Hi everyone,

My name is Michaela and I’m a local maker and flower presser. I first walked into Handmade in Huddersfield in February 2024, nervously hoping to stock my products. What I found wasn’t just a shop but a little haven of creativity. Within weeks of stocking the shop, Ant had become a genuine friend. He brought me onto his team, leaned in to teaching me floristry and gave me the most beautiful place to work from.

If you know Ant, you’ll know exactly what I mean. He has poured his entire heart into building a space where 70 small businesses can sell their work, grow their confidence, and feel seen. Handmade in Huddersfield isn’t just a shop, it’s a lifeline for many , a community, and a place that makes Huddersfield feel like home.

But behind the scenes, things have been much tougher than people realise.

Over three years ago, Ant opened his shop in Imperial Arcade with nothing more than jars of dried flowers and handmade gifts. Thanks to the town’s support, the shop quickly became a busy, joyful, buzzing part of the community. When customers started asking for weddings, events, and bigger floristry projects, he was encouraged (heavily) by two council employees to move into the largest unit in the arcade. They promised him two grants to support the move and even told him the unit wouldn’t be liable for business rates or the BID levy.

Those assurances turned out to be completely untrue.

After signing the lease, the promised funding fell through without explanation. Suddenly, the shop was hit with thousands in unexpected bills for business rates and levies he was told didn’t apply. No one informed him. No apology. No support. Other local businesses went through the same thing & some didn’t survive it.

Almost overnight, Ant was over £10,000 down. That money was meant for things like signage, marketing, and building the business. Instead, he spent the next year paying arrears while still trying to keep the shop running.

He appealed & even spoke directly to the council’s Chief Executive, who promised to look into it and never followed up.

Despite all this, Ant didn’t give up.

He did the opposite.

He poured himself into the arcade:

Revamping the garden into a peaceful green space

️ Running craft fairs to boost footfall for everyone

Curating art displays

Securing seating now filled on sunny days

Managing the arcade’s social media

Litter-picking, tidying, supporting, promoting — all unpaid

Not because he had to, but because he believes in this town and in small businesses.

But this year everything hit at once. Falling footfall, closures, antisocial behaviour, rising costs. The shop simply couldn’t keep absorbing blow after blow. Ant had to lay off staff he loves like family. He’s working 60+ hours a week, often taking home less than £1 an hour, while pushing through constant pain from a long-term disability.

And now, he’s openly said the words none of us ever wanted to hear,

Without help, Handmade in Huddersfield won’t be open much longer.

That’s why I’ve created this GoFundMe.

Not because Ant would ever ask for it (he wouldn’t)

Not because he hasn’t tried everything else (he has)

But because he does not deserve to lose the shop he built with every bit of love, courage, and stubborn hope he has.

Handmade in Huddersfield is more than a business.

It’s 70 small makers.

It’s a safe space.

It’s a community.

It’s a piece of Huddersfield’s heart.

And it deserves the chance to survive.

If you can donate, even a little, it will help cover the debt created by the council’s broken promises. Debt that no small business could realistically survive. It will help Ant keep the doors open, rebuild some stability, and continue being the force of good he has been for so many of us.

If you can’t donate, sharing this page helps more than you know.

Thank you,

Michaela

A maker, a friend, and someone who believes deeply in what Ant has built ❤️