LGBT+ retirement community developer Tonic has appointed Anna Kear as its first chief executive officer.
Tonic is focused on increasing the quality of life of the older LGBT+ population in the UK and is working towards the delivery of the UK’s first LGBT+ majority retirement community.
Kear has been executive director of UK Cohousing for the past two years and has helped establish new community-led housing hubs across the country.
Tonic also announced it is now collaborating with igloo Regeneration, led by Chris Brown, which has delivered £1.2bn of development across the UK including The Malings in Newcastle and Somerleyton Road in Brixton.
Tonic has already secured backing from five trusts: Barrow Cadbury Trust, Comic Relief, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Trust for London, and Tudor Trust. It is now reviewing a number of site options in London.
Kear said: “Despite the advances in LGBT+ rights, statistics showing that 45% of older LGBT+ people have experienced discrimination when accessing social services and 73% are uncomfortable disclosing their sexuality to care staff indicate that there is still much work to be done.
“I’m looking forward to leading Tonic as it develops new housing and services to increase wellbeing by reducing the social isolation and loneliness experienced by so many older LGBT+ people.”
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