The 999 Club

Helping People to Help Themselves

Where do you go when you are desperate and lonely and have no one to turn to? With an open door policy the 999 club offers immediate support in any situation by providing links with professional agencies, and giving friendship, help and advice to the most vulnerable in the community. It is staffed entirely by local people, who know the misery caused by homelessness, poverty and drug/alcohol abuse at first hand. At any one time we are in regular contact with over 500 people who make up the majority of the 1,100 visits we receive every week.

Homelessness
Homelessness is a frequent and pressing problem. We are swamped on a daily basis by people who are unable to find accommodation. Hostel places are extremely limited and in many cases all we can do is hand out sleeping bags and warm clothes and point out derelict shops or buildings where they can find shelter. During very cold weather, people come in to the centres each morning literally frozen stiff.

• Hot food and drinks
• Washing facilities
• Warm clothes, sleeping bags and blankets
• Referrals to hostels and temporary accommodation
• Advice on claims and benefits and free advocacy where necessary
• Above all there’s the human element: warmth , welcome, a community, somewhere they feel valued and can belong.

In a warm safe environment where they feel secure people can talk about themselves and their problems. Our staff are always ready to listen. By working together with mental health teams who visit the centres regularly, we can also encourage the mentally vulnerable to access the medication and counselling they so badly need.

We see an ever increasing number of people whose lives are shattered by drugs and alcohol. Our staff with their informal and friendly approach, do their best to encourage these victims of addiction to take advantage of the weekly visits such as Equinox and Nova of the Lewisham Community Drug and Alcohol Service.

Through the 999 Club the medical services can make contact with a hidden population of very vulnerable people who are not registered with a doctor. In such cases we accompany them to the local walk-in clinics, which they would not have the courage or motivation to attend on their own. TB outreach teams screen out users twice a year, as their chaotic lifestyle makes them easy prey not only to TB but to a range of bronchial problems. We have a weekly clinic in the centre treating blood borne diseases particularly hepatitis.

Many of our users have very little English or literacy skills. They feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the forms and procedures they have to grapple with, and find it easier to take no action. This is why we have a professional advice worker, who visits our centres on a weekly basis. By stepping in on their behalf, she helps save the human and financial cost of court cases, bailiffs, repossession orders, and many other problems.

We have a small nursery in the Deptford centre, for children who we know to be in particular need – usually because of the desperate and dangerous lifestyles of their parents. Our Ofsted-registered staff give the children care, comfort, play and a hot meal. Their hard-pressed parents are given support that is both practical and emotional, and the nursery allows them a few precious hours to themselves.

We are working closely with probation services who are providing us with unpaid workers as part of their community sentence.

Our users lack the confidence and communication skills to interact successfully with social service professionals. Without the 999 Club, many of them would be untraceable. With our help and advocacy the following services are assisted in their work:

• Police and probation services
• Health and psychiatric services
• Legal services
• Housing officers
• Social workers