| | Biker News - Regularly updated
Category: Charity
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This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, automotive industry charity, Ben, has launched a range of new support options and resources focused on neurodiversity, to meet growing demand and raise awareness about this important topic across the sector.
Neurodivergence is when a person’s brain processes, learns, and/or behaves differently from what is ‘typical’ and neurotypical describes how the average person’s brain works. From Ben’s latest insights, those in the automotive industry who have reported having neurodiverse conditions such as autism, ADHD, or dyslexia are more likely to experience mental, physical, financial, and social issues. In 2024, 73% of neurodivergent individuals in the industry said they experienced feelings of anxiety, compared to 44% of neurotypical individuals. Neurodivergent individuals were also more likely to be stressed at home (57%), compared to 32% of neurotypical individuals.
Currently, almost 9% of people receiving support from Ben are affected by neurodiversity - either personally, or they are the partner, carer, or parent of someone who is neurodivergent.
In light of this, Ben has added two new support programmes to its digital therapeutic platform, Silvercloud, which is free for automotive workers and their family dependents who can sign up using the code: ben. The new programmes are:
Ben has also launched new neurodiversity-related online tips and advice to help those seeking support and diagnosis. The online content is at www.ben.org.uk/neurodiversity
The charity has also released a new article for employers, sharing thoughts from Julie Hayes, Ben’s Head of Specialist Services, about embracing neurodiversity in the workplace to help leaders and managers support their employees: click here.
Rachel Clift, Ben’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we’re pleased to launch a range of new support programmes, resources, and content on this hugely important topic. Our insights reveal that neurodivergent individuals in the automotive industry are facing greater challenges with their health and wellbeing, making it all the more important for us to provide easy access to relevant support for them and show them that we’re always here if and when they need us.
“As always, we remain dedicated to supporting everyone who works, or has worked, in the automotive industry. We believe that, by fully embracing neurodiversity across our sector, we can create a more inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive, both personally and professionally. Through this campaign, we aim to raise awareness and reduce stigma around neurodivergence, as well as encourage open conversations, greater understanding, and support.”
Ben will also share some resources from Neurodiversity Celebration Week on its available channels.
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This New Year, Ben is sharing ways for automotive people to improve their health and wellbeing for 2025.
Although it’s a positive time for some, the New Year can be challenging for many. With Blue Monday1 approaching on 20th January, Ben is here to help automotive people live life well by enhancing their health and wellbeing. The charity also wants to raise awareness about how automotive people and their families can access support if needed.
January is also a time when people consider making lifestyle changes and set new goals. Ben’s free Life Coaching service supports automotive people to make positive changes in their lives, whether at work or home. Ben’s qualified Life Coaches work with individuals to identify areas of their lives they would like to improve, set goals and support them towards achieving them. Coaching helps people boost their confidence and make lifestyle improvements including eating habits and work-life balance. Find out more about Ben’s Life Coaching Service: www.ben.org.uk/lifecoaching.
Research suggests that ‘giving back’ supports mental health and wellbeing - 77% of volunteers in a national survey said that volunteering improved their mental health and wellbeing2. Physical activity is also one of the best ways to improve all aspects of health and wellbeing3, so with this in mind, Ben is encouraging automotive people to get involved in some exciting events this year. With everything from trekking and running to cycling and swimming, there’s something for everyone to take part in. Do it 4 Ben and make a difference this year by visiting: www.ben.org.uk/doit4ben.
The funds raised from events enable Ben to continue providing life-changing, and life-saving, support for its automotive family when they are struggling, or in crisis.
Rachel Clift, Ben’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We know that January can be a positive time for some but challenging for others. First and foremost, we want everyone in our industry to know that, if you’re struggling or in crisis, we’re here for you.
“At this time of year, there’s obviously a lot of talk about New Year’s resolutions and setting goals which can be difficult to stick to in the long-term - so let us support you with that. If you’re feeling stuck or want to make improvements in your work or home life, our free Life Coaching service is just what you need. Our coaches are amazing, they help people realise and achieve their goals.
“We also have some fantastic events happening this year which might tick the box for many of our automotive family in terms of giving back, increasing physical activity levels and enhancing overall health and wellbeing.”
Sign up to boost your health & wellbeing
This New Year, sign up to receive regular tips, advice and tools for your health & wellbeing straight to your inbox at www.ben.org.uk/signup.
Ben is here for automotive industry people so get in touch now if you’re struggling via our free and confidential helpline. Don't suffer in silence, contact our helpline: 08081 311 333 or visit www.ben.org.uk/gethelp for more ways to get in touch.
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It’s that time of year when automotive industry charity, Ben, launches its annual Health & Wellbeing survey, to gain insights into the health and wellbeing needs of automotive people - for now and in the future.
Ben would like as many people as possible who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry to share their health and wellbeing experiences. The charity wants to hear what health and wellbeing issues have affected automotive people and their families over the past year and what they think their challenges might be in the future. The survey is confidential, takes under 10 minutes and each participant has the chance to win a £500 Amazon voucher.
Help Ben to help you & win £500 - take the survey now!
Take part: click here.
Ben uses the survey results to guide future support and service development for automotive individuals who are struggling or in crisis. The results from Ben’s Health & Wellbeing survey are also shared annually in a report to help automotive industry employers better support the health and wellbeing of their workforce.
Last year’s survey indicated that:
- 99.6% of automotive workers were personally affected by a health and wellbeing issue
- Stress was the most common issue (56%), followed by poor sleep (51%) and feelings of anxiety (43%)
- 7 in 10 automotive workers were worried about money - up from 6 in 10 year on year
- 1 in 7 (14%) automotive people are considering leaving the industry - and 63% of those considering leaving the industry were experiencing stress at work.
Rachel Clift, Ben’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “It’s that time of year again when we need to hear from our automotive family! We want to hear from as many people as possible who work, or have worked, in our industry. Tell us about the health and wellbeing challenges you’ve faced over the past 12 months and what you think you might need in the future so we can provide the very best support and services, as your charity. The insights we gain from our annual surveys are vital in so many ways.
“As well as providing support for life for industry-connected individuals and their families, our mission is to help automotive employers build a motivated and resilient workforce. So if you’re automotive industry-connected, please help us to help you and take the survey now! It’ll only take 10 minutes of your time and will help us do even more to support you and the health and wellbeing of our automotive family as a whole.”
Ben is here for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry and their family dependents. If you need support, get in touch via our free and confidential helpline: 08081 311 333 or use our webchat 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 support for employees contact Rachel Clift: [email protected].
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Automotive industry charity, Ben, is launching its ‘Christmas families project’ for another year, supporting families who might otherwise have to make impossible choices about heating or eating and whether they can afford Christmas gifts. Now in its fifth year, Ben’s Christmas families project keeps roofs over heads, lights on, food on tables, as well as putting gifts under trees for those feeling cost-of-living pressures.
The project started in December 2020 in response to the Covid pandemic when many more automotive families were struggling to afford the basics at a more expensive time of year. Since then, with Ben’s support, hundreds of automotive families have been able to pay their basic living costs, give Christmas gifts to their children and have a festive lunch together.
Ben supports thousands of automotive people each year. Over the past four years, almost 700 adults and children have benefitted from Ben’s Christmas families project. Since 2020, Ben has seen these figures grow by 208%.
Last year, Ben supported 265 automotive families through the project, including 120 children. It’s expected that the charity will help even more people this year. Here are some quotes from families that Ben supported in 2023:
“Thank you so much for the food vouchers, it will make a huge difference to our Christmas. It's been a really hard year, but this will lift the whole family, we have some treats to make it more special.”
“Thank you so much for the Christmas support. The food vouchers will make an amazing difference. It's been a long road this year and Christmas seemed impossible to reach but we got here with some great help. Although we’ve had lows, Ben has given us some highs. Now we’ll have a great Christmas day with treats, dinner and the kids will have some lovely presents.”
“I'm so overwhelmed by Ben’s kindness that I just burst out crying. You've made us so happy in what's been a rough time. I can't thank you and everyone at Ben enough for what you've done.”
To anyone in the industry who is struggling with cost-of-living pressures or finds themselves in crisis, please reach out to Ben, your automotive industry charity. Ben is here to help.
Rachel Clift, Chief Executive Officer at Ben, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have helped hundreds of automotive people through our Christmas families project over the past four years. Of course, Ben’s not just for Christmas - we’re here for automotive people all year round and we help thousands of families each year. At a more expensive time of year, we want to make sure no automotive family goes without the opportunity to have a Christmas meal together and a gift for their children.
“We recognise that times are still really tough for many. No-one in our automotive family should face homelessness or have to make impossible decisions about whether they can afford to put food on the table or heat their homes. We’re here for those struggling or in crisis. We provide life-changing and, often life-saving, support to many families and individuals who can’t afford the basics and we urge people to contact our helpline. We want everyone in the automotive industry to know that Ben is here for them. Please don’t struggle alone, get in touch today.”
Ben is here for automotive industry people this Christmas so if you work, or have worked, in the automotive industry we urge you to get in touch now if you’re at breaking point via our free and confidential helpline. Don't suffer in silence, contact our helpline: 08081 311 333 or use our webchat at www.ben.org.uk
If you would like to show your support for Ben and your automotive family, visit www.ben.org.uk/supportBen
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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
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