Meet the Mansfield care worker making NHS tribute candles on her day off

Jane Twyman wants to raise funds for the NHS with the tribute candles

Jane Twyman had just handed in her notice at Kingfisher Court Care Home in Ashfield, to open her own candle shop, when the current pandemic broke out.

She immediately put her business plans on hold to go back to her job in the care home, where she felt she was most needed.

And now Jane is working hard, on her days off, to create and sell NHS-inspired candles, to raise extra cash in support of NHS Charities Together.

“I was in the process of opening my shop when the pandemic broke out,” said Jane, aged 57.

“I had handed my notice in at the care home where I worked, but immediately asked if I could stay on to help.

“Because of the work and the position that others have put themselves in, to care for others at such a difficult time, I started to think how I could also help, and came up with the NHS candle, which people can light to show they care.

“My husband was in the forces, and seeing how Remembrance Day is marked each year got me thinking that this pandemic is like a silent war, and we should be paying tribute to the good works being done by both care workers and key workers.

“This candle is something I hope people will re-light each year, when this is all over, to remember into the future what happened this year.

“Proceeds are going to the NHS.”

Each candle features a rainbow, and an etching, which can either read ‘NHS 2020,’ a person’s name with a heart, or ‘I stayed home in 2020.’

So far Jane, a mum-of-three, has sold just a handful of the candles, which are now available to the public.

“Those who have received them have been very pleased, especially as the fragrance can be chosen by the individual from our fragrance range,” said Jane, who first began creating candles as a hobby, before deciding to turn her hobby into a business.

“At present our supplier can meet all of our immediate and future needs, and my husband is doing the glass etching for me himself at home.”

Visit www.janescandles.co.uk to purchase a candle, priced at £9.00 with no postage costs.