26 Jun 2026 Shop News

Shop Spotlight of the month - Huddersfield

For more than 30 years, The Kirkwood's Huddersfield shop has been a familiar and much-loved part of the town centre. Sitting in one of Huddersfield's busiest shopping areas, and as one of the charity's very first flagship shops, it has welcomed generations of customers through its doors while raising vital funds to support local patients and families living with life limiting illnesses.

Every year, thousands of donated items find a new home and countless customers choose to shop with purpose. But behind every sale is something even more valuable: the people who make the shop what it is. From dedicated staff and long serving volunteers to loyal customers who have visited for decades, The Kirkwood's Huddersfield shop has grown into far more than a place to browse for bargains. It has become a place where people feel welcome, where friendships have formed, and where the local community comes together.
 

Few people know that better than Shop Manager Maxine Wallis, who has been part of The Kirkwood family for more than 24 years. She first joined the charity as a Deputy Manager, drawn to a role that combined her passion for retail with the opportunity to make a real difference.

"Charity retail had always interested me, and I loved the idea of working somewhere that supported a good cause. After about a year, the manager moved on and the volunteers encouraged me to apply for the manager's position. Thankfully I got the job, and more than two decades later I'm still here."

Over the years, Maxine has watched both the retail landscape and Huddersfield town centre change dramatically. Shops have come and gone, but one thing has remained the same: the loyalty of the people who continue to support The Kirkwood.

"One of the most rewarding things about working in the Huddersfield shop is seeing the relationships that have grown over the years," she said. "We have customers who have been coming through our doors for decades. I've watched children grow up, leave school, move away, and then come back into the shop as adults. That's when you realise just how much of a fixture the shop has become in the local community."
 

While the shop's central location brings plenty of people through the door, Maxine believes it is the atmosphere inside that keeps them coming back.

"The success of this shop comes down to the people," she said. "We've got incredibly dedicated volunteers, loyal customers and a fantastic staff team. Everyone looks out for one another and pulls together when things get tough.

"I think people come back because they know they'll receive a warm welcome. It's not just somewhere to shop. For many people it's somewhere familiar where they can have a chat, see a friendly face and feel part of something."

That feeling is especially important for many of the people who visit. Some have a personal connection to The Kirkwood through the care and support they or someone they love has received. Others simply value having a welcoming place where somebody knows their name.

"A lot of our customers have a personal connection to The Kirkwood," said Maxine. "Sometimes people come in needing someone to talk to, and our volunteers are wonderful at providing that listening ear and offering kindness when it's needed most."
 

Supporting the shop is a team of more than 30 volunteers, each playing an important part in helping it thrive.

Among them are Kerry and Jeremy, who help run The Kirkwood's popular book exchange at Huddersfield Bus Station. The initiative gives pre-loved books a second life while raising even more money to help fund specialist care across Kirklees.

"Volunteering with The Kirkwood is my way of giving something back to the community," said Kerry. "It's incredibly rewarding knowing that even small tasks can help support the work of the hospice and make a difference to local people. One of the things I enjoy most is helping with the bus station book exchange. It's become a really valued part of the community, and people often stop to tell us how much they appreciate it."

Jeremy has been volunteering with the book exchange for around four years and says it has given him a real sense of purpose.

"I've been helping with the bus station book exchange for around four years and I really enjoy it," he said. "My role is to take books up to the shelves at the bus station and make sure they're always stocked for people to use. It's something I look forward to every week. I enjoy volunteering because it gives me the chance to meet different people and be part of a team. Everyone is friendly and welcoming, and it's nice to know you're helping with something that benefits other people."

For Maxine, it is these everyday moments and lasting relationships that make the Huddersfield shop so special.

"What we've built here feels much more like a family than a workplace," she said. "Everyone supports one another through the good times and the difficult times."

That family spirit can be seen throughout the shop, from the volunteers who generously give their time to the customers who return week after week. While the shop continues to provide affordable, quality pre-loved items, its impact reaches far beyond the high street. Every purchase helps fund The Kirkwood's specialist care and support services for local patients and families across Kirklees.

For Maxine, that is what makes every day worthwhile.

"Everything we do here ultimately comes back to supporting patients and families," she said. "Retail can be hard work at times, but when you remember the difference that money is making to local people, it gives you all the motivation you need."

More than three decades after first opening its doors, The Kirkwood's Huddersfield shop remains at the heart of the town centre. It is a place built on kindness, generosity, and familiar faces, where every donation, every purchase and every conversation help make a difference for local people when they need it most.