People in South East London face a range of health inequalities – unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups within society. These inequalities are directly affected by by the environments in which we live, the air we breathe, the work we do and the income we earn.

Anchor institutions are large organisations that have a significant, and usually permanent, stake in their local area. Anchor institutions in South East London include the NHS, local government, universities, colleges and arts organisations. They collectively employ over 100,000 people, and have significant spending power with potential to benefit local economies, as well as attracting investment into South East London. As a collective, these organisations are uniquely placed to create good work, economic opportunities and support the creation of healthy places that enable our local communities to thrive. Anchor institutions have a big part to ply in tackling social and economic inequalities that contribute to poor health.

Our ambition is that anchor organisations in South East London, which span multiple sectors and fulfil diverse purposes, are supported to take full advantage of their shared resources, influence and power. We want them to shape healthy, vibrant local economies, which benefit the health and wellbeing of local people.

Through an Anchor Alliance which brings together organisations in South East London, we will help share local knowledge to accelerate progress more widely and grasp opportunities to collaborate where helpful. We will work in equal partnership with our local communities to identify shared priorities for action to tackle inequalities and the wider determinants of health in SEL.

By drawing on a wealth of good practice at the local organisational level, we aspire to create a blueprint for anchor collaboration which has the voices of our communities at its heart, and works to address complex challenges in innovative and sustainable ways.

We will publish updates here on our work over the coming months and years.