Tonic Health are expanding their services and subject to planning consent, will be setting up a community café in Surfleet. Tonic 44 will be open to all every day serving light bites and refreshments as well as being a focal point for a range of projects to be delivered from the Café. The Café will see the conversion of an old art gallery at 44 Station Road, which links onto the much used Glen Park site, offering users of the site much needed toilet and refreshment facilities. The project has been boosted by a grant of £50,000 from the Sport England Community Asset Fund, but on the proviso that Tonic Health raise a further £10,000 required for the building conversion. Chair of Trustees for Tonic Health, Michael Morris, says “the idea of a community café was always high on Tonic Health’s future plan, and where better than be located than next to such a wonderful facility as Glen Park. In a time for encouraging movement and exercise in people, socialising and meeting others, and strengthening the community spirit, we hope to be able to capture all these elements for the benefit of the local residents and users of Glen Park”. The Café will also provide an important revenue stream which will help continue the sustainability of the variety of projects which run for the benefit of the community. The building will also provide a space for Spalding Hockey Club to put in some much needed showers and changing facilities, something that was promised to them when they first moved over to play at Glen Park, but has resulted in portacabin changing over the past few years, and will welcome players and supporters each week after matches during the hockey season. Planning permission will be submitted to South Holland District Council in early November and all being well, Tonic 44 will be up and running by Easter 2018. Tonic Health, a Spalding based Health and Wellbeing charity, have a growing track record of providing a range of community projects from its main centre in Broadgate House, including Dementia Support and the Safe Places mental health project, as well as housing a complementary therapy centre and a variety of exercise classes. There is likely to be some cross-over of projects, but it is anticipated that local resident’s views on what they would like to see on offer will help shape the types of activities and projects available. For more information on Tonic 44 and how you can donate towards the project, please visit the Tonic 44 page at www.tonic-health.co.uk There will also be two opportunities to discuss the project further with representatives from Tonic Health at consultation events held from Surfleet Village Hall on Saturday 18th November and 16th December from 1-3pm.