Tonic Housing X PwC Pride 2023
We can’t believe Pride season is upon us again!
But at Tonic, every day is a day to be out and proud, celebrating our identity and community.
We thought long and hard about how we wanted to celebrate Pride for 2023. The reality for smaller non profit and charitable organisations, is that it takes a lot of organisation and financial support to attend major Pride events across the UK. In previous years, we have only been able to attend Pride in London as grateful guests of other amazing charities like Stonewall Housing and The Outside Project, and our residents joined One Housing Group on their float in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of London Pride.
To celebrate all that we’ve achieved in 2023, we wanted to be able to finally have our own spotlight! So we were thrilled when our friends at PwC UK said they wanted to support us to do just that.
We first started working with PwC UK in 2022, attending several of their events to talk about our work with the older LGBT+ community. In October, they raised a whopping £1,300 at a network Halloween bingo night, to help us facilitate creative activities for our residents.
Everything we do at Tonic is driven and led by our residents. They’re aged between 53 and 87 years old and most experience mobility or health related issues. As well as being able to attend Pride(s) as a staff group, we are now able to provide transport, an accessible parade vehicle, and support for our residents and community members to attend with us.
Members of Shine, PwC LGBT+ community and ally inclusion network, will also help us by volunteering their time and expertise on the day. How wonderful is that?
Thank you PwC UK! We can’t wait to march proudly with you!
Martin Smith, Co-Chair of the PwC Shine network says:
“The trail blazed by LGBT+ elders is a poignant reason why we have space as LGBT+ people today, and when we learned more about the work Tonic Housing does to support its residents and older LGBT+ people, we knew we wanted to help. The reality is Pride is just as important now as it ever has been, but it can easily be inaccessible to many who need it. As a society we have a duty to create spaces and experiences which work for everyone, so to be able to help Tonic Housing residents join Pride and to volunteer with them through the year is a privilege.
We’re excited to spend joyous time with residents and the Tonic Housing team, as we work together through Pride 2023. Thank you for having us!”
Anna Kear, Tonic Housing CEO says:
“We’re absolutely delighted that PwC has committed to collaborating with us throughout Pride 2023.
Their generous support first and foremost means that we are able to offer greater inclusion to our residents and community. We owe this generation of older LGBT+ people a great deal of admiration and respect. To be able to include them in a celebration that they once protested for, is essential. PwC has made that possible for Tonic residents.
Thank you so much to everyone at PwC for your genuine commitment to our vision and mission. It’s fantastic to feel your enthusiasm, and I look forward to seeing how our relationship continues. Here’s a fantastic Pride season in 2023.”
Our 2023 Pride plans so far:
Honour our LGBT+ Elders Day - May
Pride Quiz Night - June
London Pride - July
Pride Picnic - July
Black Pride - August
