Kitchen Table Ethos: Taking My Seat
I’ve passed this place a hundred times before. On route to work, trips into town, days out at Hotham Park, it’s always been here. There was even that time I walked straight past whilst entertaining a whim to make sock monkeys (stuffing from Squires required).
The recently expanded building (now) spreads across two glass-front blocks. Its exterior is framed with a flash of bright purple that reads ‘My Sisters’ House Women’s Centre…Connect, Engage, Enable, Empower’. Although I’ve walked past My Sisters’ House’s shifting homes along the high street in Bognor Regis for almost five years, until now I’d never thought to go inside.
Today is different. For one, I’m back in my winter boots (in July) after England’s week long attempt at summer. Secondly, after driving my usual route into town I’ve parked outside of 108b and c London Road to spend the morning at My Sisters’ House. Today, and every Monday and Friday for the next few months, I’ve decided to volunteer with the organisation that is Inspiring women to live their potential.
As I open the door to the main building I’m greeted with a progression of smiles. Instantly I feel welcome, comfortable, and flattered to be remembered by the receptionist, Lorraine, who only met me briefly months ago. Before managing my first word I’m accepted into their safe space. It just makes sense that this is what the team at My Sisters’ House do.
Key to the running of My Sisters’ House is this safe space mentality. When Julie Budge, the Founder and CEO of MSH, first formed the idea of creating a centre to support vulnerable women while sat around her kitchen table in 2014, she highlighted the most important aspects of the organisation. These included that their services be tailored to women, trauma-informed, outcome-focused, and held in a friendly and welcoming environment.
This ‘Kitchen Table Ethos’, described by Julie as the conversations one typically has with their mothers, sisters, or other role models around a kitchen table, is at the core of what MSH offers to the (on average) ten women a day who walk through the door.
Others unknowingly walk past My Sisters’ House, like I used to, aware of struggling friends or family members who could benefit from visiting MSH, or dealing with problems of their own.
During my time with MSH I’ll be detailing the resources that are available to you and anyone you know of who needs the support, following members of the team to demonstrate what it is that they do, and capturing the stories of some of the inspirational women who continue to visit My Sisters’ House.
This summer I’ve decided to pull up my chair to the kitchen table, setting out to work with the team who offer life-changing support (at the only women’s centre in West Sussex) to hundreds of women year by year. To follow the stories I’ll be sharing click the ‘Follow My Sisters’ House Blog’ button at the bottom of the page or sign up for email reminders.
