Anchor Programme

We have launched a new and innovative programme called ‘Anchor’ to show how local hospitals can make their neighbourhoods healthier, happier and greener. We all do excellent work in providing healthcare and services every day, but there is even more we can do to support our communities in Basildon, Southend and Chelmsford.

The Anchor Programme is about large organisations investing back into their communities and is a concept fully supported and endorsed by NHS England and the Health Foundation. As one of the largest employers in the region, this ambitious new programme will enable us to understand better how our Trust can be a force for good by using our assets and influence to bring about change.

By teaming up with health and care partners, local councils and the voluntary and education sector, we can reduce our environmental impact and create exciting and innovative employment, volunteering, internship and network opportunities for those we serve.

Investing in our communities

We’ve launched a new programme to help people in our communities to get the skills they need to get the jobs they want.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded just over £400,000 to deliver a landmark project in Southend. The aim is to support people most in need to secure quality work within our Southend Hospital site - or in another local health or care organisation.

The money has been awarded by the Government’s UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF). It’s part of the Trust’s ‘Anchor Programme.’

Challenging times

Covid-19 has been challenging for everyone. It’s important that we continue to work together to support people to reach their aspirations and help those who have lost their jobs to retrain or upskill. This is exactly what our Southend Anchor Programme will do.

It will drive local economic recovery and help to release the potential in people who are most in need of support. Crucially our Trust, through this initiative, will ensure it fulfils its ambition to work with partners to be a major employer of local people.

Working in partnership

The award will be used to invest in local organisations, who are already providing help to people living is some of the most deprived areas of Southend. The hospital will work closely with partners that include Southend Borough Council, A Better Start Southend, South Essex Community Hub and Generation Medics to create new opportunities for local people to enter employment within the health sector. The programme will provide routes into employment, via volunteering and training and will bring benefits for people most at risk of the negative health effects of long-term unemployment.

Anchor institutions are large organisations that are unlikely to relocate and have a significant stake in their local area. They have large estates and resources that can be used to support their local community’s health and wellbeing and tackle health inequalities, for example, through procurement, training, employment and professional development.

Want to know more?

You can find out about current and future projects in the Anchor Programme in our report Putting communities at the centre Anchor Institute Impact Report PP7_MSEFT[pdf], and there are further details in the Anchor Programme Evaluation Anchor Programme Evaluation 2021_22 FINAL 10.5.2022[pdf].

To learn more about what we are doing in our hospitals, visit Anchor programme at Basildon or Anchor programme at Southend.

If you have any questions or want to receive accessible copies of our reports, email mse.anchor@nhs.net.