine and sustained investment of time, energy, and resources.
Equally, we recognise that equitable representation is not a box to be checked, but a continuous endeavour that demands ongoing effort and reflection. We will regularly assess our progress and hold ourselves accountable to the goals we set, ensuring that our actions are consistent with our commitment to integrity.
6. Engage in intentional systems change and sustainable inclusion
Sustainable inclusion means embedding equity into the very fabric of our organisation, ensuring that it is not just a temporary initiative but a permanent aspect of who we are and how we operate. This includes continuously educating ourselves and our teams, creating spaces for open dialogue, and empowering marginalised voices to lead and shape our direction.
7. Advocate for diversity and inclusion and amplify marginalised voices
Advocating for diversity and inclusion is a core responsibility that we embrace wholeheartedly. We recognise that to create meaningful change, we must actively champion these values and work to amplify the voices of those who have been historically marginalised.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is not passive. We will be proactive, intentional, and unwavering in our efforts to advocate for equity and to uplift those who have been overlooked. By doing so, we aim to contribute to a more just and inclusive world where everyone’s voice matters.