A few weeks ago, we gathered in the wonderful main theatre at The Albany to launch our five-year strategy.
999 Club is just that – a club! And everyone is a Member. The morning really brought that to life, demonstrating just how broad our Membership is: trustees, staff, volunteers, donors, the Members’ Committee, local residents, partner organisations, NHS and council colleagues all in one room. The mood was upbeat, and we were genuinely touched by the level of interest and support.
Our Chair, Victoria, opened the event, followed by powerful speeches from our wonderful Champions, Lianne Sanderson and Bernadette Russell.
I then had the opportunity to talk through our five-year strategy.
Our five-year strategy
This strategy was developed throughout 2025 and 2026, with Members’ voices playing a crucial role in shaping it.
It isn’t about changing direction- it’s about building on what we already do well, so we can become a stronger organisation and work alongside more people in the years ahead.
Because the reality is clear:
- Demand is rising
- Needs are becoming more complex
- Local services are under pressure.
Over the next five years, we will:
- Help more people build stable futures and leave homelessness behind for good
- Embed mental health and recovery more deeply into everything we do
- Create a stronger sense of belonging and community
- Work more closely with partners to provide joined-up support
- And strengthen the organisation itself, so we can deliver consistently and sustainably.
You can read the full strategy here, and a two-page summary here.
New spaces, new opportunities
I also spoke about 51 Deptford Broadway- a new building just across the road, generously leased to us rent-free by an incredible donor.
Later this year, we will open it as a Prevention and Accommodation Hub, bringing together our Bridge mental health recovery team and short-term accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.
We also shared our longer-term plans for an ambitious redevelopment of our main building at 21 Deptford Broadway- ensuring we can provide the best possible experience for everyone who walks through our doors, while future-proofing a building that is much-loved, well-used, and a little quirky!
Members’ Q&A
We finished the morning with a Q&A between myself and Mark from the Members’ Committee. Members submitted questions in advance, ranging from:
“Imagine you are answering this in five years’ time- what has been your single proudest accomplishment?”
to
“Will you campaign to the government to get more homes built?”
It was a great reminder of the ambition and positive challenge we receive from Members.
From launch to action
The feedback we received after the event was incredibly positive, and I’m grateful to everyone who gave up their time to be there.
Now that we have a plan, we move into the first phase: Building Strong Foundations.
This strategy is not an academic exercise. It will guide our work over the coming years – at organisational, team and individual levels. It is intended to be a practical, living framework, not something left on a shelf to gather dust.
We need your support
If you’re reading this, you’re likely already part of our community. We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from our wider Membership.
But to make this strategy a reality, we will need even more people to stand with us.
That might mean:
- Donating to support our work
- Partnering with us
- Volunteering your time
- Advocating for what we do.
A final reflection
I started my presentation with a line that feels like the right way to end this blog, too:
“At the 999 Club, we meet people on some of the hardest days of their lives.
But every day, we also see something else – resilience, humour and hope.”
Roll on the next five years!
Charly Richardson, CEO of the 999 Club.