ONE year ago today a Chapelford woman set up a candle business to deal with some personal battles she was facing.

As a mechanical electric engineer, Natasha Winstanley works varying hours and say if it’s an early start, she will have the afternoon and evening to relax.

Though, Natasha felt she was wasting her time and she wanted to create products that helped others and herself so Simply Serenity was born.

She said: “I wanted to do something productive with my time so I started the business.

“I’ve suffered from anxiety for quite a few years now and I wanted to try and create something that helps people to deal with a similar thing to what I was going through.

“I know candles are widely used to relieve stress and reduce anxiety.”

 

Natasha with her friend Jess Kennedy on the Simply Serenity stall

Natasha with her friend Jess Kennedy on the Simply Serenity stall

 

Natasha had her heart set on helping others, instead of making money, in aid of charities that support men’s mental health.

She tries to give around 10 per cent of profits to a variety of charities.

The 20-year-old added: “I didn’t want to make money from it so I also decided to give a percentage of my earnings to men’s mental health because that’s quite a close charity to my family.

“My dad killed himself when I was 14, this was the drive behind giving back to charity.

“Even if it stops one person from doing it, it means there is one less person in the world who feels like me.

“I don’t do it for sympathy, I just do it because I genuinely want to help.

“That helps towards the charities and gives back a little bit.”

 

One of her wax candles

One of her wax candles

 

Natasha, formerly of Lowton, also ensures her products are vegan and cruelty-free as they are made from 100 per cent soy wax. All her packaging is also environmentally friendly and she is best pleased with what she has created.

“I wanted it to be as waste-less as possible, I don’t like waste,” added Natasha.

“I’m so proud of the business. I wanted to put something in place where if one day I wanted to change jobs, I could take on something I’ve built.

“I really wanted something where I’ve put all of my time and effort into and I’m really proud that I’ve done it.

“It makes me so proud that I’ve been able to give back to charity as well, it’s one of the main things about the business that I absolutely love doing.”

For more information, visit https://www.simplyserenityuk.com/?fbclid=IwAR1lHCQBLB-DFgMuvLh5PLnVgRQl7hZbaJMEoD8HFUByFcu2ZuV5i1VBfvw

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