Tonic Music for Mental Health is a not-for-profit organisation (company number 08093898) based in the South-Coast of England. Terry Hall (The Specials) and Kevin Cummins (Music Photographer) are patrons. Tonic aims to raise awareness and challenge stigma often associated with mental illness through music and art based events and activities. These include music workshops, gigs, art groups and community projects. Tonic organises events and participate in various festivals, street markets, gigs and community events. All music and art workshops facilitated are free and open to all and take place in great venues such as The Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth, The Joiners and The Stage Door (previously The Cellar) in Southampton. Tonic also financially support musicians and artists experiencing mental illness with various meaningful projects that serve to promote individual recovery and provide a route to enabling the individual to earn an income from their craft. Tonic also aims to donate guitars and other musical instruments to Psychiatric hospitals and rehabilitation units across England to help aid people’s recovery. Tonic also provides voluntary and work experience opportunities for creative people who have direct experience of mental illness. Tonic does not receive grants or funding. All of our money is raised through fundraising activities such as Skydiving, Dragon Boat races, raffles at gigs, merchandise and the infamous Tonic-Bola.
