10 Jun 2026 Business Buddies

Simpson Wood’s Support for The Kirkwood Inspired by Personal Experience and Shared Community Values

For Huddersfield-based accountancy firm Simpson Wood, supporting The Kirkwood is about far more than fundraising. As a proud member of The Kirkwood Business Movement and the company's chosen Charity of the Year, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting local people and strengthening the community.

For Jayne Turner, Business Development & Marketing Associate at Simpson Wood, the connection is also deeply personal. The firm's decision to support The Kirkwood was made through a company wide staff vote, ensuring employees had the opportunity to choose a cause that mattered most to them. 

Jayne explained: "Our staff are asked to nominate charities that they would like to support for the coming two years. This year we had 11 charities in total nominated. This then goes out to vote across all 55 staff and the charity with the most votes becomes the charity supported by the company. We feel this is the best way of deciding which charities to support as when chosen by the staff we have a much better buy-in from the staff and they are much more willing to get involved and raise as much money as possible for the cause."

The partnership has already helped strengthen Simpson Wood's relationship with The Kirkwood, while also giving colleagues a greater understanding of the hospice's wide ranging services.

"It’s great to be involved with The Kirkwood," said Jayne. "Supporting local charities has always been an integral part of our company values. When talking to staff within the office, most of them will have been touched by a life limiting illness at some point in their lives, whether it be a family member or friend. By being involved both now as our chosen charity but also through the Business Movement, hopefully this will help to educate our staff that The Kirkwood is so much more than a place where people go to die, as unfortunately that is a misconception that many people have. The Business Movement has been a great way to meet like minded people within Kirklees that all have the same mission for the hospice, but it has also been a great way to meet other businesses within the local area and share skillsets.”

For Jayne, the hospice's work became part of her family's life more than 20 years ago when her father, Graham Richardson, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in November 2005: "Back then I remember having to ask what MND was as I had never heard of it. Thankfully that has changed so much in the last 20 years."

Sadly, Graham died at The Kirkwood on 29th November 2006. During the year following his diagnosis, Jayne witnessed first hand the difference the hospice made to both her father and her mother, who was his full time carer: "During that 12 month period the help and assistance we received from the hospice was just amazing. My mum as a full time carer would not have got through it without that help. Back then my dad used to come on a Tuesday for respite just to give my mum a break. On those days he would enjoy a bath without it being a struggle at home, but those were just the practical things. Although his illness progressed very quickly, he learnt to paint, which he had never done before. Even when he couldn't use his hands and arms anymore, he still managed to very nearly finish a painting of his garden. I finished it in his last days at the hospice and it still hangs on the wall in my mum's house.”

The support extended beyond practical care. Jayne recalls how both of her parents regularly attended The Kirkwood's drop-in services: "On Friday’s both Mum and Dad used to go to the drop-in service, where Mum would have a massage or reiki. They both felt totally supported by the hospice and it became part of our family. The Kirkwood also assisted with ensuring they had everything they needed at home to make Dad's life as comfortable as possible and we will never be able to thank them enough for all their support for all involved in his care."

Just three years later, Jayne's family once again turned to The Kirkwood when her mother-in-law, Patricia, was diagnosed with cancer. Patricia had moved from her home in Rotherham to live with Jayne and her family following major surgery and treatment. Although the family cared for her at home, Jayne knew exactly where she wanted her mother-in-law to spend her final days: "Although caring for her in our home, I was always adamant that I didn't want her to die in our home as we had two young children at the time and didn't want them to have that memory of our home. After already having the experience of The Kirkwood, this was the place I knew would be right for her in her final days.

"Patricia did go to the hospice in her final days and there was nowhere else that I wanted her to be as I knew she would be looked after, pain free and comfortable, with amazing people around her."

Today, Jayne remains passionate about raising awareness of the hospice's role across Kirklees and the extensive support available to local families: "The care The Kirkwood provides within our community is invaluable. The fact that they can offer the same care in people's homes now as they do in the hospice is just amazing: "Some people want to stay in their own home and to be able to do that is everything for them. Not only that, there are only 16 beds available and there isn't always one available when needed, therefore being able to stay somewhere familiar with your loved ones is so much better than being in hospital.

"I also don't think people realise the care and support doesn't stop when someone passes. The bereavement support and counselling is also something The Kirkwood does so well, so it feels like full 360-degree support."

Looking back on the support her family has received over the years, Jayne says supporting The Kirkwood through Simpson Wood is both a privilege and a way of giving back: "We will never be able to thank The Kirkwood enough for all they have done for our family over the years, and I feel privileged to be able to support them through our business as well as personally."

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