It’s about time…
It’s an honour to be writing my first blog as the new CEO of the 999 Club, and as I’m now 10 weeks in, it’s about time! It’s been an intense and inspiring few months, and I thought this was a good moment to share a bit about myself and give some updates on what’s happening at the 999 Club.
A word of thanks
Firstly, I want to pay tribute to my predecessor, Thomas Neumark, who brilliantly led the 999 Club through significant change over three and a half years. On behalf of all of us—thank you, Thomas!
Since Thomas moved on in October and I joined in February, several members of the 999 Club team stepped into interim roles to guide us through the transition. I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to them as well. And finally, to all our Members—thank you for the incredibly warm you have given me.
A bit about me
My route to the 999 Club hasn’t exactly been a straight line. After graduating from Goldsmiths, I began my career teaching music and drama in schools and youth centres across London and the home counties. Much of my early work focused on social impact, for example using music mentoring to support young people facing poverty and gang violence. I also spent much of my 20s in a tour bus as a professional musician!
Eventually, I moved into project management and training roles before becoming Music Service Lead Officer for Essex County Council in 2014, and CEO of Lewisham Music in 2019.
Although music was my ‘tool’, what truly motivated me was the way it could break down barriers and drive social justice. I’m particularly proud of the community-based work we delivered at Lewisham Music, whether that was offering young people pathways into creative careers, or using music to welcome young asylum-seekers to the borough.
Why the 999 Club?
Already living and working in Lewisham, I was aware of the 999 Club’s reputation and impact. When I saw the CEO role advertised, I knew it would be a huge challenge, but also felt that my experience leading a similarly sized local charity would help me step into the world of homelessness with both humility and determination!
It’s already been a steep learning curve—and I know there’s lots more to learn—but I’ve felt brilliantly supported. Everyone here has been generous with their time, helping me settle in quickly.
A true community
You may already know that everyone connected to the 999 Club is called a Member. That includes people we support directly, staff, volunteers, colleagues from partner organisations, trustees, donors and more. I was struck immediately by the strength of this Member community, from volunteers arriving at dawn to serve Rough Sleeper Breakfasts, to individual donors whose generous support helps make our work possible.
Everyone seems to have their own reason for being involved, whether it’s personal lived experience, a family connection, or a deep desire to support their community. It’s clear that the 999 Club has touched many lives.
Homelessness and community mental health are, of course, incredibly complex, systemic challenges, and that’s why partnership is key to what we do. From NHS specialist nurses offering in-house services, to Lewisham Council and Refuge colleagues delivering outreach from 999 Club, we thrive on joined-up thinking and collaborative working. “Community” can be an overused word, but here, it means something.
Challenges and opportunities
We’re facing a tough landscape. National charities like Shelter have been raising the alarm about rising homelessness, and we’re feeling that reality every day. Attendance at our Gateway day centre has increased significantly since this time last year.
At the same time, there are exciting opportunities ahead. We’re developing new partnerships and projects, and we’re currently working on a multi-year strategy to be launched later this year. This will be vital to ensuring that we not only survive but thrive at a time when, tragically, our services are more needed than ever.
With such a passionate and committed community around us, I’m confident we can rise to the challenge.
Meet the CEO & celebrate the 999 Club
I’d love to meet more of you in person, so please come along to our event on Tuesday 6th May, from 1pm to 3:45pm at the 999 Club. It’ll be a chance to connect, hear stories from our Members, and share your thoughts on where we go next.
Everyone is welcome! You can find more details and sign up via Eventbrite.
Thanks for reading and for your support so far.
Charly Richardson