999 CLUB IS RECRUITING NEW TRUSTEES!
999 Club is a charity doing big things with people facing homelessness. For over 30 years, we've provided a safe haven in the heart of Deptford — offering hot meals, showers, practical support, and a pathway out of homelessness for good.
We're now looking for up to three new trustees to help guide our growing organisation as we develop our new 5-year strategy.
We’re especially keen to hear from people with experience in:
- Fundraising – An ability to use your networks or knowledge to champion our cause and unlock new opportunities.
- Charity Finance – provide strategic financial oversight and potentially chair our Finance Committee.
- Property or Facilities Management – Help oversee the management and potential development of our buildings.
What to expect:
As a trustee, you’ll gain leadership experience, broaden your network, and play a hands-on role in tackling homelessness and improving the mental wellbeing of our community. This is a voluntary role involving four board meetings a year (a mix of in-person and virtual), plus occasional events, emails, and committee work. Reasonable expenses are covered.
Inclusion:
We’re committed to building a diverse and representative board. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness, mental health challenges, or systemic disadvantage.
To apply:
Send your CV and a covering letter or video to charly@999club.org
Deadline:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the roles are filled.
More details below:
Introduction
We are delighted that you are considering joining the board of 999 Club. We are very proud of our charity, our 33-year heritage and the vital role we play in our local community.
The 999 Club is a charity doing big things with local people facing homelessness. Based in the heart of Deptford and serving South East London, we provide a friendly open door for anyone that is sleeping on the streets or otherwise homeless. We then empower them with the skills to escape homelessness for good.
Our Gateway Drop-In Centre offers a warm welcome, nutritious meals, laundry and medical facilities, showers, IT access, phone charging facilities, a safe space to rest and a dedicated Women’s Sanctuary. When our members feel ready, our team of expert staff are on hand to support them into suitable accommodation where possible, secure income via paid work or benefits, and provide immigration signposting for those who need it. Once housed, our Move+ programme continues to work with members to ensure they settle into new accommodation with the knowledge, skills, community and hope required to thrive in their new life.
We also run The Bridge, a free six-week evening mental health course open to anyone in the community experiencing mental distress. The programme provides a practical toolkit to support long-term mental wellbeing.
Every year we work with between 1500-1700 individuals who are experiencing homelessness. Last year the Bridge took referrals for 461 individuals and offered 2150 appointments. Unfortunately, demand for our services is increasing, and we are supporting people facing increasingly complex challenges.
We employ 39 staff and have over 50 volunteers supporting the vital work of the organisation.
We are now recruiting for up to 3 new trustees, and are specifically interested in trustees who bring skills related to finance; who may be able to open fundraising doors for the charity; or who have property management experience. We are interested in trustees who also bring lived experience of homelessness or mental health challenges, although this is not essential.
You can find a range of information about 999 Club at https://999club.org/
Thank you for considering this important and rewarding opportunity. We look forward to receiving your application. If you would like to have an informal conversation before applying, please contact charly@999club.org
Our strategy
999 Club is committed to being a locally rooted charity, providing high quality services to the community.
We have just finished a 3-year strategic plan which ran from 2022-2025.
We welcomed our new CEO, Charly Richardson, in February 2025, and are in the exciting stage of developing our next 5-year strategy, at a time when we are seeing ever-increasing demand on our services.
Finance
The charity has grown in recent years and the cost of running 999 Club annually is now over £1.5million. Our funding comes from trusts and foundations, individual and corporate donors, rental income, and a contract with an NHS trust.
Every year we fundraise for a significant portion of our budget, hence our interest in a new trustee who might be able to open doors and signpost us to opportunities.
We currently have charitable reserves of around 6-months running costs.
You can find out more financial information about 999 Club on the Charity Commission website.
Our building
We are lucky to own a large site in the heart of Deptford, with ‘the Gateway’ at the front being used for our day centre, and the ‘HEAT hall’ at the back for our other support services (immigration, housing, benefits, employment). We also own 24 flats which we rent to provide income.
We are currently undertaking refurbishments of several flats, and are working on a plan to redevelop the Gateway and HEAT hall.
What is a trustee?
Trustees are unpaid volunteers who lead charities and shape their direction. Often called board members, trustees play a crucial role in advancing a charity’s mission while building their own strategic and leadership skills.
Anyone can be a trustee, regardless of career stage or personal identity. Boards flourish when they bring together diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives.
You can find out more information on becoming a trustee here.
999 Club’s Board of Trustees
999 Club is very lucky to have a strong Board of Trustees who you would be working alongside. They represent a broad mix of skills and perspectives. We currently have 7 Trustees. You can find out more about our leadership team and Board of Trustees here.
Committees
We currently have a Finance Committee and a Flats Maintenance & Management Committee.
Co-production and lived experience is central to our work, and we have a Members’ Committee comprised of people we are currently supporting, or who we have supported in the past. One of our trustees sits on this Committee and reports back to the full Board.
Role Description
LOCATION:
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We are based at 999 Club, 21 Deptford Broadway, London, SE8 4PA.
We are a community-based organisation rooted in the heart of our local area. While we value trustees who have a connection to the local community, this is not a strict requirement.
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REMUNERATION
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The role of trustees is voluntary and unremunerated, but expenses are paid such as childcare and travel in order to support attendance at board meetings. If you are interested in this role but face barriers in applying, please get in touch to discuss how we can support you.
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TIME COMMITMENT
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At least four board meetings per year. These are a combination of in person and virtual and are usually on Monday evenings. Although there may be the odd occasion when you cannot attend a meeting, we expect a strong commitment and regular attendance.
Beyond formal meetings, we ask that trustees:
- Review meeting papers in advance (usually sent one week ahead).
- Engage with documents and email updates between meetings.
- Attend some fundraising or profile-raising events when you can.
- Join a committee aligned with your interests or expertise (meets every 2–4 months for 1–1.5 hours online).
- Attend one annual Board ‘Away Day’ for strategic planning and team-building.
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LENGTH OF APPOINTMENT
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Trustees are initially appointed for a 3-year term from the date of the first full board meeting they attend. Trustees can be re-appointed up to a maximum of 6 years.
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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
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Trustees must declare any perceived or real conflicts of interest which may impact their ability to undertake this role. Trustees cannot also be employees or contractors of 999 club.
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SPECIFIC EXPERTISE WE ARE LOOKING FOR
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We are looking for up to three new trustees and are particularly keen to hear from individuals with expertise in:
- Fundraising: we would value a new trustee who would have the ability to open doors—whether through personal networks, fundraising experience, or by championing our cause in influential spaces.
- Charity finances: a background in finance, accounting, or strategic financial planning would be especially valuable, with a view to eventually leading our Finance Committee.
- Property - experience in property, estates, or facilities management. As we plan significant capital works and continue to manage our existing properties, this knowledge will be invaluable in supporting effective oversight, ensuring best value, and helping us make strategic decisions about our physical assets.
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Key Responsibilities
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Oversight and support
- Ensure the charity operates effectively, efficiently, and safely, meeting its objectives.
- Support and advise the Chief Executive and staff to make sound decisions.
- Offer diverse perspectives, constructive challenge, and critical oversight.
- Ensure quality, value for money, and equitable access.
Strategic
• Ensure that the organisation has maximum impact for its beneficiaries.
- Shape the charity’s vision, strategy, and priorities.
- Review reports and data to monitor progress and guide improvements.
Advocacy
- Represent 999 Club to funders, communities, and decision-makers.
- Attend public events and use personal networks to enhance visibility and impact.
- Act as an ambassador for the cause and the organisation.
Financial
- Approve budgets, business plans, and financial decisions.
- Oversee the effective management of assets, liabilities, and reserves to ensure long-term viability.
- Review management accounts throughout the year to ensure the charity is ‘on track’ with budget predictions.
- Monitor compliance with funder requirements.
Legal & Governance
- Oversee audits, manage risks, and ensure legal compliance.
- Support the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team with grievances, disputes, or legal challenges if needed.
- Ensure health and safety obligations are met.
- Support the recruitment and induction of new trustees.
Staffing
- Ensure that 999 Club meets all its legal and moral obligations as an employer.
- Participate in trustee or leadership recruitment when required.
Policies
- Where necessary, shape, and approve charity policies and procedures.
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Person Specification
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Personal qualities
- A strong and visible passion and commitment to the 999 Club, its strategic objectives and cause.
- Personal gravitas to provide strategic leadership whilst adhering to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
- Able to collaborate constructively and use their knowledge and skills to support the board and team.
- Confident in networking, building partnerships, and acting as ambassadors for the charity.
- Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability and willingness to listen but also to challenge and criticise constructively.
- Open to challenging, being challenged, and embracing new ideas and approaches.
- Ability and willingness to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours
- Good independent judgement.
- The ability to think creatively in the context of 999 Club and the external environment.
- Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of 999 Club.
- Dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion and social justice.
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SAFEGUARDING
This post is subject to…
- A basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- 999 Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share and demonstrate this commitment.
WHAT YOU WILL GAIN FROM THE ROLE
As a trustee, you will…
- Develop your leadership and strategic thinking skills.
- Broaden your professional and community networks.
- Play a meaningful role in helping people move out of homelessness and overcome mental health crises.
- Be part of shaping a growing and impactful local charity.
HOW TO APPLY
We welcome applications in writing or via video.
Please send:
- Your CV
- A cover letter (max 2 pages) or a video (max 3 minutes) telling us why you're applying
Email your application to: charly@999club.org
Deadline: This is an open call — we’ll close recruitment once we find the right candidates.
NEXT STEPS
Next steps if you're shortlisted:
- You’ll be invited for an informal chat with our CEO, Charly Richardson.
- If that conversation goes well, you’ll be invited to attend our next Board meeting, where you'll meet other trustees.
- Following this, the Board will vote on whether to formally co-opt you as a trustee.
HOW WE WILL SUPPORT YOU
If your application is successful, we will provide the following support so you can get the most out of joining our board…
- Trustee induction.
- Support from an existing trustee ‘buddy’ if needed.
- Travel and other reasonable expenses if needed.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT
At 999 Club, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do. We recognise that people face different barriers and opportunities, and we aim to remove obstacles that prevent full and fair participation.
Our goal is to build a team and Board that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve — in background, identity, and experience. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness, mental health challenges, or systemic disadvantage, as these perspectives strengthen our work.
If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or any personal circumstances that may affect how you apply or take part, please let us know. We’ll do our best to make the recruitment process — and trustee role — accessible and supportive.
We are committed to creating a respectful, inclusive environment where everyone can contribute and thrive.