In the run up to International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating an amazing woman and the incredible team behind one of our favourite suppliers, Bolster Community. Many people know Bolster Community through Acorn, their social enterprise crafting the gorgeous soy wax candles and scented goodies we stock. Those products are beautiful but they’re also part of something much bigger, every penny goes back into supporting vital community work across Newry, Kilkeel and the Southern Trust area.
Beyond the candle side of things, Bolster Community deliver hands on support across life stages and circumstances. Their Family Support services offer practical and therapeutic help for parents and children, early intervention programmes, resilience building, parenting support and tailored support for families facing challenges like mental health struggles, financial pressures or isolation.
They also run initiatives like Autism Connect, a welcoming space and programme supporting adults with autism to connect, learn and grow in confidence.
For older people in the community, Bolster Community provide social groups, wellbeing activities, companionship and practical support like Home2Hospital, helping people get to essential appointments.
At the helm of all of this is Jacinta Linden, Founder and CEO, a passionate third sector leader with over 20 years’ experience driving compassionate, creative solutions for children, families and communities. She’s grown Bolster Community from a grassroots project into a thriving charity and social enterprise with a huge reach across the region.
She’s supported by a truly inspiring women led team across operations, community outreach, disability and support services, whose dedication, skill and heart make everything possible. We’ve been privileged to know Jacinta and her team since day one of Storybox, as their Acorn candles were one of the very first products we stocked.
Jacinta’s leadership is rooted in values, empathy and impact, and she brings heart to everything she does. Outside work she’s a dog lover, a creative dabber and a proud County Down woman who believes fiercely in community, storytelling and resilience.
This International Women’s Day we’re celebrating Jacinta, her amazing women led team and the meaningful work they do to support people right through life’s ups and downs, and of course the beautiful Acorn range that we are so proud to stock. It’s a true testament to a product with purpose, showing how your purchasing power can be a force for good.