Cottesmore business, The Rutland Handyman, offers 12 free days of work to people or groups in need and spends time mounting poppies for Remembrance

A handyman is set to give out some early Christmas cheer by helping those in need free of charge.

The Rutland Handyman, also known as Toby Bale and wife Jadene, are inviting individuals and groups from across the county to apply for the Christmas Rose Project.

Nominations will close on October 31 and the lucky projects will be contacted the following month.

Jadene’s philanthropic idea was inspired by Dennis and Iris Rose, her former neighbours in Edith Weston.

“I put it in their name because they were really lovely people and it's just a little nod to them,” she said.

“They were generous people and Christians through and through. Because they didn't have kids of their own, they just kind of took us all in on the street.”

Jadene’s family and neighbours would help Dennis with odd jobs and keep him company after Iris died.

“His family lived away, so our family and a couple of others on the street would invite him over at Christmas time and New Year's Eve, just to make sure he was looked after,” she recalled.

Now the Cottesmore couple want to rekindle that spirit in their new neighbourhood.

“Since we moved across to Cottesmore, we haven't really done anything like that for our neighbours, but now we're a more established business, we can give back,” Jadene added.

“We decided on the 12 days of Christmas theme and set out 12 days for different projects, for people who need it - people like Dennis.

“It's for those who would struggle to do these things themselves or afford to have them done, especially over Christmas time when you might be deciding between getting your child a present or having something done in your house.

“At least this gives them the opportunity to have that stuff done and still get their child presents.”

Ideally they would like to hear about small projects that can be completed in a day, but would consider longer projects.

“We're putting aside 12 days in total and hopefully doing 12 little projects, but it could just be three projects that span four days each,” Jadene explained.

“It's just general maintenance and redecoration, those kind of things that you can potentially do in a day.

“We can't do a DIY SOS and anything major like that, but things like redecorate a bedroom for a little one, or cut the grass for an elderly person.

“So they're only small, but it could make a really big difference to someone.”

Other businesses have been keen to get involved and offer their help, but the project is so far a little short of applicants.

“At the moment, we've not had much response, which is good in a way if it means that nobody needs the help, but I'm sure people do need it and we just need to reach them.”

Toby is in demand after returning to full-time self-employment in February, having originally given up his own business for a salary when his son James was born.

Despite a diary which remains full into next year, he is also finding time for another community project.

Using offcuts of wood, Toby makes poppies and donates them to villages where they are fixed to lampposts in the build-up to Remembrance Sunday.

Last year his poppies decorated Foxton, near Market Harborough, and this year they will be gifted to the Bale’s home village.

“It stops the parish council from buying the plastic ones, so it's better for the environment,” said Jadene, a member of Cottesmore Parish Council.

“And also, instead of buying them, they can just use that money to make a direct donation to the Royal British Legion.

“Having the barracks here, I think it makes sense.”