Anchor

Anchor was established in 1968 by Cecil Jackson-Cole, as Help the Aged (Oxford) Housing Association, to provide sheltered housing to older people. By 1972, the organisation had completed its first new-build properties and begun diversifying into both leasehold and rented accommodation.

The organisation became Anchor Housing Association in 1975, and launched its first care homes in 1982.

Anchor's multi award-winning Denham Garden Village – their largest development of retirement properties to date – opened in 2004.

Anchor continued to grow its existing services and diversify into new services such as retirement villages and extra care housing, becoming a thought-leader in caring for individuals with dementia and promoting equality for minority groups, such as LGBT groups.

The organisation rebranded from Anchor Trust to Anchor in 2010, adopting a new logo and refreshed brand image to reflect the range of services on offer.

In 2012 a ground-breaking new care home called West Hall was opened in West Byfleet, Surrey. In the same year it won the Best Interior Dementia Design category at the National Dementia Care Awards 2012.

In 2015 a new 'Support Hub' was created in Bradford.

Since April 2015 Anchor opened a series of new developments:

Anchor offered three main services:

Retirement properties to rent - Anchor let a range of properties, typically flats, although the housing portfolio did include some bungalows, at more than 700 sites across England. Each site was overseen by a manager, and had access to a 24-hour emergency call system. Anchor also provided a number of extra-care properties.

Retirement properties to buy - Anchor managed a portfolio of 200 leasehold estates, where the individual owned the property and Anchor provided the necessary property management service. Since 2015 Anchor responded to the growing demand for higher-quality retirement properties, opening an array of new developments including The Laureates, in Guiseley, near Leeds, Austin Place in Weybridge and Hurst Place in Haywards Heath. They also invested in new retirement villages; Bishopstoke Park and Hampshire Lakes, both in Hampshire. These new sites included a number of innovative features for retirement housing, such as spas, swimming pools, salons and cafés.

Care homes - Anchor operated a number of care homes across England, each providing trained 24-hour personal and practical support. Anchor advocated the personalisation of care provision and was politically active in promoting person-centred dementia care. Anchor's specialised dementia homes used the latest techniques and understanding to assist individuals living with dementia, such as sensory gardens and contrasting colour schemes. In 2015 Anchor acquired 24 care homes from LNT Group as well as the Cavendish Healthcare Group's five care homes.