Category: Charity

1. Ben launches new website to improve support for automotive community

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 20th Jan 2022

   • New Ben website offers tools and resources to help people struggling or in crisis.
   • Easier to navigate with improved access to key information, the new site will help to reach more people than ever before.
   • New site designed to provide health and wellbeing information, advice and self-help for the automotive industry and its people.

   Ben, the automotive industry charity, is proud to announce the launch of its new website for 2022 – www.ben.org.uk - designed to offer quick and easy access to essential self-help tools and resources to help improve the health and wellbeing of the automotive industry across the UK.

   The demand for support has reached an all-time high, with more people than ever contacting Ben for help since the emergence of the Covid pandemic. Online support in particular is in high demand, with Ben noting a massive 184% increase in web visitors from October 2016 compared to October 2021.

   The Ben team acknowledged a need to strengthen the charity’s online offering, to support both automotive employees reaching out for help and the many employers who work with Ben to improve the health and wellbeing of their workforce too.

   While the web address hasn’t changed, Ben’s website has undergone a huge transformation. The site is fully responsive across all devices and offers a simpler navigation, clearly signposting to self-help tools and resources. Tips, advice and tools are offered for a range of topics, such as money worries, physical and mental health, self-care tips, stress, sleep, loneliness, resilience, bereavement and more, with further self-help content scheduled for development this year.

   The site also offers an enhanced user experience for those visiting the site, including those wishing to find out more about becoming a donor, who would like to participate in Ben’s latest fundraising events and opportunities, and for those seeking information about Ben care services.

   Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben, said: “The launch of the new website is really exciting for us, not only because it will enable us to increase our reach to the automotive industry and its people, but it also serves as a huge opportunity to offer industry people access to many self-help tools and resources, designed to help them earlier and prevent them from reaching crisis point.

   “Our aim is to help individuals navigate through life’s challenges, empowering them to make positive, lasting change. If we can intervene at an early stage and connect individuals with the right information, advice and guidance, we stand a much better change of preventing issues from arising in the first place or developing into something that could have a much more serious impact.

   “The new website will go a long way towards getting the message out there to our automotive family – to ensure they know they are not alone, Ben is on hand to help them as and when they need it.”

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

   The new Ben website is live at www.ben.org.uk For employers who would like to find out more about working in partnership with Ben, or who would be interested in discussing Health & Wellbeing training for employees contact Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben: [email protected].

2. Automotive industry unites at Ben Ball 2021 to raise £96,500 in life-saving funds

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 14th Dec 2021

   • Automotive community gathers for first major industry celebration since the pandemic.
   • Over £96,000 donated to Ben to provide life-changing support to those in need.
   • Industry leaders attending Ben Ball join forces to pledge support for Ben’s work in the community.
   • Pledges on the night set to take Christmas Appeal fundraising past £500,000 target.

   Ben Ball made a welcome return to London’s iconic Roundhouse for a spectacular comeback celebration on 8th December – bringing 600 automotive industry people together for the first time since the pandemic began and raising £96,500 in the process.

   The Roundhouse was transformed into a spectacular winter ballroom for the evening, and guests were treated to stunning live entertainment from LED drum crew, Spark! and a thrilling performance from the aerial acrobatic circus troupe, Arctic Cirque.

   There were many opportunities for guests to donate funds to Ben during the evening, including an exciting live auction hosted by TV auctioneer and presenter, Jamie Breese.

   Ben also shared updates with guests on the charity’s forthcoming Industry Leader Challenge - which in 2022 will be an epic Kilimanjaro climb – and gave an insight into the vast increase in demand that Ben is experiencing, as more people than ever before are reaching out for help with their mental health and wellbeing.

   As the evening’s fundraising efforts were totalled, the final figure has been confirmed as £96,500 - one of the highest donation totals ever at a Ben Ball and exceeding previous years’ results. The generosity of the industry during these high-pressure, post-pandemic times will allow Ben to reach more of those who need help and to better support members of the automotive community and their loved ones who are in crisis or struggling. Furthermore, pledges made from automotive industry guests at the event are expected to take the figure raised for Ben’s urgent Christmas Appeal past its £500,000 target.

   Matt Wigginton, Director of Partnerships, Engagement & Income at Ben, said: “When I was told of the final total raised to help our friends and colleagues in need, I was so moved. During the pandemic, the number of people who have been reaching out to us for help has sky-rocketed and we need to be able to provide support right away – vital support that really does save lives. We rely on donations to be able to give this support and we knew that the 2021 Ben Ball would be more crucial this year than ever before.

   “The industry responded more generously than we could ever have hoped. 600 friends and colleagues gathered in the Roundhouse, not just to celebrate the opportunity to be together again, but to stand with us, shoulder to shoulder, and show the automotive community that we care. That together we are committed to helping people to get through their darkest days. That no-one in our automotive family is alone.

   “We want to thank all those who joined us for the Ben Ball. It was a fabulous night and we hope you enjoyed the chance to dance and celebrate this wonderful community we are a part of. The generosity shown on the night – not only to raise nearly £100,000 but also the further pledges in support of our recent rallying cry – was incredible. We promise to make it count.”

   Ben Ball will return in 2022 – in the meantime to pledge your support to Ben, email [email protected] or to discuss further ways of supporting Ben, call Matt Wigginton, Director of Partnerships, Engagement & Income, on 07880 813051.

3. Automotive charity Ben announces partnership with wellbeing experts Wellonomics

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 3rd Dec 2021

   Past and present automotive industry workers will be given expert help to tackle everyday issues such as poor sleep, low mood and job worries through a digital platform specially developed to support automotive businesses across the UK.

4. Ben Launches Christmas Appeal as Demand for Support Soars

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 18th Nov 2021

   Ben, the automotive industry charity, has launched a new Christmas Appeal which aims to raise at least £500,000 to ensure it can support the record numbers of people calling on its services this year.

5. Motorcycle duo "Let it Go" in fancy dress fundraiser for SSAFA

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 24th Aug 2021

   Motorcycle enthusiasts Mark 'Spoons' Witherspoon and Dave 'Woolie' Newsome took to the stage dressed as princesses Elsa and Anna from Frozen last weekend in front of a crowd of over 100 bikers after making a bet to raise £350 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.   

    

   Spoons and Woolie “Let it Go” on 21st August 2021 – Woolie’s birthday – at GEMCC Sapphire & Steel motorcycle rally at the Sloop Inn, Temple Hirst, Selby.

   Spoons was a Lance Corporal in the Fusiliers for nine years, taking in two tours including Northern Ireland and Bosnia. Woolie is a long-term supporter of the Armed Forces community and runs Team Sober MCC, which has raised funds for SSAFA over the last few years.

   The duo said: “We agreed that if we raised £350 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, we would dress as female princesses. The community has now raised £460 meaning we have to go ahead with our challenge!” 

   As well as raising a few eyebrows, the intrepid pair has now raised more than £755 for SSAFA with their Frozen inspired onstage exploits.

   Their friend, Paul Auduchowitsch, said: “We have purchased the dresses, wands and tiaras for the two of them. SSAFA has kindly provided a pretty sash for the pair of them too!” 

   Donations are still being accepted, and If you would like to contribute, click here: justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-auduchowitsch2 
   
   

   

    

   

    

   SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2020, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, from Second World War veterans to young men and women who have served in more recent conflicts, and their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us. 

   
   ssafa.org.uk