Candle maker raises over £5,000 for Ukraine

Thursday 14 April 2022

A self-taught candle maker has raised more than £5,000 to help victims of the Ukraine war.

Karen Michel started running candle making workshops in her kitchen to raise the funds, which will be split between the Red Cross and Four Paws, an animal welfare charity,

Mrs Michel said the fundraising success was not down to her, but all those who took part.

“I feel quite embarrassed to have a spotlight focused on me when it should be on all the amazing people who’ve taken part in the workshops and made donations to these important causes,” she said.

“I saw an opportunity to help, but it is thanks to everyone else that we’ve been able to raise so much. I will continue to raise funds until I have run out of products.”

Pictured: Mrs Michel set up workstations in her kitchen for the workshops. 

Mrs Michel started candle making a year ago.

“I was fed up of paying £15 for one candle and I started to think that it’s something I wanted to try to do for myself,” she said.

“I took an online course and joined a crafting group on Facebook. The advice was that it takes a year to master all the skills, I wanted to do it quicker than that, but it’s true that it takes that amount of time to really learn it properly.

“I absolutely love making candles; it’s definitely a passion not just a hobby.”

Pictured: Mrs Michel sells handmade products under her "Maison Michel" brand. 

Mrs Michel said she felt compelled to do something to help the Ukraine crisis.

“I was watching the news and everything that’s happening in Ukraine is just terrible,” she said.

“I started to think about what I could do to help and I thought the workshops would be a good idea because all my friends and family who I’ve made candles for have loved them.

“I posted my idea on a social media page and I was inundated with people who wanted to take part, I could hardly keep up with the amount of people and I still have a waiting list.

“Everyone has a great time at the workshops and they are so keen to help raise money for charity that they purchase extra products to contribute more.”

Pictured: Karen Michel and her late father, Eddie Halstead.

Mrs Michel credits her charitable nature to her late father: “My dad was an incredible man; he would always say that if you can help someone then you should because you might be the only one helping them. That saying is absolutely true,” she said.

“My dad did so much to help the homeless in Scotland and he used to travel the world helping people. I believe my passion to help people came from him and I had him at the forefront of my mind when I decided to do this project.”

Mrs Michel has run seven workshops in six weeks.

“Each workshop has had around 10 attendees and it takes an entire day to prepare the workstations, measure out the oils and write instructional notes,” explained Mrs Michel.

Pictured: Mrs Michel said that candle making is "a passion". 

Mrs Michel continued: “It also takes up most of the following day to clear everything up. I have been running the workshops alongside running my business, Tropical Sun; it’s been exhausting.

"I am taking a couple of weeks off then I will be holding another workshop, which is already sold-out.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has come along to the workshops, purchased products and donated to these worthwhile causes. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone else.”