Deptford homeless charity launches appeal for night shelter volunteers

Pic: The 999 Club

A homeless charity is looking for volunteers to work at their Lewisham night shelter.

The 999 Club charity, located in Deptford, is currently crowdfunding to raise £20,000 for what will be one of only three shelters open to homeless people in London this summer – and the only one in Lewisham. Through an online Crowdfunder, The 999 Club hopes to raise enough money to pay for 20 places at the shelter on Deptford Broadway which will run for 10 weeks this year, from July 4 until September 9 as part of their summer shelter programme.

The charity is looking for 30 to 40 volunteers who can work at least one evening shift a week from 7.30pm until 10pm or mornings from 7.00am until 8am at the new shelters. Evening duties include welcoming guests, serving dinner, helping with laundry and playing games. Morning volunteers serve breakfast to night shelter guests. All volunteers work alongside an experienced member of staff and are given induction and ongoing guidance in all tasks.

Lewisham resident Brad Owen,38, volunteers three times a week for the charity, helping with its night shelter. He said: “I didn’t know who to expect when I started volunteering – I didn’t know if it would be stressful, but it’s not like that at all. At the night shelter, I help to welcome people, get them settled and introduce the new guests to those who have been there a while. It’s about making people feel as comfortable as you can, and about trying to help rebuild their self-esteem.”

Barry Stanley, 68, one of the volunteers. Pic: The 999 Club

A former client of the 999 Club, who sought the charity’s help last year, has managed to turn his life around and now volunteers twice a week helping out at the Deptford center. Barry Stanley,68, finds volunteering as a way of giving back to the charity that helped him get back on his feet. Describing why he volunteers, he says, “I just wanted to give back what they gave to me, which was a step on the ladder. What I am doing is a small thing, but I do what I can.”

To find out more about volunteering at the night shelter, email Leon Miles, the Night Shelter Project worker –  leon@999club.org

More information about the 999Club can be found on their official website.

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