Action Sustainability and Align Partner to Embed Survivor Voices in Modern Slavery Risk Management

Action Sustainability has confirmed a new partnership with Align, an organisation that brings survivor perspectives into business responses to modern slavery, trafficking, and exploitation.

The partnership will enable Action Sustainability to involve Lived Experience Consultants (LECs) in the delivery of modern slavery-related training, advisory, and engagement activities. This includes work through the Supply Chain Sustainability School, where Align will contribute to the development and delivery of learning content and workshops.

Align works with individuals who have direct experience of exploitation, facilitating structured and ethical engagement for organisations aiming to strengthen their human rights due diligence. These consultants contribute to policy development, training, and risk mitigation strategies.

“Through the Supply Chain Sustainability School, we support thousands of professionals across the built environment and infrastructure sectors to better understand and manage modern slavery risks,” said EJ Allen, Lead Consultant for Modern Slavery and Human Rights at Action Sustainability. “This partnership with Align enables us to bring lived experience directly into that learning, offering deeper, more practical insight that supports real change on the ground.”

This announcement follows recent updates to the Home Office’s Transparency in Supply Chains (TISC) guidance for businesses. Section 3.2 of the guidance emphasises the value of engaging with workers and those with lived experience of exploitation, noting that their input can significantly improve organisations’ understanding of risk and the effectiveness of due diligence. The guidance also advises that engagement should be trauma-informed and supported by expert NGOs, to ensure ethical practice and safeguard individuals involved.

Align currently works with a network of 25 Lived Experience Consultants, and has delivered survivor-led engagement for a range of UK businesses across sectors including retail, logistics, and construction.

“Lived experience improves the quality and effectiveness of modern slavery strategies,” said Phillip Clayton, Director of Align. “This partnership provides a route for more organisations to access that insight and apply it meaningfully in their work.”

The partnership will also support the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s continued focus on modern slavery, helping partner organisations align with legal requirements and emerging best practice across the sector.