UK’s first LGBT+ retirement community celebrates official launch with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan

 
 

Photo credit: Tim Boddy

  • Tonic Housing have officially launched Tonic@Bankhouse, the UK’s first LGBT+ affirming retirement community yesterday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and party

  • This will be the UK’s first LGBT+ affirming retirement community to support people in later life, ensuring they don’t feel the need to go back in the closet, which is a typical story for many older LGBT+ people accessing care or housing 

  • Tonic@Bankhouse is a partnership with housing association, One Housing, announced earlier this year

  • Sales of Tonic's older person shared ownership properties opened in early August with a number of reservations having been made already

Tonic Housing, have officially launched Tonic@Bankhouse, the UK’s first LGBT+ affirming retirement community yesterday (Monday 20th September), with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, followed by a celebratory event at LGBT+ bar and theatre Above The Stag. The event was an emotional one, as Tonic’s CEO Anna Kear, and board member Geoff Pine, both shared their personal connection and significance of the project with those that attended. 

The day marked a historic moment in LGBT+ housing history, and Tonic will see its first residents move in before the end of the year, with a number of reservations already in place. As well as the Mayor of London, the ribbon-cutting event at Tonic@Bankhouse was attended by Deputy Mayor for Housing, Tom Copley, Labour MP for Vauxhall, Florence Eshalomi and One Housing’s CEO, Richard Hill.

 
 

Photo credit: Tim Boddy

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Tonic Housing later threw a party at Vauxhall’s LGBT+ bar and theatre, Above The Stag, as a way to thank supporters and friends in the community. Music for the evening was provided by award-winning LGBTIQ+ party and DJ collective, Queer House Party while drag superstar Soroya Marchelle performed a number of live songs and lip-syncs. The party was sponsored by London Communications Agency, Vauxhall One, IV Property Management, Capsticks, HSBC and One Housing. 

Tonic Housing announced back in March that they were to begin work on opening the UK’s first LGBT+ affirming retirement community after securing a £5.7m loan from the Mayor of London. The support from the GLA Community Housing Fund enabled the purchase of 19 properties at Bankhouse, a One Housing older living scheme in Lambeth, making Tonic Housing the UK’s first provider of LGBT+ affirmative housing, with sales for 1 and 2 bedroom shared ownership homes beginning in August 2021. This is a major milestone for LGBT+ housing as there was previously no LGBT+ affirming provision with care in operation in the UK, despite there being a clearly defined need and demand from within the LGBT+ community.


Anna Kear, CEO, Tonic Housing said: 

“I’m delighted that we were finally able to celebrate this momentous achievement and I’m so proud to be the CEO of Tonic. 

There has been recognition from within our community of the need to provide choice in housing and care for our elders since at least 1994 when Polari Housing Association was formed, with similar objectives to Tonic. Achieving this vision has been a long journey, not often understood by the mainstream, but our community has worked collaboratively along with our allies, to create a safe place where we can live our lives OUT. 

Thanks to support from the Mayor of London, and our partnership with One Housing,  we have been able to make this project a reality and it shows what can be done with a collaborative approach between two organisations. We both value our ongoing relationship, working together to ensure this LGBT+ affirming community is a great place to live for all residents for many many years to come.”


Richard Hill, Chief Executive, One Housing said:

“We’re incredibly proud to be working alongside Tonic Housing and the GLA on the launch of UK’s first LGBT+ affirming retirement community at Bankhouse.  

Those responsible for providing housing to people later in life cannot ignore the clear needs of older LGBT+ people to live in supportive communities.  We’re excited to be working with Tonic and the GLA to help meet this need and we hope to inspire similar schemes around the UK.  

We’re looking forward to welcoming Tonic’s customers into their new homes at Bankhouse.”



Tonic Housing