Funding boost for Tonic Health
Spalding based health and wellbeing charity Tonic Health has received funding from the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and will be launching five new projects.
Tonic's flagship projects, Dementia Support (including the dementia Café and FOCUS dementia day care) and the Safe Places Mental Health meeting group, have both in the past benefited funding and are thriving.
Chair of Trustees Michael Morris said: "This funding allows us to try new ideas, based on research from people who access our services and what is needed. The intention for this fund is to prove a long term need which we can take to future funders, like the NHS, for longer term financial support. Funding is becoming increasingly harder to secure, so data collection and proof of need is a constant requirement – whether this comes from the public or private sector."
The five new projects include:
* Autistic Led will be a group led by Lincolnshire Free Press columnist Callum Brazzo, and will be run by people with autism, for adults with autism and will complement the Going Forward Social Group and Little Miracles who both offer services to children with autism. The group will run on Thursdays from 4.30pm-6.30pm and is a drop-in group open to anyone who wishes to connect with other people with autism.
* Ruth Taplin will be running an advocacy service from Tonic Health providing one-to-one support for people needing advice and guidance on a range of health and wellbeing issues, including information, signposting and form filling. Ruth is available to see people by appointment on a face to face basis, or via Skype and will be available for consultations.
* A Carers Support Group has been running from Tonic Health over the past few months but has been given a boost through the funding. This group is aimed at any adult carer who wishes to receive peer support, guidance and information from a range of guest speakers and engage with other people in the same situation. The group will meet monthly at Tonic Health and is open to all carers.
* The Safe Places Sunday Lunch will provide an opportunity for people to join together for lunch on alternate Sundays. This is an extension of the Safe Places Mental Health Group and has come from feedback from people who are on their own and don’t enjoy eating alone, or do not eat properly to maintain good health. The aim of this project is to bring these people together so they can sit around the same table and enjoy some good food and good company. The two-course meal will be funded for those who cannot afford to pay and are regular members of the meeting group. Others are very welcome to attend and are asked to contribute £6 per person for their meal. This will be held at Tonic Health, starting at the end of October.
* The final new project to be launched is a Reminiscence TV and Film Club. Meeting on a fortnightly basis, on a Friday afternoon from 1.30pm-3.30pm, the club will meet and watch films and TV programmes from ‘back in the day’ in a relaxed, soft-lit environment on a big screen, but without being too loud. A programme of listings will be available in advance every month and tickets will include refreshments, the film and an opportunity to talk about the film and discuss with others afterwards. Tickets will be priced £5 per person per showing and available from Tonic Health.
Tonic Health is also looking for volunteers to help support the above projects, whether on a meet and greet, serving refreshments or helping the project leads. For more information, please contact Tonic Health.
More information can be found on the Tonic Health website by calling 01775 725059 or calling in at the Spalding site at 6 Broadgate House, Westlode Street, Spalding PE11 2AF.
