Hawkesbury CWB Anchor Collaborative

Community Wealth Building (CWB) primarily aims to bring together “Anchor Institutions” with significant influence and spending power to foster positive change within the local community.

An “anchor collaboration entity” will strengthen the local economic ecosystem by more deliberately aligning and utilising the ongoing activities of our local anchor institutions.

Activities include local employment, procurement, place-based investments that generate jobs, create career pathways, increase incomes, identify and support community leaders to aid local development, boost volunteer efforts, and encourage community investments.

By adopting a collaborative approach, anchor institutions can increase their impact through developing, implementing, and supporting shared goals and initiatives that promote equitable and inclusive strategies.

When anchor institutions intentionally align their collective resources to nurture stronger, more inclusive economies and healthier communities, meaningful positive change can be achieved locally.

Securing initial buy-in from all parties is vital for establishing trust and shared purpose. The aim is to align community wealth-building goals with Hawkesbury City’s Strategic Plan and to maintain ongoing dialogue both internally and with key external partners.

It’s important to emphasise the “community case,” not just the “business case,” for anchor work.

An initial analysis by Anchors of their procurement activities to establish a baseline of expenditure within the local government area (LGA) compared to expenditure outside the LGA. Having this baseline allows Anchors to monitor progress and build on spending more locally.

A Hawkesbury-based CWB Project Facilitator, engaged by the Hawkesbury City Chamber of Commerce, will serve as a neutral third party, organising and coordinating the work of the “Anchor Collaborative” and maintaining consistent, open communication with all key internal and external stakeholders

The CWB Project Facilitator will need to support anchor procurement officers—who already have many demands—by identifying quick-win projects to swiftly enhance collaboration. It’s hoped that a Hawkesbury CWB Project Facilitator can act as a neutral convener, balancing branding of the anchor collaboration and providing visibility for the anchors’ suppliers.

The Anchor Collective over-time will work on implementing all five pillars of CWB

Recognition of the collective achievements of anchor members and suppliers over time is also important, by sharing these success stories internally with anchor staff and the wider community.

The goal is to shepherd the Hawkesbury CWB Project to the point that it becomes “institutionalized.