How our colleague networks help us to understand each other better

We are proud to have a range of active colleague groups at Anchor for those who have an interest and passion in diversity and inclusion.. Anthony Reed, one of our Location Managers, speaks about his experience of being involved in our colleague networks. 

As a Location Manager at Anchor. I enjoy the varied aspects of my job, from the facilities management through to supporting people, which is also why I like getting involved in Anchor’s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives such as the networks and the events they put on.

I used to work in mental health, and I’ve been involved both as a Union representative and as part of an Equal Opportunities Council, so a sense of fairness and justice has always led me. Coming to Anchor was such a breath of fresh air. I’ve never felt as supported as I am now. It’s not just lip service – my manager has been great with reasonable adjustments to support me, and seeing how much of a difference this makes so early on only heightened my involvement. In turn, this made me want to be more involved personally because I could see how it actually makes a difference. 

I’m a member of Anchor’s enABLE network  for colleagues living with disabilities, neurodivergent conditions, or long-term health conditions. The first time I joined an enABLE Network meeting really stood out to me, because everyone made sure that it was a judgement-free space to share. Being able to talk about my disability and hear people talk so freely about their conditions was wonderful. The more we know about each other’s wonderful diversities, the more we can support one another here at Anchor.

Why everyone should get involved in D&I

It’s so important that everyone gets involved in making Anchor as inclusive as possible because it also helps to keep our workplaces and communities inclusive. No one wants to be the only one feeling a certain way, facing a particular challenge, or fighting for change, but sometimes it feels like we are, and that is why allyship is so important. Everyone is different, so appreciating other people’s experiences and being open and empathetic is vital.

Allyship, and learning how to be a better ally, is something Anchor helps raise awareness of amongst all colleagues: we even have workshops on it! It has always been important to me because, while I can’t remember everything I’ve ever been told, I will always want to understand and have better insight. It means that I’m able to take a more considered  point of view and can support more people and give them the space to be heard.

The care and support sector is well-known for having a predominantly female workforce, so by getting more men involved in D&I we can address this gap, and help people understand that D&I really does help everyone, not just a few people.

I’ve attended a few D&I workshops, like ‘Challenging Discrimination and Non-Inclusive Behaviours’, and have really loved coming away with a deeper understanding of both myself and others. Being able to have practical skills I’m comfortable using to make Anchor a respectful place for everyone to live and work in is important to me, and I enjoy sharing this learning with the rest of my team. I’ve also loved attending D&I coffee mornings with our residents – talking about inclusion is such a great way to bring people together.

I’d encourage everyone to get involved in the networks and in D&I initiatives at their place of work because I’ve learned so much from Anchor’s. And if your organisation doesn’t have any then why not suggest they set them up – you can use ours as a great example. Having a better understanding of people helps us understand ourselves better, and that’s the best way to make sure your workplace welcomes everyone and celebrates what makes us diverse.

Anthony Reed is a Location Manager at Anchor

Find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at Anchor

We have five colleague networks from enABLE to embRACE which celebrate diversity, address concerns, review policy and act as allies to others. Our networks are colleague led and offer advice to the business and support to colleagues.   

You can find out more about how we make diversity and inclusion an everyday reality for those who live and work with us by visiting our Diversity and Inclusion page.