Homeless charity wins community award
BY JAMES TWOMEY
james@slpmedia.co.uk
A homeless charity has won a community award for its work in the area.
The 999 Club, based in Deptford, won the Judges’ Choice prize in this year’s Docklands Community Champion Awards.
The awards, organised for the third year by Docklands Light Railway operators KeolisAmey, celebrate unsung heroes in the communities surrounding the DLR network.
Zisca Burton, learning and activities coordinator for the 999 Club, said: “It was such a surprise to win the Judges’ Choice award – we are all really delighted. Thanks to the support of KeolisAmey and our DLR ambassador Lorna Samuel, we have been able to take groups on so many great visits around London this year, and we are looking forward to planning more trips again this summer.”
The 999 club works with homeless people and was shortlisted for the Judges’ Choice prize along with five other organisations.
Tim Fallon, chief executive of the 999 club, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Judges’ Choice award, in recognition of the work by our staff and volunteers to empower homeless and vulnerably housed people.
“We want to say a huge thank you to KeolisAmey for all their support over the past year and we are looking forward to continuing to work with them.”
The charity was announced as the winner at a gala event held at the Marriott Hotel Canary Wharf on March 1. Comedian and actor Richard Blackwood presented the award to the 999 Club’s Zisca Burton, Clare Kavina and Kevin, who benefits from workshops and events run by the charity but whose second name cannot be revealed for safety reasons. DLR community ambassador Lorna Samuel was also at the celebration. Over the past year, she has worked with the 999 Club to organise seven trips across London using the DLR, to locations including Kew Gardens, Tower Bridge and the Sky Garden in the City.
There were a total of 11 categories in this year’s awards, recognising the work by individuals and organisations across east and South-east London.
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