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Anchor organisations, anchor institutions, community anchors. I think I first heard the term ‘anchor institution’ in an NHS England workshop three years ago. “First developed in the US, the term anchor institutions refers to large, typically non-profit organisations like hospitals, local councils, and universities whose long-term sustainability is tied to the wellbeing of the populations they serve.” I remember at the time kind of agreeing with much of the general premise, but something bugged me, and it’s bugged me ever since.
What is an anchor?
Google anchor and (apart from a rather nice platform for podcasting) you’ll get something like “a device, normally made of metal, used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current.” As a climber I’ve used a different type of anchor, one which allows the use of ropes for “ fall protection; primarily fall arrest and fall restraint” , or put simply to prevent me from hitting the ground if/when I fall. And I can tell you, because I’m not dead, they work. I’m sure fishermen and sailors would say the same when their boat didn’t drift into rocks while they slept. Marvellous things anchors.
But, notice the language, prevent, arrest, restrain. That’s what anchors are, they are there to provide safety, to maintain control. Nothing wrong with…
