Automotive industry charity, Ben, is launching new health checks for automotive people, offering the chance for those who work in the industry to have a personal MOT for their physical and mental health.

Ben Health Checks can be booked by any automotive employer wanting to invest in the health and wellbeing of their employees. In today's fast-paced world and work environment, with multiple additional challenges, prioritising employee health and wellbeing has never been more important for any business. This is further supported by results from Ben’s Health & Wellbeing survey which indicate that 99% of respondents said they had experienced an issue with their health or wellbeing over the past 12 months.

The health checks offer the opportunity for automotive employees to have one-on-one conversations about their physical and mental health with a qualified health professional. The health checks also identify potential issues and also suggest making positive changes so people can live and work well.

Two new colour options are now available for Suzuki’s GSX-R125, including a retro-inspired blue and white livery that pays homage to the GSX-R lineage and history.

A blue tank and nose sit above white side panels and belly pan, which are adorned with the familiar blue stripes running from the front up onto the seat unit. Lightweight blue wheels complete the look.

It is joined by a more subtle all-black version, which is is accented by red decals and red wheels.

The learner-friendly race replica boasts an incredible power-to-weight ratio in the class with a free-revving, DOHC single cylinder engine, plus keyless ignition and low-rpm assist.

Find out more about the GSX-R125, here.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and automotive industry charity, Ben, has launched a new report revealing results from its latest survey, in which over 1 in 4 automotive workers (27%) reported issues managing their mental health. This is compared to 16% of UK workers who said they have issues managing their mental health, showing it’s a bigger issue for people working in the automotive industry.

The survey also found that an overwhelming 99.6% of automotive people have been affected by a health & wellbeing issue over the previous 12 months. Stress remains the most common health & wellbeing issue that automotive employees face, at 56%, followed by poor sleep (51%), feelings of anxiety (43%) and low mood (41%). The results clearly show that mental health issues are the most prominent of the top 10 issues and affect a number of people in the automotive industry. 

Furthermore, a total of 7 in 10 respondents said they worry about money and these people are more likely to experience feelings of anxiety, low mood and depression. The number of people worrying about money has increased from the year before (6 in 10), which is most likely caused by cost-of-living pressures. Year on year, debt has increased by 3% (19% to 22%), being unable to budget has increased by 12% (14% to 26%), being unable to save has increased by 5% (31% to 36%) and skipping meals has increased by 6% (10% to 16%). 

The survey also revealed that 1 in 7 automotive workers are considering leaving the industry and that pay is the biggest motivator for this (29%). A total of 87% of those considering leaving the industry have had financial issues and 63% are experiencing stress at work.

Read report
Read the report of the results here: www.ben.org.uk/surveyreport2024 

This was Ben’s biggest survey to date with a record 1,872 automotive employee respondents of all UK regions, ages, gender and working environments. The survey is in its seventh year and aims to uncover the key health and wellbeing issues currently affecting the automotive industry workforce so Ben can continue to provide relevant support now and in the future.

Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben, said: “We’re pleased to be launching our latest survey results report to highlight the health and wellbeing issues that our automotive family are facing. Our annual surveys are the ideal opportunity to hear from our automotive family so we can fully understand their struggles and then provide the support they need. We also take it as an opportunity to share these insights with employers and our industry stakeholders so we can all do more to support automotive people and their families.

“Mental health issues are affecting 1 in 4 of our automotive family and we can see that money worries are contributing to this. More people are struggling with cost-of-living pressures, with issues such as skipping meals and debt on the rise. Of course, this is likely to have an impact on their overall health and wellbeing, including both their physical and mental health.”

“On the back of these results, we want to make sure that everyone who works, or has worked, in the automotive industry knows we’re there for them, so please get in touch if you’re struggling by visiting www.ben.org.uk/gethelp. We’re here for employers too and you can read about how Ben can support your business and the health and wellbeing of your employees in the report, or by visiting www.ben.org.uk/business.”

Sign up to receive tips, advice and tools at www.ben.org.uk/signup and, for online mental health support, visit www.ben.org.uk/mentalhealth. 

This year, 2024, the Ace celebrates the 30th anniversary of the first Ace Cafe Reunion in 1994 and, being aware of the many great photographers amongst the cafe's patrons, we’re pleased to introduce you to AUTO PHOTO Awards, a celebration of automotive photography. The 2024 Awards are open for submissions now, with variety and diversity of images encouraged.
 
With five categories - Innovation, Cars as Art, Motorsport, Scenes and Stylings, and Car Culture – there’s opportunity and inspiration for everyone, and aside from the individual category and partner awards, there will be an exhibition of the winning and highly commended photographs, and a photo book of the top 100 images, produced by Shutter Hub Editions.
 
The deadline for entries is 5th September 2024
 
Find out more and enter online at auto photo awards 
     
Listen, revel and be immersed in a mix of the best rock and roll and rockabilly, blended with the London sub-culture sounds, broadcasting 24/7 on online radio and social media.
 
   See you at the Ace !

When it comes to raising funds for a club, there are dozens of tried and true options. Whether your club wants to raise funds for renting a clubhouse or donating to another cause, those in the community usually schedule a few fundraising events throughout the year. Though they’re always centered around a good cause, some are more memorable than others.   

In fact, it can be a little grueling to figure out how to raise money and not bore attendees. For this reason, a good old-fashioned party usually gets the job done. But when it comes to crafting a thoughtful, fun, and impactful fundraising experience, you might need to dig a little bit deeper. 

If you’re looking for ideas that will take your biker club fundraisers to the next level, then take a few shortcuts with this list. We’ve got some of the best ideas out there for UK based biker clubs.

Poker Runs

Hosting a good old-fashioned poker tournament is a great way to please attendees and get a spirit of competition going. Millions worldwide access Texas Hold'em on virtual platforms, where they can play in table games and tournaments. In fact, online play is a popular way to get started with poker, as it's not hard to find advice on improving home game results, memorizing hand rankings, and even entering official competitions online. But the poker run is a little bit different to classic online play. 

The poker run involves elements of a scavenger hunt. Club members will ride to various locations where they’re tasked with finding hidden cards. Once they’ve got a hand, they return to base where they’ll compare their hand’s ranking to others in the group. This is a great event when it comes to bringing various clubs together, as it can be arranged as an individual or team competition.

Simulation Races

Poker is a game many are familiar with—but what about a more digitized game? If your club has access to a simulation setup, then there’s no better fundraising event than a simulation race. Simulations usually focus on F1, rally, or MotoGP. If you’re club is more flexible, you can pit riders together in a game like MotoGP 23 or even head to places like London’s F1 Arcade.

But if you want a more homegrown experience, that’s okay, too. You can find games like DriveClub Bikes straight from a PC. This game is considered one of the most realistic motorcycle riding games on the market, allowing you to take on other members while also raising money for the club.    

Mini Moto Show

If poker and riding simulations aren’t your thing, then consider a classic option like a mini moto show. Once again, this a great option for multi-club fundraising efforts, as it allows members to show off their rides. It’s also a bit easier to arrange, as moto shows are usually more casual than competitive poker runs or simulation races. 

That being said, you will need to find a café or a club that has plenty of room. Similarly, you’ll still need to work with food and drink vendors to make sure guests don’t leave hungry. Aside from that, you can expect a long day of passionate chatter and getting to check out flashy bikes. Just try to pepper in a few events, like a raffle and bike washes. This offers you a chance to give the event structure and earn a few more pounds.

Quizzes & Trivia Events

So far, we’ve counted down three complex types of fundraisers that any club can take on. Still, they do require a lot of time, effort, and even funding to get off the ground. If you’re low on time and energy, then keep things simple with a quiz or trivia event.

These can take place straight from a clubhouse or a beloved haunt. All that’s left to do is figure out what sorts of topics you want to quiz attendees on—motorcycle topics are obviously a favorite. Don’t forget to include a few top prizes for the winners of the trivia event. If there’s a large event coming up, whether something like Cheltenham or an event like the BAFTAs, consider framing the quiz around that topic.

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