Social value at Anchor
£32.5m
in additional income was generated for residents in the five years up to and including 2024/25 through our Be Wise financial support service - £11.4m in the most recent year alone.
£6,700
is the social value of an Anchor extra care development per resident, per year.
More than £86m
in social value commitments secured from our suppliers in FY2024-25.
£31m
was the social value of our housing and wellbeing work in 2023/24.
We’re embedding social value across Anchor
That means understanding and quantifying the benefits of the services we provide from the perspectives of the individuals and communities we serve.
In 2020, we led a pioneering project to establish the value of a social housing tenancy in our retirement housing. Researchers from consultants Sonnet estimated that:
- An Anchor extra care development delivers savings of at least £6,700 per resident, per year.
- An Anchor social rented tenancy generated at least £6,200 in value a year (including £2,800 from a general needs tenancy).
Since then, we’ve worked with HACT to develop our thinking on measuring and reporting social value. We have supported Homes England to measure the wellbeing and fiscal impact of housing for older people. Our procurement practices include social value criteria using the TOMS framework, ensuring suppliers contribute to social and environmental outcomes. Meanwhile, our first sustainability bond, issued in 2021, raised £350m – a sign of our environmental, social and governance commitments.
Bringing our impact to life
It’s the stories from our residents that best illustrate the impact we have. Here Ruth and John, two residents living at The Wharf in Rochester, Kent, share their experiences of coming to live with Anchor.
John Stuart, 68, Social Renting
"Having spent several years living in temporary accommodation, I was desperate to move into a home that felt stable and secure - and most importantly, mine. The building is extremely well-designed, which has done wonders to make me feel safe and secure at home for the first time in years. Security features such as the intercom mean that I feel in control of who comes in and out of my home, and the building is overall very secure. I currently have no need for in-house care visits, but the development is very well located and with the help of my electric scooter I can easily travel around the local area. The communal areas at The Wharf are very well designed - I’ve already used the communal kitchen and lounge areas and gotten to know some of my neighbours as a result."
Ruth McLeod, 91, Shared ownership
"I was previously living in a 400-year-old listed property with a large garden, which required extensive upkeep. My husband had passed away 18 months prior, and at the same time the old house had gradually become too much to manage alone. I have always been very realistic about the need to downsize. I thought the location was ideal. It’s level with the high street and shops, and the railway station is quite literally on the doorstep, which is a real boon - though you would never know as the soundproofing is excellent. I walk to the places I need to get to, including the GP, but if in-person care is ever required in the future, I feel confident that it would be very easy to co-ordinate. My neighbours are delightful, very friendly and say hello."
How our ‘Be Well’ approach delivers real social value
Our work with HACT focuses on our housing and our Be Well programme of services to support residents’ wellbeing.
Our Be Well offer is informed by New Economics Foundation research on the “five ways to wellbeing” and consists of five main strands, each designed to support different aspects of resident wellbeing.
HACT’s UK Social Value Bank, which was developed with economists Simetrica Jacobs, provides social value estimates, based on outcomes from how we maintain and repair homes, improve energy performance and the local environment, as well as health and financial inclusion.
Mapping our Be Well services against the UK Social Value Bank demonstrates overall social value of our housing and wellbeing work in 2023/24 at £30,723,773.
Impartial advice and practical assistance
We provided nearly 400 energy vouchers worth more than £42,000 across Anchor in 2024/25 via our resident support fund - and helped residents save or get back more than £12,000 from their energy bills.
Social value in every major contract
We require our suppliers to provide clear carbon reduction plans, responsible waste management approaches, and evidence of ethical supply chain practices. We also apply the Social Value TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) framework to ensure that social and environmental value is embedded and measurable across our supply chain.
Anchor’s Social Value Calculator takes selected TOMs covering a range of issues where social value may be derived, for example the number of employees that the bidder could employ through government schemes designed to move people from seeking job allowances into direct employment.
Social value commitments submitted during the tender stage by awarded suppliers in FY2024-25 totalled over £86m, to be delivered over the lifecycle of their contracts of up to 15 years.
With property delivery accounting for the bulk of our procurement spend, the TOMs approach is built into all regional contracts delivering repairs and maintenance services.
This enables us to focus on initiatives that benefit residents by:
- Reducing loneliness and isolation
- Supporting physical and mental health and wellbeing
- Improving digital skills and confidence
- Encouraging intergenerational connections
- Supporting financial resilience and cost-of-living challenges
- Enhancing green spaces and environmental improvements
Residents are encouraged to propose ideas that benefit the wider site/community and all activities must deliver measurable outcomes and a lasting legacy for communities.
Proposals with costs over £2,500 are submitted to a Resident Panel for approval, in line with our commitment to listening to and acting on residents’ views.
Social value commitments in action
As part of its social value commitments, Novus Property Solutions held a scam awareness session at Spinneyside Court, in Blackburn Lancashire. Arranged following input from residents, the session was open to residents of other nearby locations and around 30 people attended. They discussed how scammers try to obtain personal information. The event was also an opportunity to hear residents’ experiences with Novus’ work on kitchen replacements.
Creating social value with the design of our developments
In both our independent living and extra-care developments the design of the communal outdoor space encourages people to meet and spend time outside. Sensory gardens can have a therapeutic effect for people with cognitive impairment while raised beds and planters encourage residents to undertake communal gardening and to grow their own vegetables and flowers.
Independent living
Our Independent Living housing provides high-quality, purpose-built homes for people aged 55 and over, designed to support residents’ independence while accommodating a range of physical, cognitive, behavioural, and sensory needs. These homes feature accessible layouts and communal facilities that foster social interaction and wellbeing, creating vibrant communities where residents can thrive while aging in place.
Extra-care
With onsite care services, our extra-care developments provide energy-efficient, adaptable apartments aligned with HAPPI principles, ensuring affordability, sustainability and community. Well-designed buildings can also provide spaces where mealtimes become moments to enjoy freshly prepared dishes in a friendly setting. In addition, our catering teams provide delicious, balanced meals that support residents’ health, independence, and wellbeing.
Loneliness is estimated to cost the NHS £900 per person per year, while unhealthy food habits and diet-related ill health is linked to costs of around £368 billion. We listen to resident feedback, adapt our offer to meet individual preferences and needs so every mealtime is personal, positive and enjoyable.
By employing local people and sourcing responsibly, our catering service supports social, environmental, and economic benefits within local communities. Our provider measures performance across 80 social value indicators, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability, carbon reduction, and ethical supply chains.
Healthy Homes Pledge
As signatories to the Town and Country Planning Association's Healthy Homes Pledge, we're committed to providing homes that protect and promote residents' wellbeing and supporting planetary health.
Objectives of our design guide
- Promote Independence: Design features that enable residents to perform daily activities with minimal assistance.
- Ensure Safety and Accessibility: Incorporate elements that reduce the risk of accidents and make the environment better suited for individuals with mobility issues.
- Foster Community Integration: Create spaces that encourage social interaction and
- community engagement.
- Enhance Quality of Life: Provide amenities and services that improve the overall wellbeing of residents.
- Sustainability: Implement eco-friendly practices and materials to create sustainable living environments.
By adhering to these principles, the design of independent living and extra care housing can significantly improve the lives of residents, providing them with a safe, supportive, and engaging environment.
Access to green space, without the hassle of having to maintain it yourself
In 2025, in partnership with specialist consultants The Green Partnership, we developed a Biodiversity Design Guide and Action Plan to support wildlife, climate resilience, and resident wellbeing through enhanced green spaces. Insights from residents and our specialist contractors informed practical guides and actions that will help embed biodiversity into the management and design of our outdoor environments, whilst also providing guidance for keen residents to take nature-positive action themselves.
At Pemberley Place, in Bath, Somerset, the garden design has been carefully developed to create a meaningful, inclusive and therapeutic outdoor space that meets the diverse needs of residents and deliver significant social value. Every element of the garden design aims to promote independence, wellbeing, and community connection – supporting residents to live happier, healthier and more active lives.
Key impacts of our design approach include:
- Reduced NHS demand through improved physical health and recovery outcomes
- Lower social care costs by maintaining independence and mobility
- Improved mental health and wellbeing, reducing loneliness and isolation
- Increased community participation and local employment through garden maintenance contract – in addition to other job opportunities for local people such as location manager, cleaning etc.
Could we work together?
We’re already delivering social value for residents and communities in more than 85% of local authorities our impact is real, lasting, and growing. Could we work together to bring these outcomes to the people who need them most in your area? If so, let’s start the conversation.
Get in touchRelated information
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![About Anchor]()
About Anchor
Helping people enjoy later life is our passion. It has been for more than 60 years. And today, in an ageing society, our housing, care and support is needed more than ever.
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![Be Well resident wellbeing services]()
Be Well resident wellbeing services
Find out about our range of resident wellbeing services supporting you to stay active, healthy and feel part of your retirement communities.
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![Our ESG strategy and performance]()
Our ESG strategy and performance
We are committed to sustainability in each area of our business. Find out more about our environmental, social and governance strategy here.
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![Our Environment and Sustainability Strategy]()
Our Environment and Sustainability Strategy
Find out about Anchor's Net Zero and Environmental Sustainability Strategy and our focus on protecting the environment, reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable lifestyles.
