Category: Charity

1. Ben reveals new details about two biggest events of the year

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 24th Sep 2024

   Automotive industry charity, Ben, is today announcing new details about its two biggest events of the year - Ben’s Big Breakfast and Ben Ball. These events need to raise £150,000 in total to help fund Ben’s life-saving support for automotive industry people who are struggling or in crisis.

   Following the success of Ben’s Big Breakfast event over the past three years, Ben is now launching full details for 2024. This popular food-fuelled event encourages Ben’s automotive family to organise a breakfast get together during the week of World Mental Health Day on 10th October. According to the charity’s recent research[1], 1 in 4 automotive people are struggling with their mental health and 29% are experiencing loneliness, so this event is the ideal opportunity for colleagues to catch up with a coffee or bond over a bacon butty.

   Automotive companies or groups are invited to host a breakfast event during the week of 7th-13th October and encourage colleagues, customers, friends and family to bring, bake or make a spread and then sell their goodies to raise money.

   Be a breakfast supporter!  
   

   Grab a slice of the action with Ben’s Big Breakfast: click here

   Matt Wigginton, Director of Partnerships, Engagement & Income at Ben, said: “Breakfast is definitely the best meal of the day and our Big Breakfast is an easy way to raise funds, as well as being a great opportunity to get people together. Having a chat over a cuppa can make such a difference - some people are suffering in silence right now, thinking they have no-one to turn to. So get involved, have some fun and connect with your colleagues, all while raising vital funds for your charity.”

   Ben is also excited to reveal the entertainment for this year’s 1920s themed Ben Ball (supported by AutoTrader) - a Great Gatsby experience by the Electro Swing Project. As featured on London’s West End, this awe-inspiring show is by the same performers who captivated the Ben Ball 2020 audience with their Greatest Showman performance. This entertainment (supported by LKQ Euro Car Parts) will feature talents including aerial performers, acrobats, dancers and West End singers.

   Don’t miss the Great Gatsby experience at Ben Ball -  11th December at Old Billingsgate Market
   Limited tickets are available so buy your Ben Ball tickets now: click here

   Matt Wigginton said: “We’re very excited to announce our entertainment for Ben Ball 2024, which will embrace a roaring ’20s theme and is set to be a night of glitz, glamour and vintage charm. The Electro Swing Project wowed our Ben Ball audience back in 2020 with an incredible Greatest Showman performance, so we can’t wait to welcome them back to Ben Ball 2024 to perform their Great Gatsby show! It’s going to be an incredible night, so don’t miss out!

   “Ben is on a mission to help more people each year; three times as many by 2030. That’s a bold ambition, but one we know we can achieve with the help of our industry. Events like this are crucial - and these are our two biggest events of the year, so we hope you’ll join us and make a real difference to the lives of those in our automotive family.”

   When any member of our automotive family is struggling or in crisis, we all rally to support them.

   [1] Ben’s annual survey: www.ben.org.uk/surveyreport2024

    

    

    

2. Ben is here for families unable to afford food & living costs this summer

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 17th Jul 2024

   Automotive industry charity, Ben, is raising awareness about the support currently being provided to automotive individuals and families who are struggling with money worries, debt or urgent financial need.

   Due to the continued cost-of-living pressures, Ben is providing vital support for many automotive families who would otherwise have to make impossible choices such as whether to put food on the table or pay essential bills.

   Over the past 12 months, Ben’s helpline has managed nearly 16,000 enquiries and administered over 600 financial grants for those struggling with money. In addition, Ben’s support services team have provided hundreds of automotive individuals with financial information, advice and guidance to help them get back on track with their finances, as well as support them with the wider impact on their mental health and emotional wellbeing. In the last year, the demand for Ben’s services and support has grown by over 15%.

   Money worries often have a knock-on effect on people’s mental health and wellbeing. According to Ben’s research[1], 7 in 10 of our automotive family worry about money and these people are more likely to experience feelings of anxiety, low mood and depression. Year on year, the number of people worrying about money has increased (from 6 in 10), debt increased by 3% (19% to 22%), being unable to budget increased by 12% (14% to 26%) and skipping meals increased by 6% (10% to 16%).

   With the summer holidays approaching, this time of year can be a real headache for parents. Additional costs add up over the holiday period and back-to-school items such as uniforms, bags and PE kits add financial pressure. Ben is urging automotive families not to struggle alone and to get in touch. Families who Ben has already supported have recently said:
   “Ben’s support has been amazing, thank you for making a real difference in our household. You have absolutely no idea how much this has meant to us after the year we’ve had.”

   “The food vouchers will make an amazing difference to the whole family. It’s been a long road this year. Although we’ve had lows, you’ve given us some great highs, especially for the family. You have been a great support.”

   “Thank you, I’m feeling rather overwhelmed. It will help a great deal and I am very grateful.”

   Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben, said: “Cost-of-living pressures are still having a significant effect on many people in our automotive family. As a parent myself, I know that families now face the added costs that the summer holidays bring, as well as the back-to-school expenses. This is why we need to make sure everyone in our automotive industry knows that Ben is here for them.  

   “If you’re worrying about how you’re going to afford your food shop or your bills and the effect this is having on your mental or physical health, please get in touch. You’re not alone, Ben’s here for you. The sooner you get in touch, the sooner we can help you get back on track. If you’re struggling or at breaking point, contact our free and confidential helpline today.”

   Ben is here for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry and their family dependents. Ben is already supporting many automotive families this Summer. Don't suffer in silence, contact our helpline: 08081 311 333 or use our webchat at www.ben.org.uk. You can also access Ben’s out of hours text support line by texting BEN to 85258.
   
   Sign up to receive tips, advice and tools from Ben at www.ben.org.uk/signup and, for online support with money, visit www.ben.org.uk/money.

    

    

    

    

    

3. Scotland's ‘Live Fast Die Old’ Motorcycle Safety Campaign

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 11th Jul 2024

   The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland's ‘Live Fast Die Old’ Motorcycle Safety Campaign returns for the 2024 motorbike season.

   Despite accounting for less than 1% of all road traffic in Scotland, bikers account for 17% of road deaths, with negotiating bends and overtaking among the riskiest manoeuvres.

   The campaign, which will be live until 29 September 2024, features a series of films which highlight the thrill of riding in beautiful landscapes, while also reminding bikers to enjoy Scotland’s roads safely.

   The dedicated ‘Live Fast Die Old’ website and Facebook page house the campaign films and offer other rich and engaging content, with films and blogs from Scottish bikers sharing first-hand experience and tips with peers, as well as route inspiration and best practice advice.

   The campaign will be live on digital, social and outdoor channels supported by PR. Representatives from the ‘Live Fast Die Old’ campaign will also be attending this year’s Thunder in the Glens Festival in Aviemore (23 to 26 August 2024).

    

    

   article supplied

4. DAVE Day Ride-Out - Saturday 8th June

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 7th Jun 2024

   Depart: 8am (NB the cafe will be open from 7am)
    
   Depart Ace Cafe London 0800hrs travel to M40 Oxford services.
   Depart 0930hrs, Travel to National Motorcycle Museum M42.
   Depart 1115hrs,.Travel to Knutsford services M6
   Depart 1300hrs, Travel to Moto Services Burton In Kendal
   Depart 1500hrs (This is the main form up area for anyone travelling from Scotland and all points North or East of main route).
   
   All bikes will then depart En Masse to Barrow in Furness and arrive in Town Centre at approximately 1600hrs.
    
   The ride is to honour and remember Dave, Si King will be leading the ride and raising funds which will be evenly split between NSPCC Childline and The National Institute of Cancer Research.
    
   Go Fund Me page
   
   £3 from the sale of each item will also be donated to the charities.
   For more info see here
    
   At the Ace, we remember the fun visit by the 'Hairy Bikers' in 2007.
   
   See you at The Ace 

5. Ben calls on automotive people to step up to new Big Walk challenge

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 27th May 2024

   Automotive industry charity, Ben, is calling on automotive people to step up to its new Big Walk fundraising challenge on 8th September. As May is National Walking Month, the charity is launching Ben’s Big Walk, inviting members of the automotive family to take the first step and sign up to the challenge.

   The charity is calling on people from across the automotive industry to grab their walking shoes and get moving with friends, family and colleagues in Ben’s Big Walk. There are two locations so participants can choose to take part at the South Downs or Hadrian’s Wall and there are two challenges to choose from in terms of distance, a full marathon or half marathon.

   In the South Downs walk, participants will start just outside Brighton and will experience breathtaking views as well as testing, undulating terrain before finishing in Eastbourne. Participants of the Hadrian's Wall trek will journey alongside one of the largest ancient monuments in Northern Europe in this world-famous historic landscape. Whichever the chosen route, it will be a tough but rewarding challenge with lots of support from like-minded members of the automotive family – all putting their best foot forward to help raise vital funds at a time when Ben is supporting more people than ever.

   Next steps - sign up
   Take the first step to Ben’s Big Walk this September: click here

   Matt Wigginton, Director of Partnerships, Engagement & Income, said: "We’re inviting all members of our automotive family to take a step in the right direction and sign up for our new fundraising challenge, Ben’s Big Walk. As May is National Walking Month, we thought what better time to launch our new event and get people to step into the challenge in time for September. So, step up today for people in our industry who are struggling or in crisis, because, now more than ever, they need us and we need you!”

   When any member of our automotive family is struggling or in crisis, we all rally to support them.