£12,000 raised for 999 Club

The Deptford-based charity provides year round emergency accommodation plus advice and support for people threatened with or experiencing homelessness in the borough.

The money has been collected through a number of fundraising events organised by Lewisham Council over the past year including quizzes, a Christmas carol concert, a charity golf tournament and most recently an alternative Valentine’s Day Dinner.

Handing over the cheque to Tim Fallon, the Chief Executive of the 999 Club, Damien said: 'The 999 Club does vital work in the community, and I am hugely grateful to the staff and volunteers who are helping to make a difference to the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents.

'No one should be forced to sleep rough, even for one night, but that is unfortunately the reality for many people as we are experiencing the effects of a housing crisis across the capital. I have thoroughly enjoyed supporting the 999 Club in their work over the past year and this cheque is very well-deserved.'

Tim said: 'We are extremely grateful to the Mayor of Lewisham Damien Egan for his warm support over this last year for the work we do, as someone who knows all too well the brutal reality of homelessness. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with him to support people at their most vulnerable time and help them to move on to the next phase of their lives.'