Candles for a cause

For 23-year-old Jack Bird, working at Downlights has provided more than just a job. It's been a way to learn life skills. 

Downlights is a social enterprise that provides work opportunities to young adults with Down syndrome and intellectual or learning disabilities. The company produces scented candles and has seen demand explode over the past year. 

Jack, who has a learning disability, has learned to take public transport to get to work, which means catching two trains from Titirangi to the factory in Orakei. He has also participated in a public speaking event alongside Downlights Managing Director Jennifer Del Bel. 

Jack says he has been enjoying the company's growth over the past year and it makes him more motivated to work harder. 

"I smell nice and I feel happy because I get paid to make candles. My favourites are all the sweet flavours. I like coconut and lime because it smells nice to burn."

Born from a need

The social enterprise was established in 2018 when Jennifer, who owned candle-making company Illumina, met an Auckland father who was trying to find work for his daughter who has Down syndrome. 

According to Stats NZ data from 2019, the unemployment rate for people with a disability is 8.6% – more than double the rate for people without a disability at 3.8%.

Then aged 21, Emma Sykes had been turned down for more than 20 jobs when her father Tony had an idea. If she took up candle making as a hobby it might turn into a career. Enter Jennifer, who met the pair, saw an opportunity to help and taught Emma and Tony the candle-making skills she needed and started on the path to establishing her social enterprise.

Jennifer says Emma's story isn't unusual. People with disabilities are rejected from jobs all the time. 

Downlights managing director Jennifer Del Bel pours candles with Taylor Brown.

Growing and giving back

Jennifer's aim is to continue to grow the social enterprise. This means raising $40,000 to buy a new pourer, which would allow them to produce up to 1,000 candles an hour, as well as removing some of the manual work involved in hand pouring using heavy jugs. 

They are about halfway to their fundraising goal, which they hope to reach some time in 2021. Currently, they are relying on donations from the public to make that happen. 

Due to their success, these monthly donations jumped from $40 in early 2020 to $1,700 for each charity by the end of last year. 

Fanning the flame

Downlights benefited from the push to shop local during 2020, seeing a 1,700% increase in business since March 2020. From manufacturing 500 candles a week, the business had to produce 500 candles a day to keep up with the demand. 

"In a situation like a pandemic, people with disabilities are likely to be the first ones to lose their jobs. We are so proud to have created a business that provides them with equal employment opportunities," she says.