About the organisation
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.
Our 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.
About the role
The 999 Club is now looking for up to three new trustees to help guide our growing organisation as we develop our new 5-year strategy.
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.
Key responsibilities:
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.
Time commitment:
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.
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.
Our ideal candidate
We 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.
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.
What’s in it for you
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.
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.
How to apply:
Please send:
Your CV
A cover letter telling us why you're applying
Deadline: This is an open call — we’ll close recruitment once we find the right candidates.
Apply for the role
Please provide a short cover note setting out your motivations for volunteering for the organisation, any relevant skills/experience and why you think you might be a suitable candidate.
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