ABOUT TONIC
Tonic is a community-led not for profit organisation. We are focused on creating vibrant and inclusive urban LGBTQ+ affirming retirement communities where people can share common experiences, find mutual support and enjoy their later life. Tonic was established in 2014 to address the issues of loneliness and isolation of older LGBTQ+ people and the need for specific housing and support provision as there was none in the UK before 2021.
Tonic Housing is the UK’s first provider of LGBTQ+ affirmative retirement housing. Tonic@Bankhouse is a retirement community comprising of 84 affordable apartments over 14 floors, located on Albert Embankment in the iconic area of Vauxhall, Lambeth. Tonic owns 19 of these 1 and 2 bed apartments for Shared Ownership sale and for rent. The building is shared with Riverside, a social landlord, who have 59 rental apartments and 6 shared ownership apartments. Care Outlook provides the personal care and support services on-site. We are working closely with them to bring our unique LGBTQ+ affirming support and activities to life.
Tonic has created a unique offering of housing with care, that celebrates LGBTQ+ identities with the community at the very heart of their homes. We co-create events and activities with residents based on their interests, including collaborations with other LGBTQ+ organisations and support providers. We provide accommodation and safe social spaces where older LGBTQ+ people are supported, gain life affirming social connections and access culturally appropriate services.
We are driven by the demand of older LGBTQ+ people for better choices in housing, support and care recognising that ‘a one size fits all approach’ does not meet the needs of diverse communities, we co-produce to create truly community led projects. Read more about our Community Panel, who help influence our direction, here.
Rather than just being “LGBTQ+ friendly” our services are actively affirming of the lives, histories, needs and desires of LGBTQ+ people. This does not imply exclusion of those who do not identify as LGBTQ+, but actively values those who respect and celebrate LGBTQ+ people.
Tonic has focused on London for the first project as the capital has the largest older LGBTQ+ population in the UK, estimated to be 145,000 people. We are also working in other areas, such as Manchester with the LGBT Foundation.
Tonic Housing Association Limited is a Charitable Community Benefit Society registered in England and Wales reference RS008315; HMRC Charities reference ZD07614.
Want to live in a Tonic community? Register your interest with us, and one of the team will be in touch.
“Being connected to others is fundamental to a happy later life. We must create places and spaces that enable all generations to feel they belong to their communities and that encourage people entering later life to remain active and connected to others. This will become more important as older generations become more diverse and traditional family structures become less common””