Support shop aiming to '˜heal Bognor's fractured community'

The team at Grandads Front Room, in West Street, and members of some of the charities it supports

Grandad’s Front Room - a community support shop located in West Street - has already helped so many since opening ten months ago.

Run by Danny ‘Grandad’ Dawes, his partner Reni Tyrolczyk and a band of volunteers, their aim is to link together and support the various groups and charities who help others in the area.

“Our logo says we’re here to help those that help others and that’s what we’re all about,” said Danny. “We work with the Seafront Lights, the Aldingbourne Trust, Stonepillow, HFT, the L’arche Project, Family Support Work, Bognor Community Gardens, the Olive Tree Cafe and others, helping them in whatever way they need.

Danny 'Grandad' Dawes by the 'Great Wall of Bognor

“Half of our shop window is a donation station which changes all the time. It raised £187 for the carnival, and now it’s set up for the Kite Festival.”

The shop, located opposite Bognor’s museum, Danny describes as ‘eclectic meets anarchy’. It is a treasure trove of retro and vintage furniture, clothes, collectables, pictures, and a whole lot more.

There is also ‘the Great Wall of Bognor’, where all sorts of items are sold in crates on behalf of different charities.

But Grandad’s Front Room is more than just a shop raising money for charity.

Reni, Danny and their young daughter Najeya inside their 'front room'

It’s a signpost for anyone in the Bognor area who needs help, whatever that might be.

“If someone needs something, chances are we’ll have it, or if we don’t we’ll know where they can get it,” Danny said. “There’s all these different groups in Bognor; elderly, young, Polish, Lithuanian. It’s fractured but not broken and we want to heal it by getting people together.”

The shop has had visitors from all over the world, and is rated highly on Trip Advisor.

Danny recyles and upcyles almost anything, giving furniture to people who need it, while also lending out games and other items to groups putting on events.

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