The founder of a South Lincolnshire charity has stepped down after ten years of helping people in the district.
Tonic Health’s Michael Morris left his role as chief executive officer on Monday (August 31) to return to university and study for a PhD on men’s mental health.
He’ll be replaced by Barrie Pierpoint, a well known local businessman who is the chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Michael founded Tonic Health in 2016 after his physiotherapy business moved into Broadgate House in Westlode Street, Spalding.
It had more space than he needed, so he offered rooms out for community groups.
From seeing what the organisations did for the community he decided to found Tonic Health with the aim ‘to provide comprehensive community support to individuals in South Holland, Boston, and the surrounding areas’ and ‘to bridge the significant gaps in support whenever necessary’.
It has hubs in both Holbeach and Boston as well as in Spalding.
In the last year it says it helped 30,000 people from those bases, up from 23,000 the previous year.
It has grown to have 30 staff and over 20 volunteers.
Michael will continue to be a trustee of the charity.
He said: “I am looking forward to my next challenge at the University of Lincoln to work towards my PhD.
“I wish Barrie every success and I look forward to seeing the charity develop and grow under his leadership and management.”
Speaking to mark Tonic Health’s tenth birthday recently he put the success down to the ‘amazing’ team he has around him.
“What we have managed to do and the number of people we’ve been able to support across all our sites is incredible,” he said. “It’s been an amazing success and I think we should be very proud.
“It never ceases to amaze me where the next project comes from.
“It’s down to what’s needed in the area and that is how we’ve grown.”
Barrie has 30 years’ experience of running businesses including both Leicester City and Portsmouth football clubs.
He said: “I would like to thank Michael most sincerely for setting up this charity and developing to where it is today over the ten years, which is recognised for all the successful community work they undertake in their Boston, Spalding and Holbeach locations.
“I am looking forward to working in the charity with all the staff and volunteers to take it to its next level of development.”
