BEN the automotive industry charity

     
 BEN is the Automotive Industry Charity, the only occupational charity for those who work or have worked in the automotive and related industries. Founded in 1905, the Charity provides practical help, support, advice and friendship to more than 15,000 men and women and their families every year. In addition BEN provides a home to over 350 individuals who reside in one of its four residential centres in the UK and offers day care facilities at its centre in Coventry.

For more details, please go to BEN's website www.ben.org.uk which is updated weekly.

BEN Challenges & Events

Sign up for one of BEN’s challenge events and raise money for BEN. BEN’s website is always being updated so don’t forget to log on each week, www.ben.org.uk and click onto the Events link.

Former Chief Exec skydives for BEN

Former Chief Executive of BEN Geoffrey Atkinson OBE and his wife Tina will skydive 15,000 feet on 17 October to raise money for BEN, the UK’s automotive and related industries’ charity. Read more ...

75th BEN Ball

BEN is celebrating the diamond anniversary of their biggest annual fundraiser on 16 December at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Highlights this year include Rolf Harris as well as music from Supernova and a performance by The Band of The Irish Guards. This occasion is an extremely popular event, attended by a number of the industry's most senior executives and provides excellent networking and hospitality opportunities.

To find out more please view the BEN Ball Brochure or give the Events Team a call on 01344 294755 or email eventsteam@ben.org.uk.

Volunteer

All charities depend heavily on the support of volunteers and BEN is no exception.  BEN is aiming to double its volunteering hours and monetary benefit by 2010.  This will be achieved through the development of an effective support infrastructure, providing better training and communication.

Give your time or skills; for example, become a BENfriend by visiting beneficiaries, assist the BEN Events Team at shows and exhibitions, help BEN’s Regional Managers in your area with administrative or practical skills or assist a BEN Centre.

You can also become a BEN Champion by raising awareness of BEN at work with your colleagues.  This could simply involve putting a poster up on your staff noticeboard.

For more information on any aspect of volunteering, please contact BEN’s National Volunteers Co-ordinator on 01344 294719 or email volunteering@ben.org.uk

Opal Telecomms Alliance

A long term relationship between Opal Telecom Ltd and BEN continues to grow each year. Since January 2000 Opal has donated 2.5% of every call under its Agreement to BEN. 

Opal has a specialised customer service team, supporting the BEN Telecom Alliance. Opal gives group telecom rates irrespective of spend giving discounts of around 35% over BT and 10% off line rental and can offer special free phone numbers for faults and installations.

As a special incentive in 2009 any company joining the BEN Telecom Alliance will receive: Free calls between company sites; free calls to 5 customers or suppliers; up to 35% savings on BT; great mobile deals on all networks with each connection generating a £5 donation to BEN. 

Anyone wishing to register should email jbart@opal.co.uk and one of the BEN customer services team will be pleased to help.