SECH is proud to be a partner in the ambitious Anchoring Southend 2050 Project.
Anchor Programme
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded just over £400,000 to deliver a landmark project in Southend. The aim is to support people most in need to secure quality work within our Southend Hospital site – or in another local health or care organisation.
The money has been awarded by the Government’s UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF) and is part of the Trust’s ‘Anchor Programme.’
Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust have launched a new and innovative programme called ‘Anchor’ to show how local hospitals can make their neighbourhoods healthier, happier and greener. The programme supports our communities in Basildon, Southend and Chelmsford.
The Anchor Programme is about large organisations investing back into their communities and is a concept fully supported and endorsed by NHS England and the Health Foundation. As one of the largest employers in the region, this ambitious new programme will enable us to understand better how our Trust can be a force for good by using our assets and influence to bring about change.
By teaming up with health and care partners, local councils and the voluntary and education sector, we can reduce our environmental impact and create exciting and innovative employment, volunteering, internship and network opportunities for those we serve.
South Essex Community Hub (SECH)
At SECH, we are providing a community access point to the Southed Anchor Programme where you can drop into our Southend Hub to receive:
- Job Searching support, free Digital Skills and IT training, Information and referral to partners in the program, access to computers (so local people are not digitally excluded);
- Free face-to-face and telephone counselling for people who need help with mental health or emotional wellbeing;
- Volunteering opportunities to learn new skills and build confidence;
- Plus, the opportunity to meet new people and make a real difference to their local community in Southend.
We are here to help and support empower people to realise their full potential.
Find out more here.
Anchor Programme Partners in Southend
SECH is proud to be working with the following partners to realise this project in conjunction with Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
A Better Start Southend ABSS
- A Better Start Southend, supports local parents and carers of children under four years of age and expectant parents into work, volunteering and education across six wards of Southend: Shoeburyness, West Shoebury, Milton, Kursaal, Victoria and Westborough.
- Five free events are run each month to inspire and provide new skills to attendees.
- For our Anchor Programme, there are routes into NHS work, and other course and events aimed at assisting participants move toward work, have been expanded to enable those living in the Better Start Southend area to take part whether or not they have children under four.
You can find out more information here.
Generation Medics
Generations Medics believe that there are talented individuals who can become great doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals if they have access to unbiased up-to-date information advice, support and networks.
They are a dedicated, diverse full-time team of professionals and volunteers who devote their time to a single purpose: to empower people to fulfil their potential by making medical and healthcare careers accessible to everyone.
You can find more details here.
Halo
Halo provides fully-funded online training to eligible people who are unemployed and looking for an exciting and fulfilling career in health and social care.
- The four-six week employment and skills programme, delivered by Southend Council, is designed in collaboration with employers, including us. It helps give trainees the skills they are looking for and prepare them for a career as a healthcare professional.
- There are many roles available in healthcare. They offer long-term employment prospects, job security and opportunities for progression – including the potential to go on and complete an NHS-accredited degree.
- Our NHS staff will be on-hand to promote all current care roles, including apprenticeships, and will advise how you can progress. Candidates get advice on how to apply for these roles and tips on completing their application form and interview. There will be an opportunity to speak to our NHS healthcare assistants and support workers, as well as having a fantastic ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at us as a key employer.
You can find out if you’re eligible here
Pave
If you’re from Southend, unemployed, over 25 and are looking to learn new skills, why not explore a career in the NHS.
The Pave programme will give you hands-on employment training, take you through mock interviews and provide specific advice as to how to access to the wide range of non-clinical careers in healthcare, such as Portering and Logistics. They’ll even set you up with a real interview with local organisations, where possible.
This is a six -week online course, where candidates train every day and in week five three they receive support from NHS speakers who help them to take the first steps in applying for non-clinical roles.
You can find out more here
Want to know more?
The programme is now expanding across the whole of our Trust in coming months. It is through established partnerships like these that we can continue to seek new ways to improve the wellbeing of our staff and local communities. For more information about Anchor institutions, visit https://www.essexfuture.org.uk/boards-networks/anchor-institutions.
To find out more information on the Mid and South Essex Anchor Programme, please email: mse.ukcrfsouthend@nhs.net
