A Newry-based charity has launched a new range of candles under its social enterprise brand Acorn.
Bolster Community, which has been in existence since 2004, provides critical support for families and individuals on a local level and is one of the many charities that has been affected by the withdrawal of EU funding. Following this, its social enterprise ‘Acorn’ was born.
“As a charity, the funding sphere has become increasingly tricky following Brexit and leaving the EU,” explains Elaine McAteer, Bolster Community communications and marketing manager.
“There was lots of funding opportunities there that were automatically withdrawn from us.
“We’ve had to become entrepreneurial and more financially sustainable — and off the back of that, social enterprise has become important to us, because those income streams help us work as a charity and do even more.”
Acorn was established nine years ago and has released various products, with all proceeds returning to charity.
“There’s been lots of trial and error in that and it has really grown to become a premium-looking brand that we’ve arrived at today, but it hasn’t been without a lot of hard work and effort on behalf of the team,” explains Elaine.
“We’ve got over 10 candle scents — and from that we would do tin candles and glass candles, and we would do diffusers and then more bespoke things like gift hampers and so forth.
“The end product is just what the proceeds are used for, and that’s generated from the candle sales, and they all go back into Bolster and helping us kind of become more financially sustainable and help us do that bit more in the community.”
Elaine McAteer, Bolster Community communications and marketing manager
This new range is a tribute to the area where the charity is based.
“The whole idea around our latest launch, Scents of Home, is basically we wanted to do something special to acknowledge the fact that we’re coming up to our 20-year anniversary in October,” says Elaine.
“It has been an idea of our CEO, Jacinta, for a long time to do something that is a nice tribute to where we are in Newry, Mourne and Down and to do something significant to our home, but also the home of all our service users and beneficiaries, so that’s been really important.”
Bolster Community has been able to incorporate its candle making into the activities it does with its mixed-abilities adult group.
“They’re involved in the whole process,” says Elaine, “from the production aspect right through to them helping us with the new products that we recently did, in terms of artwork, direction and style that they liked, and feeding back on scents.
“Then right through to helping us with the fulfilment of orders and helping us with the Christmas markets or any kind of markets or public appearances that we might have.”
Acorn Scents of Home giftbox
This has had a positive impact on the people involved, with the team observing an improvement in overall confidence.
“There are young guys coming here now for a couple of years and the growth we can see in these young people… some of it is pretty significant, in terms of their levels of maturity and communication skills and just general levels of confidence.
“They’re getting exposure and are being able to make new community connections that they just wouldn’t have, so it’s just great. It’s really great to see.”
For the Bolster Community, accessibility in making its products was an important factor in the decision to do candle making.
“We were looking for something that was accessible. It was something we could offer our young adults for day opportunities and they’re doing hands-on work and learning new skills,” explains Elaine.
The feedback that Bolster Community has received for Acorn has been more than positive, as it has been recently shortlisted for the Social Enterprise NI Consumer Facing Award.
Acorn Scents Of Home range
Outside of its Acorn brand, the charity has two other sources of income to help fund its mission.
“We have a series of award-winning, evidence-based programmes called Friends Resilience,” says Elaine.
“They are approved by the World Health Organization and are proven to help reduce anxiety in children and help with any emotional and developmental issues.
“Our customers would be statutory sector agencies. It could be the local health trust or it could be schools who see the need in their classrooms or want to commission the services. So we would get various requests from that side.
“Thirdly, Bolster Buddies, where our young adults of mixed abilities come for day sessions.”
Bolster Buddy Michaela mixing wax
Elaine and the rest of the Bolster Community are hoping that this new launch will bring more attention to their cause.
“We’re hoping that we’ll generate a boost of support from retailers across the North who would be interested in stocking products from a social enterprise charity like ourselves, and also from local businesses who might be looking at corporate gifting opportunities in the future.”
Elaine explained that the social enterprise is always developing: “There’s always room for more and to try to keep our sales going and keep it healthy.
“We have put a lot into the new products. The hard work starts for us to make sure it takes off and that we get the support that we’re hoping for.”
Last year the Bolster Community supported more than 9,000 vulnerable people. With a team of only 29 staff and around 22 volunteers, it hopes to continue this work with the public’s support of Acorn.
For more, visit https://acornshop.co.uk/