28 Jan 2026 Shop News

Shop Spotlight of the month - Bradford Road

A Community Shop at the Heart of Huddersfield: Celebrating The Kirkwood Bradford Road Shop.
If you have ever driven into Huddersfield along Bradford Road, you will likely have passed The Kirkwood shop. With its large frontage and busy car park, it is hard to miss. While many people stop by to pick up a bargain, the shop has become a vital community hub where donations are transformed into essential funds for local hospice care. It is a place where customers and volunteers come together every day with a shared sense of purpose.

As one of the busiest retail locations for The Kirkwood, our Bradford Road, Shop and Donation Centre handles a huge variety of stock. You can find everything from quality clothing and bric a brac to furniture and white goods. The pace is always fast, especially since the shop serves as a donation centre too. Shop Manager Annette Flukes has been with the charity for ten years, having started out as a volunteer when she was younger. She now leads the team at Bradford Road, where the work of sorting and processing happens right on the shop floor. This keeps the staff and volunteers in the thick of the action, ensuring the environment is always lively and welcoming.



Assistant Manager Liz Wright joined the team about a year ago after spending twenty five years working as an employment advisor. She was looking for a new challenge and was drawn to the fast moving, people focused world of retail. For Liz, the connection to the hospice is deeply personal. She lost her mother to cancer in the same month she started her job, which made the beginning of her journey very emotional.

Liz has found that the shop is about much more than shifting stock or hitting targets. It is a place where people come to talk and share their own experiences. Many customers have lost loved ones and feel a deep bond with the hospice, often stopping by to speak about the care their families received. It is clear that the shop provides a sense of comfort and connection for many local people.
 

This spirit of community is also seen in volunteers like Joy James, who has been a familiar face at the shop for eleven years. Joy decided to volunteer after her husband Arthur passed away. She remembers seeing a recruitment sign in the window before she went on a long holiday and promised herself that if the sign was still there when she returned, she would apply. It was still there, and Joy has been a dedicated part of the team ever since.

For Joy, volunteering provided a crucial support system during some of her most difficult times. Now aged eighty three, she still plays a central role in the shop, usually working on the till where she is well known for her kindness. She is joined by other local people like Louise Khan, who recently returned to volunteer at the shop. Louise lives nearby and enjoys the social side of the work, from meeting regulars to keeping the shop floor looking its best.
 

The shop also plays a practical role in helping the local community during difficult financial times. With the rising cost of living, many young people visit the store to furnish their first homes. Liz remembers a young couple who were recently delighted to find a dressing table and a chest of drawers at a price they could afford. These moments show that the shop is making a real difference to people starting out.
 

Every item sold and every donation processed contributes to the care of patients and families across Kirklees. The team takes great pride in knowing that their hard work supports such a meaningful cause. Whether you are visiting to find a hidden gem, donate your unwanted items or just to have a friendly chat, the Bradford Road shop remains a place where the community comes together to help those who need it most.