The first LGBTQ+ retirement community in the country is working with Lambeth Council on improving safety in the borough at night.
Tonic, a non-profit LGBTQ+ retirement community, held an event earlier this month at Royal Vauxhall Tavern to share how to make Lambeth safer at night.
Hero, a charity which supports more than 100,000 LGBTQ+ people a month, highlighted the importance of the event as one in three of those 55 and older have experienced a hate crime in the borough.
Bob Green, head of operations at Tonic, said: “Nearly half of people at the event said they never feel safe in Lambeth at night and that is quite a stark statistic.
“It made it clear to us that people really need a community to build up a sense of safety.”
As part of their work to create community, Tonic’s event included a panel discussion involving LGBTQ+ charities, Lambeth police and a drag performance.
It also contributed to Lambeth’s wider Night Time Strategy to work towards making the borough one of the safest in London.
Those in attendance expressed their fears of abuse when going out at night alone and why having a close-knit community helps them feel safer.
Lambeth Council provided grants of up to £2,000 to five different community organisations to fund awareness events in the evening.
Their strategy recognises the extensive opportunities available at night in the borough and aims to make these inclusive to everyone through prioritising safety.
Lambeth has the highest proportion of people identifying as LGBTQ+ in the country, with one in six households identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQ+ charities, Hero and Gallop, which has worked with LGBTQ+ victims and survivors of abuse for more than 40 years, attended Tonic’s event to offer support, points of contact and safety ideas.
A spokesperson for Gallop added, that for the elderly, abuse can often be hidden due to gendered and ageist narratives which we are use to seeing.
Green added: “Two people said they have previously been assaulted and victims of theft.
“To expect them to go straight away to night time events might be asking too much.
“Part of the process to get there, is to build up a sense of safety and community in the daytime before asking them to go out at night.”
Green explained that at Tonic, some people have lost their partners or don’t have contact with their family and they look to combat feeling isolated through the social activities in their area.
The retirement community currently has 20 residents, with care staff on site 24 hours-a-day and aims to recreate a support system that can help with enjoying Lambeth at night.
Green said: “The community doesn’t begin and end at Tonic, it’s about people coming in and our community going out.”
Featured image courtesy of Tonic
