Why the real treasure in Grandads Front Room is not to be found displayed in its Bognor Regis shop window
As part of a series of visits organised by the Sussex Community Foundation, the High Sheriff of West Sussex Gary Shipton, visited Grandads Front Room located in the High Street in Bognor Regis. Here he shares his impressions:
As a life-long journalist, it took me some seconds to overcome my alarm at the lack of an apostrophe in the shop’s name. Was I about to face one grandad or hundreds of them – all squashed into the same front room?
At least they hadn’t shoe-horned a second ‘d’ into grandad which is sometimes common in American English.
Steeling myself to investigate further, I was rewarded by the glories of a warm welcome and a sense of fun that is rare in corporate retailing.
If you've ever walked past Grandads Front Room and thought it was merely a grammatically-challenged Aladdin's Cave of pre-used items - then it's time to step inside and discover the real treasure that this wonderful emporium represents.
Yes, there is the most eclectic mix of goods for sale - oozing nostalgia and the musty odour of childhood joy.
But this community interest company is so much more.
It is a beating heart of the community - there to support people who have nowhere else to turn.
This is a one-stop shop for people facing some of life's toughest challenges.
The volunteers help individuals and families who have fallen through the gaps in the existing support systems - and its ethos is that no-one should face a crisis alone.
Every week, it supports many families and individuals experiencing hardship, including people affected by homelessness, domestic abuse, illness, sudden loss of income and other unexpected life events. Through furniture, white goods, second-hand household goods, emergency shops and practical support, it helps people rebuild their lives when they have nowhere else to turn.
More than that, it joins all the dots in the community - knowing everyone in the locality who might be able to help and in turn supporting them too.
“The more we come together, listen and understand each other, the happier, more compassionate and resilient we will be,” its website proclaims.
https://www.grandadsfrontroom.org.uk/frontroom "We welcome all in our community, give to those in need and foster a healthy environment to create a growing community.
”We are a group of local people who work for the betterment of Bognor Regis and the surrounding areas. We want to empower and enable our community.”
A year ago, the Bognor Regis Observer reported that a crowd gathered outside the shop to surprise its founder, Danny Dawes, with a heartfelt celebration marking ten years since the creation of the much-loved community support shop.
The event was opened by Bognor’s Town Crier, Jane Smith, who was reported as saying: “About ten years ago, Danny Dawes had the idea of setting up a community support shop inspired by his grandad. Since then, Danny has been the driving force behind Grandads Front Room, supporting those in crisis, from families escaping domestic abuse to people facing homelessness or sudden financial hardship. His hard work, all as a volunteer, has made Grandads Front Room a lifeline for hundreds of people, and we are marking this milestone with a heartfelt community thank you.”
Understanding what they do and the difference Danny and his colleagues make is not easy to describe on a written form – as they are the first to admit.
I first became aware of them a few years ago when judging some community chest awards. I was hugely impressed by this irrepressible group of people.
[] For 20 years, Sussex Community Foundation has connected local people, businesses and philanthropists with the small charities and community groups creating lasting change across Sussex. Through local giving, strategic grant-making and expert philanthropy advice, it seeks to make Sussex a fairer and more equal place.
[] The High Sheriff of West Sussex is an independent, non-political, and voluntary royal appointment. The office represents the Crown for matters relating to the judiciary, law, and order, while acting as a high-profile champion for local communities and voluntary services. It is entirely unpaid. Separately, Mr Shipton is the Editor At Large of SussexWorld and its sister newspapers – reflecting his involvement with the titles dating back nearly half a century.