The CEO's Blog
One Year at 999 Club: Taking Stock, Looking Ahead
999 Club News, The CEO's BlogToday I celebrate one year at 999 Club. It’s a cliché, but time has genuinely flown. First and foremost, I want to thank all our Members – service users, staff, volunteers, donors, partner organisations and supporters – for warmly wel...
Public Humiliation isn’t a Public Service
The CEO's BlogA recent experience painfully illustrated how misunderstood homelessness still is and why the work of the 999 Club is so vital. I was on a packed rush-hour train from central London to the South East. A man walked into the carriage and ...
Saying Goodbye to 999 Club
The CEO's BlogIt is with strong and mixed emotions that I have announced that I am stepping down from being CEO of 999 Club. These past three and a half years have been the most rewarding of my career, the 999 Club is a special place and it’s been a...
In-house NHS services
The CEO's BlogJimmy had come into 999 Club for the early bird breakfast. which we provide twice a week from our Gateway Drop-in Centre. He had been sleeping on the streets, was hungry and had heard 999 Club was a safe place to come. He had some hot fo...
Make sure Rough sleepers have everything they need this winter
The CEO's BlogJoin the 999 Club's vital mission to support Southeast London's homeless this winter. Every pound you donate is doubled, amplifying your impact in providing essential shelter and services. Learn how your contribution can make a real...
Bridging Lewisham’s Housing Gap: Our Compassionate Approach
The CEO's BlogExtending a compassionate hand to help individuals escape homelessness. By enhancing income opportunities and mediating housing conversations, we're illuminating pathways towards stable housing amidst a challenging local housing landscape....
Breaking Bread, Building Bonds
The CEO's BlogHow 999 Club goes beyond meeting basic needs by using food as a medium for establishing trust and fostering relationships....
Good hope and bad hope
The CEO's BlogExplore the nuanced roles of 'good' and 'bad' hope in addressing homelessness. Drawing from philosophy and real-life experiences, this blog dives into how hope, when channelled correctly, can be a force for change....
Summer Escapism and Homelessness Solutions
The CEO's BlogHow deep-seated desires to escape can be channelled towards a hopeful and brighter future...
The situation is not getting better.
The CEO's BlogThere is a connection between homelessness and mental health and the situation is not getting better....
Rising Homelessness in Lewisham and Greenwich
The CEO's BlogThere is an alarming increase in homelessness within Lewisham and Greenwich. We report a 59% rise in rough sleeping and the challenges faced in providing support and housing solutions....
Exploring the Flaws in the Current Temporary Housing System: Insights from Our CEO
The CEO's BlogOur CEO talks about how the current system for Temporary Housing is far from ideal....
Goals
The CEO's BlogFinding out someone’s goals and supporting them to achieve them is not as straightforward as it sounds…...
Expect to get shouted at
The CEO's BlogPeople experiencing homelessness may shout due to the traumatic experiences and barriers they face. Attempting to prevent this may lead to less effective support services....
A Sense of Purpose
The CEO's BlogBecoming a Tottenham Hotspur fan is one of the worst decisions I have ever made, but I do not regret it for a second. It’s led to lots of unhappiness but also given me a sense of purpose, however futile that may be. Ultimately, wellbei...
In 2010 I jumped out of a plane. It was the scariest thing I have ever done.
The CEO's BlogHomelessness can be a scary & dangerous experience. One with lasting negative consequences. But those same people can & do stop experiencing homelessness....
What can my ill-fated teenage attempts to economise teach us about homelessness?
999 Club News, The CEO's BlogAgencies must work together to help reduce the number of people sleeping on the streets of Lewisham....
Eligibility criteria, referral routes and is a Jaffa cake a biscuit or a cake? All are discussed in the CEO’s new Blog!
The CEO's BlogCharles Potter was an incredibly distinguished lawyer who is mostly remembered now because of his views on Jaffa cakes. He was a hugely successful tax lawyer who appeared in the House of Lords no fewer than 25 times, and in the Privy Cou...
What does an academic going to a Balinese cockfight tell us about services for supporting people experiencing homelessness?
The CEO's BlogIn early April 1958, a 32 year old academic called Clifford Geertz arrived in a Balinese village with his wife to undertake research. Sadly for him, they were largely ignored by the villagers being seen as “intruders, professional ones,”...
Everyone’s Journey is Different
The CEO's BlogImagine you were hit by a van, and you broke your leg. A traumatic and devastating thing to happen. Now ask yourself, what would you do? You would call an ambulance and rush to hospital and get your limb seen to. What then? You might sta...
The privilege of a good night’s sleep
The CEO's Blog“I’m wide awake Dad! Let’s read a book!” my 7-year-old daughter proclaimed excitedly. It was 2am. I had been fast asleep. She wanted to explore the joyous expanse of the universe, to use her imagination, to raid the fridge, to pl...