Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life, and the country’s biggest armed forces charity the Royal British Legion (RBL), today announced the launch of a landmark partnership between the two organisations.
The agreement will see Anchor and the Royal British Legion work collaboratively to identify veterans or serving personnel who may need access to care and support services. This could include the provision of short breaks, respite care or permanent residential care in Anchor locations not covered by RBL care homes. It will sit alongside services already run by the Royal British Legion including physical and mental health recovery, as well as assistance with housing, finances, care and independent living.
The partnership was launched at a joint event featuring speeches, singer Kathleen Linton-Ford and representatives of the Royal Star and Garter’s Veteran Friendly Framework, at Anchor’s West Hall care home in West Byfleet, Surrey, on February 17.
Rob Martin, Anchor’s Managing Director of Care Services – who himself served in the Royal Artillery in Germany, Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina – said:
“We are very proud to enter into a partnership with globally recognised and respected charity the Royal British Legion to provide greater access to care and support for veterans.
“In addition to our partnership with the RBL, there are over 20 Anchor care homes accredited by the Veteran Friendly Framework across the country, which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing homes where people can continue to love living in later life.”
Mark Atkinson, the Royal British Legion’s Director General, said:
“The Royal British Legion is delighted to be working with Anchor to help veterans and the Armed Forces community. Through this collaboration, we hope to raise awareness of the Royal British Legion’s and Anchor’s care facilities and support services, to ensure veterans have access to the care they need.
“We look forward to developing our partnership with Anchor and collaborating to show our lifelong support to our Armed Forces community.”
The partnership will also:
- Create joint initiatives to support veterans feeling lonely and isolated in the community
- Enable Anchor and the Royal British Legion to maximise opportunities to celebrate the achievements of Armed Forces veterans, including VE Day and Remembrance
- See Anchor care homes and housing schemes supporting the Royal British Legion with its annual fundraising Poppy Appeal
- Explore how Anchor can support the Royal British Legion’s Admiral Nurses, a specialist service which helps the Armed Forces community and their families living with dementia
- Share best practice and innovation around the development of colleague diversity networks within each organisation
The Veteran Friendly Framework is a collaborative project led by the Royal British Legion, Royal Star & Garter and the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance.
It helps care providers to offer appropriate support for the social, emotional and physical needs of the thousands of armed forces veterans across the country.
