Anchor’s Chief Executive Jane Ashcroft receives a CBE from the Queen

Anchor Chief Executive Jane Ashcroft has been recognised in the New Year Honours by being made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to older people.

As well as being Chief Executive of Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing for older people, Jane chairs the English Community Care Association (ECCA), where she has been helping to steer its merger with the National Care Association to form Care England, the leading representative body for independent care services in England.

Also being honoured is Stephen Jack, a member of Anchor’s Non-executive Board and Chairman of the Audit & Risk Committee. He is made an OBE for services to disabled people for his work as Chairman of the Independent Living Fund, which provides support to nearly 18,000 people living with disability across the UK.

Jane became Anchor’s Chief Executive in March 2010 and in this same year was the first person to win the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Social Care’ award at the Great British Care Awards. With a career in the care and housing sectors spanning more than 20 years, she has worked energetically to champion older people.

Jane spearheaded Anchor’s Grey Pride campaign where she handed over a petition of 137,000 signatures to No10 Downing Street in support of a Minister for Older People. Jane is continuing to call on the government to create a Cabinet-level role to ensure a more integrated approach to demographic change.

Jane said: “It is an enormous honour to be recognised in this way. I am very proud to lead an organisation in which so many people work tirelessly to enable older people to live fulfilling and happy lives with us. ”

Jane’s passion and commitment to improving the lives of the elderly has raised the profile of older people’s issues across the country. As a respected leader and commentator, Jane has contributed to debates on such issues as social care funding reform and rating systems for care homes. Jane is also a trustee of the Silver Line, the free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, and is a founding director of Your Care Rating , established so that all residents living within a care home are given the opportunity to provide views and feedback via an independent, confidential and standardised survey. She is also a founding Director of Associated Retirement Community Operators, which is committed to ensuring that new models of housing and care are developed to provide older people with choices for great lifestyles in later life.

Denis Warrilow, a resident from Anchor’s Norton House care home, who accompanied Jane at the handing over of the Grey Pride petition, said: “Jane regularly comes to visit the home and takes time to chat with us and make sure we have everything we need. She is an incredible lady who dedicates her energy to older people and I couldn’t think of a better person to receive such an honour.”