Our History
Kirkwood Hospice: 20 years of history
1981
Appeals launched in Huddersfield and Dewsbury to raise the money for hospices in Kirklees
1982
23rd June: The Kirklees Hospice Society Ltd was formed
1983
The Dewsbury Hospice Appeal officials agree to support the Huddersfield Hospice Appeal Fund to combine to build one hospice for Kirklees
1984
20th July: planning permission for the new hospice granted by Kirklees Council
1986
19th February: the foundation stone for the hospice was laid by Mr David Stocks & Dr Alan Barlow MD
10th November: the Kirklees Hospice Society Ltd became Kirkwood Hospice after a public competition to choose the name of the new hospice was held
1987
17th March: Kirkwood Hospice opened with a 10-bed in-patient unit, providing palliative care for patients throughout Kirklees
During June Day Care opened, increasing the breadth of care provided at the hospice
1988
During January the first permanent hospice shop opened in King Street, Huddersfield
27th April: the first anniversary of Kirkwood was marked by an official visit by HRH Duchess of Gloucester
1989
The hospice acquired its first ambulance. The £14,000 cost was funded by Pendragon Round Table
1990
Kirkwood Hospice cared for its 1000th in-patient
1991
An extension was built to improve day care facilities and increase space for Kirkwood’s expanding team.
1992
18th February: Following his visit to the hospice Martyn Lewis, writer, journalist & broadcaster writes, “Hospice is happiness - the greatest coming together of all that is warm, friendly and good in a community. It is the ultimate model of care that many envy, and all seek to follow! Keep up the good work!”
The second hospice shop is opened, in Batley
1993
Kirkwood Hospice cared for its 2000th in-patient
“A Day in the Life of Kirkwood Hospice” video produced by Humanities students at Huddersfield University; used as a teaching aid for the hospice and its supporters
The third hospice shop is opened, in Cleckheaton
1994
The hospice purchased “The Lodge” at the entrance to its site. This enabled Kirkwood to develop its Family Care Team, providing bereavement services to families and carers in an informal and homely environment. The Fundraising Department moved into the upper floor of the building
The fourth hospice shop is opened, in Heckmondwike
1995
The Hospice shop in Hudderfield relocates from King Street to larger premises in Byram Street
1996
Kirkwood Hospice cared for its 3000th in-patient
The fifth hospice shop is opened, in Holmfirth
1997
£760,000 was raised to fund the Day Care extension and Education suite. This not only enabled Kirkwood to expand its Day Care & respite care facilities, but to provide improved facilities for palliative care education and training.
By moving Day Care into its own purpose built extension, this also enabled Kirkwood to increase its in-patient beds to 16.
Kirkwood Hospice website created and launched by Adrian Jones
1998
HRH Duchess of Gloucester returned to Kirkwood to officially open the new Day Care Centre and Education Department
1999
Kirkwood Hospice cared for its 4000th in-patient
December: The first turf was dug for Rosewood, our drop-in centre in Dewsbury for patients affected by life threatening illness and their carers
2000
25th September: Rosewood is officially opened
28th November: Elmwood in Holmfirth was officially opened to provide a convenient drop-in service for patients and carers living in the Holme Valley
The sixth hospice shop is opened, in Dewsbury
2001
Kirkwood won the “best use of events in fundraising” category in the ICFM & Professional Fundraising Magazine Award for its Millennium Madness campaign, during which, amongst other events, Castle Hill was wrapped in sunflower banners painted by local school children
The seventh hospice shop is opened, in Mirfield
2002
Kirkwood Hospice cared for its 5000th in-patient
The Drop-in service was launched in Day Care at Kirkwood and at Elmwood to extend services to patients from diagnosis onwards and their carers
2003
18th July: The new Family Care Team building was opened by Rt Hon Betty Boothroyd to provide purpose built facilities for bereavement counselling, complementary therapies and chaplaincy
2004
Day Care was re-named the Support & Therapy Centre, to reflect the changes and developments in the care provided to patients. “Express yourself” and “next steps” programmes commenced in the centre
2005
March: The eighth hospice shop is opened, in Lindley
Kirkwood Hospice cared for its 6000th in-patient
Kirkwood gained national recognition when it was named in the Nursing Times top 100 employers of nurses and was awarded top small employer of nurses
2006
14th April: The ninth hospice shop is opened, in Milnsbridge
June: Hospice held its first open day for carers event in Support & Therapy
3rd November: The tenth hospice shop opened, in Almondbury
2007
Kirkwood named in the Nursing Times top 100 employer of nurses awards for the second consecutive year
April: The eleventh hospice shop opened in Honley
23rd June: Over 470 supporters took part in the hospice's first Midnight Memory Walk, raising over £50,000