“Buying second-hand means you’re not just saving clothes from landfill - you’re helping to save lives.” – Goodness’s experience

When fashion designer Goodness Woodhead moved to Castleford last year, she brought with her a passion for sustainability, creativity and community. What began as a personal hobby to upcycle her clothes has grown into something bigger: a mission to make a real difference to people’s lives.

The mum-of-four first stepped into the Yorkshire Cancer Research shop in Castleford in May 2025. She was searching for pre-loved denim to create an outfit for an upcycling-themed fashion show in Huddersfield.

Yorkshire Cancer Research currently has 15 shops in Yorkshire, with plans to open more across the region over the next decade. Every purchase helps fund life-saving cancer research and pioneering services, so more people in Yorkshire live longer, healthier, cancer-free lives.  

Goodness is a passionate advocate for upcycling and believes in the power of sewing to make a difference to people’s lives. She runs upcycling classes for women from all backgrounds, helping them repair and rework clothes for themselves and their families.

Goodness’s work has featured in fashion shows and exhibitions across Yorkshire, including a project at the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds. Here, she created Victorian-style dresses from old curtains and invited members of the local community to write messages on the fabric.  

She continued: “I love meaningful art. I love when people see themselves in what they’ve made. Fashion should be about identify, comfort, and pride – not just following trends.”

Through her community work, Goodness has supported women affected by cancer, designing outfits that help restore their confidence and inviting them to model her creations in community fashion shows.

She said: “I’ve met many women whose cancer treatment has deeply affected them, both physically and mentally. Some have had mastectomies and are still coming to terms with the changes to their bodies. It’s sad to hear how this can knock their confidence and make them feel uncomfortable in their clothes. I want to help change that.”

Goodness hopes to inspire others to embrace second-hand shopping and recognise the vital role that Yorkshire Cancer Research shops play in helping bring pioneering cancer research to people in Yorkshire.