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Parcel carrier Yodel has renewed its partnership with two national charities, Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) and Slave-Free Alliance.

The partnership with WWTW, which is in its third year, provides ongoing support for Armed Forces veterans returning to work in the civilian sector, while the partnership with Slave-Free Alliance, in its fourth year, enables Yodel to continue protecting its operations and supply chains against modern slavery and exploitation.

In collaboration with the NHS, WWTW delivers employment, mental health and care coordination programmes, in collaboration with the NHS, to ex-service personnel and their families.

Yodel has raised over £24,000 over the years at the charity’s annual campaign, the Cumbrian Challenge, and was named the top fundraiser at the 2021 event.

The company has also participated in WWTW’s Christmas campaign, Walking Home for Christmas and provided products to support those who served.

Yodel also has a policy of employing ex-service personnel, and has supported WWTW’s clients with job opportunities and training, securing upskilling and paid job outcomes, as well as raising awareness of the Veteran Community by donating their valuable time and funds.

The parcel delivery firm is also renewing its long-standing commitment with the Slave-Free Alliance for a further three years, to ensure that those already employed through agency or third parties are not victims of modern slavery.

Yodel began the relationship in 2019 - the first logistics company to do so. It has since developed initiatives supporting whistleblowing via third-party provider Navex and training programmes for employees on the signs of human trafficking and modern slavery.

The Slave-Free Alliance supports organisations to fulfil their corporate responsibilities with a team of former law enforcement officers and experts in business management, procurement, supply chain and human rights.

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The team utilises its social compliance, human rights and auditing experience to improve the treatment of workers and provides training and support to members on initiatives and necessary steps to take within their organisations.

Joel Oxberry, WWTW director, said: “For a number of years, Yodel has been a highly supportive and valued partner to us at WWTW.

"Not only are they an engaged and enthusiastic organisation who jump into our fundraising events headfirst, they also create vital training and employment opportunities for our clients, providing a long-term impact.

"We look forward to continuing our partnership with Yodel to support the Armed Forces Community and create sustainable employment opportunities through WWTW.”

Marc Stanton, Slave-Free Alliance director, said: “It is fantastic that Yodel has renewed its partnership with Slave-Free Alliance for a further three years.

"Yodel was the first business in the logistics sector to join our pioneering membership initiative and over the years, they have consistently demonstrated their commitment to protecting their operations and supply chains against modern slavery and exploitation in a number of ways.

"This renewal is an important and positive step for us, and for Yodel, its workforce, suppliers, partners and customers, ensuring we can continue to work together to implement best practice in the management and mitigation of any modern slavery risks within the business.”

Mike Hancox, Yodel chief executive, added: "At Yodel, we are very proud to continue partnerships with key initiatives that support our people and ensure that we are creating a fair place to work.

"Our employees represent a core part of the Yodel family and our expansion of the partnerships with both Walking With The Wounded and Slave-Free Alliance are a testament of our dedication to improving the employee experience, while also supporting the wider community”.

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