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Anchor Programme – Supporting our community

At Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT), we believe healthcare is about more than treating illness. It’s also about helping our communities to thrive.

As one of the largest employers and service providers in the area, we’re proud to be an “anchor institution”. This means we’re a stable organisation, closely linked to the wellbeing of the people we serve. We use our staff, buildings, spending, and partnerships to support wider issues that affect health, such as jobs, housing, education, and the environment. By working in this way, we aim to tackle the root causes of health inequalities and improve lives across mid and south Essex.

Our Anchor work focuses on five key areas:

  1. Creating inclusive job opportunities.
  2. Encouraging our suppliers to invest in local communities.
  3. Opening up our land and buildings for community use.
  4. Protecting the environment.
  5. Leading and working in partnership with others.

Fit for the Future the 10-year health plan made some important commitments that relate to Anchor

The NHS’s 10-Year Plan highlights the importance of anchor institutions. National goals include:

  • Recruiting more local people, especially those who are unemployed or not currently working.
  • Expanding apprenticeships and training so people can earn while they learn.
  • Publishing data on recruitment by background, gender, and ethnicity to track progress.
  • Funding programmes to help young people and those from deprived areas into healthcare careers.
  • Encouraging NHS providers to support wider social and economic goals through procurement and employment.

Last published

Widening Access Demonstrator

As part of a national programme to tackle health inequalities, Southend, Basildon and Thurrock have received funding to help people from deprived areas access training and job opportunities in health and care.

Through Anchor Connect and the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board, we’re supporting 100 local people who’ve struggled to find work, helping them gain skills, build confidence, and move closer to employment.

Last published

Mid and South Essex Anchor Charter 2024-27

Our Charter brings together learning from across the UK and asks organisations to commit to developing an action plan and reporting progress.

You can download the Anchor Charter 2024-27[pdf]

Last published

Want to know more?

Check out our other pages to find out what we're doing:

 

Reports

You can find out about current and future projects and the effect the programme has had on our Trust, our partners and the community by reading our reports on the Publications and report  page.

Get in touch

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